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Systems analysis of a drug dependency service in London: St George's Hospital
Author(s) -
GHODSE A. H.,
McCARTNEY J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1992.tb01917.x
Subject(s) - george (robot) , dependency (uml) , drug , service (business) , medicine , engineering , history , business , art history , psychiatry , systems engineering , marketing
Elements of a systems approach to analysing service delivery are outlined. A specific example–St George's Hospital Addiction Behaviour Department–is detailed. Dynamics of the system–from the client's perspective and the workers viewpoint–demonstrate some of the ways in which emotional conflict surrounding the task is handled. The conclusions focus on what might constitute adaptive resolution of systems dilemmas as well as highlighting the public‐health concerns relating to AIDS which, we argue, compromise the primary task of an addiction service at the present time.