Complicated and complex systems: What would a new perspective of medicare look like?

Sholom's presentation (attached) for the Advances in Health Informatics Conference 2010 as part of the Think Tank on “Revisiting eHealth Strageties” on Friday, April 30 from 1:00 – 4:30 pm at the University of Waterloo’s Health Sciences Campus (School of Pharmacy, Kitchener), regarding the place of patient information in complex systems.

For more information about patient information, see here.

3 Etapas de las Organizaciones de Salud Barcelona

Spanish version of "3 Stages of Health Organizations," presented July 2, 2009 at The New Santa Creu and St. Pau Hospital, Barcelona.

5 Futures of Community Care

The South West Community Care Access Centre in London, Ontario, held a large conference on the future of Community Care on February 24, 2009. This was the lead off session. The audience was 250 people from across the community and the health care system who were sitting at small tables of 6 to 8 people. The presentation precipitated discussion at the tables about five future scenarios for community care, including the effects of market dominance, scientific breakthroughs, environmental movements, global recessions, and the recognition of health complexity. Votes were taken about which of these futures people preferred and which they thought was most likely before and after their discussions.

5 Scenarios About Growing Old

A presentation made at the Markhaven Home for Seniors Annual General Meeting, May 12, 2008. The presentation explores five differing visions of society, each with distinct organizing principles and governing values, and hence, different implications for the experience of aging. The scenarios highlight the question of aging and its possible meanings in the future, as a way of focusing thought on the present and important issues of planning.

Increasing Efficiency while Improving Patient Experience: Operational Efficiency and Economies in Health Care

The presentation explores thinking and practice in health care on the problem of operational efficiency. Beginning with Frederick Taylor's principles of scientific management and their application to the assembly-line, the presentation utilizes brief case studies in which the human factors traditionally excluded from economies of industrial production, may be seen as highly relevant to the organization of health care. The case studies offer valuable comparisons between efficiency goals and unintended consequences in which 'the human factor' plays a large role. Examples range from production at Dell Computers to the very humane efficiencies of the Shouldice Hospital and their implications for practice elsewhere.

Primary Care and Uncertainty

A presentation in three parts, comprising: a collection of historical ideas about health, disease and primary care; a synopsis of our current understanding of health, disease and care; and considerations for future directions in our understanding and practice.

Birth and Death: The Limits of Scientific Contributions

Delivered at the Enkin Lectureship on January 24th, 2007 at the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery in Hamilton, Ontario. This presentation addresses the increase in “grey zones” in birth and death that arise from our deepening scientific understanding.

Complicated and Complex Systems

Delivered December 6, 2006 at the European Health Leadership Programme, INSEAD, in Fontainebleau, France. This presentation is based on work done for the Romanow Commission with Brenda Zimmerman of the Shulich School of Business.

In health care we might distinguish between “complicated” and “complex” problems. Although many aspects of health care systems are complicated others are best viewed as complex. The advantage of the distinction is that problems that are thought to be intractably complicated can be viewed more optimistically and often unraveled when they are seen as complex.

Performance Management

Delivered at the Insight Conference on Performance Management September 27, 2006. This presentation provides an overview of Performance Management.

Data, Meaning and Strategy in Work Force Planning

Delivered at the Workforce Development Canada Study Tour January 23, 2006. This presentation considers some of the difficulties that arise when planning staffing in complex systems. It also has some tips about what to do and what to avoid when engaged in works force planning.