COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE AND THE SYSTEM APPROACH

By: Emily Gilbert

WHAT IS COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE?

According to Nursingworld.org, Collaborative health care is a committed partnership that strives for excellence in patient care and outcomes.”

WHAT IS COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE?

Health clinics that utilize collaborative health, often called “health homes”, is a healthcare workplace were physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professionals work as a team to provide the best possible care.

COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE: “IN-ACTION”

• Collaborative Healthcare is a fairly new approach to healthcare

• In this specific article, Amanda Pannacci explores the collaborative health clinic at the Community Wellness Centre in Spryfield in Nova Scotia, Canada

COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE: “IN-ACTION”• Collaborative Healthcare is

approached differently depending on the work place

• At the Community Wellness Centre round-table meeting are held with two family physicians and a nurse, while on-site psychologist and dietitian joined by phone.

COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE: “IN-ACTION”

• These table meeting happen twice a day• they gather in a meeting room and go through

the list of patients coming into the clinic.• Potential treatment options are suggested by

anyone who can share their expertise.

COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE: “IN-ACTION”

Benefits of Collaborative Healthcare

• A collaborative team cuts down on waiting times

• Gives a better doctor-patient connection

• Doctors look at one another for feedback when asked if there are any challenges in their work environment

THE SYSTEMS APPROACH • System Metaphor: Understanding of organization as complex organisms that

must interact with their environment to survive

• At the most basic level, a system “is an assemblage of parts, or components (Miller 61).”

• In an organizational system, these components are people and departments that make up an organization

THE SYSTEMS APPROACH

System Components: • Hierarchical ordering: Systems parts are arranged

in complex ways that involve subsystems and super-systems 

• Interdependence: The notion of interdependence implies that the functioning of one component of a system relies on other components of the system

• Permeability: System components have permeable boundaries that allow information and materials to flow in and out.

THE SYSTEMS APPROACHSystem Process

• Systems have input, processes outputs and outcomes, with continuous feedback among various parts. If one part of the system is removed, the system is changed.

THE SYSTEMS APPROACHSystem Properties

Properties that emerge from the interaction of components and processes.

Holism: A system is more than the sum of its parts; more and different problem solving ideas will emerge through interaction

Equability: A system can reach the same final state from differing initial conditions and by a variety of paths.

THE SYSTEMS APPROACH

~System Properties (Continued)~

• Negative entropy: Entropy is the tendency of closed systems to run down. Negative entropy is possible because of the flow of information and materials between the environment and the system.

• Requisite variety: The internal works of the system must be as diverse and complicated as the environment in which it is embedded.

SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE

~The system approach concept can be applied throughout the entire article~

Dr. Mandi Irwin, a doctor at the Community Wellness Centre in Spryfield, states that all cases are discussed together and all decisions are made collectively.

Interdependence: The notion of interdependence implies that the functioning of one component of a system relies on other components of the system

THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE

The clinic go through the list of patients coming into the clinic. Treatment options are suggested by anyone who can give their expertise and then matched with the most appropriate person who can provide that care (Psychology, dietary/nutrition, social work, etc.).

Holism: A system is more than the sum of its parts; more and different problem solving ideas will emerge through interaction

THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE

Each patient has a different course of treatment depending on the condition/problem. However, the final results are the same: a healthy/happy patient

Equability: A system can reach the same final state from differing initial conditions and by a variety of paths.

THE SYSTEM APPROACH AND COLLABORATIVE HEALTHCARE

In Collaborative Medicine, patient information is shared throughout the entire practice, in order to better suit the patients needs.

Permeability: System components have permeable boundaries that allow information and materials to flow in and out.

FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH

Could Collaborative Healthcare work in the United States?

• Is the US healthcare system to profit driven to be able to do collaborative healthcare?

• Does collaborative medicine break United States doctor/patient confidentiality laws?

FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH

Is it possible to lower the price of collaborative healthcare?

The article mentions that collaborative medicine is more expensive than most because it is hard to find doctors who are willing to work in this unique environment

• Why are doctors apprehensive of this practice?

• Can the clinic cut down on specialist care in order to cut down on billing?

FURTHER DISCUSSION AND RESEARCH

• Is there a way for healthcare to be more personal?

• Is healthcare becoming more of a “machine” rather than personable experience

• Is it possible to have a organizational system that is based around customer service?

WORKS CITED

Miller, Katherine. Organizational Communication: Approaches and Processes.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub., 1999. Print.

Panacci, Amanda "Collaborative Care: 'Health Homes' on the Rise; Could Alleviate

Nova Scotia's Doctor Shortage.” The Chronicle Herald. N.p., 9 Oct. 2016. Web. 10

Oct. 2016.

Staff, Ana. "Collaborative Health Care: How Nurses Work in Team-Based Settings."

Collaborative Health Care: How Nurses Work in Team-Based Settings. N.p., Jan.

2016. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.