Abstract

Healthcare systems in the United States today are plagued with problems including waste, escalating costs, patient safety, and drug coverage issues. The good news, however, is that many hospitals are beginning to initiate quality methods such as systems thinking to remedy these problems. Systems thinking focuses on the organization as a whole to identify solutions that address as many problems as possible. Its outlook is longterm continuous improvement and cooperation. A sidebar article describes how two hospitals used systems thinking to improve patient care, reduce errors, and lower costs in a sustainable manner.