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Methods Inf Med 2002; 41(02): 134-140
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634297
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Systems Analysis in Health Care: Framework and Example

E. Ammenwerth
1   Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
,
F. Ehlers
1   Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
,
R. Eichstädter
2   Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
,
R. Haux
1   Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
,
U. Pohl
3   Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
,
F. Resch
2   Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 February 2001

Accepted 05 November 2001

Publication Date:
07 February 2018 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: Due to the high complexity of structures and processes in health care, thorough systems analyses in health care run the risk of becoming very complex and difficult to handle. Therefore, we aimed to support systematic systems analysis in health care by developing a comprehensive framework that presents and describes potential areas of analysis.

Methods: A framework for systems analysis in health care was developed and applied in a health care setting. To provide a clear structure, the framework describes the potential views and levels of systems analyses in a health care environment.

Results: The framework comprises five views (roles and responsibilities, information processing and tools, communication, business processes, teams structure and cooperation) and five levels of analysis (overall organization, organizational unit, staff member, role, task). The framework was successfully applied in an analysis of the structures and processes of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University Medical Center Heidelberg.

Conclusions: The proposed comprehensive framework aims to structure the views and levels of systems analysis in the complex health care environment. Our first experiences support the usefulness of such a framework.

Keywords

Systems analysis - communication - coordination - patient care team - delivery of health care - process assessment
 

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