A Systems Engineering Approach to Better, Less Expensive Health Care

This book identifies a comprehensive set of actions for enhancing health care across the Nation through greater use of systems-engineering principles. Systems engineering, widely used in manufacturing and aviation, is an interdisciplinary approach to analyze, design, manage, and measure a complex system in order to improve its efficiency, reliability, productivity, quality, and safety. It has often produced dramatically positive results in the small number of health-care organizations that have incorporated it into their processes. The book proposes a strategy that involves reforming payment systems; building the Nation's health-data infrastructure; providing technical assistance to providers; increasing community collaboration; sharing best practices; and training health professionals in systems engineering approaches.