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Systems thinking is an approach to a problem that considers how components within the larger structure operate and interact over the life cycle of the system, as well as how the design, implementation, and evaluation of that system can be optimized (Brown, Pasupathy, & Patrick, 2019, p. 215). This type of thinking does not focus on one single solution, but rather assess a problem from a holistic view.

In the article Systems Thinking and Modeling for Public Health Practice, researchers stated that they believe a systems-orientated inquiry into public health may point the way toward a promising new frontier in response to the critical challenges of our time (Leischow & Milstein, 2006). First, systems thinking approach would place an emphasis on relationships, such as how people interact with each other within social networks. This provides a promising direction for population health practice since there can be further research into how the social ties affect the spread and prevention of disease (Leischow & Milstein, 2006). Second, incorporating a systems thinking approach could increase the efforts to achieve a larger, more connected understanding of the population health enterprise through specialized studies (Leischow & Milstein, 2006). These studies could then provide benefits for public health workers that systems thinking may bring, such as innovation and modernization to health care. Third, a systems approach to health and health care dilemmas increases the exchange and synthesis of information across organizational lines (Leischow & Milstein, 2006). This would combine information from diverse sources in effort to improve population health. Lastly, many aspects of systems thinking offer the possibility for innovative health professionals to learn from other fields in order to extend their work (Leischow & Milstein, 2006). By not limiting population health to one single solution, the benefits could be endless. Understanding health as a system of structured relationships and diverse methodologies can decrease the complexity of population health.

References

Brown, G. D., Pasupathy, K. S., & Patrick, T. B. (2019). Health Informatics: A Systems Perspective (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.

Leischow, S. J., & Milstein, B. (2006). Systems thinking and modeling for public health practice. American journal of public health, 96(3), 403–405. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.082842

Chelsea

Population health is be defined in many ways, but overall reflects a delineation health of groups, or subgroups of individuals and recognizes the patterns of disease incidence and prevalence within these population groups/subgroups (Brown, Pasupathy, & Patrick, 2019).  Due to the breadth and number of individuals within groups/subgroups within the population of the United States, management of population health is a difficult and intricate task. This management task involves 4 steps: identification of health needs for the group, measuring the percentage of people whose needs are unmet, aligning needs with strategies to improve health, and tracking progress to improve the process (Brown et al., 2019). 

     Systems thinking can serve as an approach to improve population health. Systems thinking occurs when a problem is addressed by assessing a comprehensive and overarching problem rather than a single element or solution (Brown et al., 2019). Given the intricacies and complexity of adequately addressing and managing the system of population health, systems thinking, when applied can be useful in providing improvements. This is due to the fact that changing the interconnections of the system will change the overall behavior of the system to ultimately reach a mission or goal (Brown et al., 2019). As mentioned above, the system of public health has 4 components (or processes). When the relationship between these processes are examined and altered for the better, the overall system will be more effective. This approach, when compared to changing a single process within the system to fix a smaller problem, is more effective in that a change is realized across all processes and ultimately the system. Systems thinking allows for a set of bigger problems to be addressed without expending copious amounts of energy into small problems, which may ultimately create other problems due to the lack of consideration for the overall system and it's goals. 

References

Brown, G. D., Pasupathy, K. S., & Patrick, T. B. (2019) Health informatics: A systems perspective (2nd Ed.). Chicago: IL. Health Administration Press.