A complex-adaptive system is a new science that has “emerged as a powerful force influencing many fields and has great potential use in nursing” (Chaffee & McNeill, 2007, p.232). Complex-adaptive systems can be anything that allows individual agents to have the freedom to act in unpredictable ways and whose actions interconnect so that they impact other agents (Plsek, 2001, p.625). A hospital is an example of a complex-adaptive system because patients admitted into the hospital interact with a variety of health care providers, who are agents and members of the complex-adaptive system. Sacred Heart Medical Center is a hospital that is defined as a complex-adaptive system. The medical center is constantly adapting and evolving to providing safe
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This principle resides within each system and interacts with other systems that impact it (Chaffee, 2007). A complex-adaptive system is a broad term to describe each entity. For example, an individual is a complex-adaptive system. In the healthcare profession a physician, nurse, or other healthcare provider are all complex-adaptive systems that make up a single department, the hospital, and the healthcare system. Each of these mini complex-adaptive systems impact and influence one another. Without this embeddedness the hospital would not properly flow. Each department is a “smaller system, each with their own identity, yet dependent on each other” (Rowe & Hogarth, 2005, p.399). For example, the Mother and Baby Unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center relies on nurses and physicians for patient care. The nurses and providers rely on Lab and Pharmacy to draw tests and provide the correct medications for each patient. Housekeeping is also an essential aspect in process of patient care and to make sure the facility is clean and safe. Without each of these smaller complex-adaptive system and their flow and teamwork, safe and efficient patient care would not …show more content…
Sacred Heart Medical Center is a perfect example of a complex-adaptive system and exemplifies three key principles of this system. The medical center has fuzzy boundaries that are flexible, evolving, and porous. These porous boundaries allow patients to receive quality care and maintain safety by having several different health professional involved in their care. Having several healthcare providers involved in a patient’s care decreases the chance of possible symptoms of an illness to go unseen. The second key principle is the positive effect of embeddedness. Embeddedness is described as a complex system that “resides within and interacts with other systems that influence it” (Chaffee, 2007, 234). Each complex system of the hospital strive to promote quality care and team work within its own system and other systems throughout the hospital, as evidence by the nurses team work within their unit as well as other systems. The third complex-adaptive system principle is self-organization and independence. Self-organization allows its agents independence which in turn allows them to be create and adaptive in solving problems (Glenn, 2014). By giving nurses self-organization, it allows patients to have quality care and safety in an efficient and positive manner. Even though each nurse is give a specific
This principle resides within each system and interacts with other systems that impact it (Chaffee, 2007). A complex-adaptive system is a broad term to describe each entity. For example, an individual is a complex-adaptive system. In the healthcare profession a physician, nurse, or other healthcare provider are all complex-adaptive systems that make up a single department, the hospital, and the healthcare system. Each of these mini complex-adaptive systems impact and influence one another. Without this embeddedness the hospital would not properly flow. Each department is a “smaller system, each with their own identity, yet dependent on each other” (Rowe & Hogarth, 2005, p.399). For example, the Mother and Baby Unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center relies on nurses and physicians for patient care. The nurses and providers rely on Lab and Pharmacy to draw tests and provide the correct medications for each patient. Housekeeping is also an essential aspect in process of patient care and to make sure the facility is clean and safe. Without each of these smaller complex-adaptive system and their flow and teamwork, safe and efficient patient care would not …show more content…
Sacred Heart Medical Center is a perfect example of a complex-adaptive system and exemplifies three key principles of this system. The medical center has fuzzy boundaries that are flexible, evolving, and porous. These porous boundaries allow patients to receive quality care and maintain safety by having several different health professional involved in their care. Having several healthcare providers involved in a patient’s care decreases the chance of possible symptoms of an illness to go unseen. The second key principle is the positive effect of embeddedness. Embeddedness is described as a complex system that “resides within and interacts with other systems that influence it” (Chaffee, 2007, 234). Each complex system of the hospital strive to promote quality care and team work within its own system and other systems throughout the hospital, as evidence by the nurses team work within their unit as well as other systems. The third complex-adaptive system principle is self-organization and independence. Self-organization allows its agents independence which in turn allows them to be create and adaptive in solving problems (Glenn, 2014). By giving nurses self-organization, it allows patients to have quality care and safety in an efficient and positive manner. Even though each nurse is give a specific