Systems theory and improving healthcare

The accreditation and quality measurement and reporting systems in health care organisations are believed to influence patient safety and quality of care. In order to gain knowledge about the effects of these two systems, an holistic healthcare systems relationship model was recently constructed and a series of adaptive-control studies developed to explore relationships between segments within the systems relationship model. This paper describes where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re headed: the studies, the models, the supporting research and the systems theory-based approach encompassing the current direction.