Complexity science: The challenge of complexity in health care

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7313.625

BMJ 2001;323:625-628 ( 15 September )

Education and debate

Complexity science

The challenge of complexity in health care

This is the first in a series of four articles

Paul E Plsek, director ^a, Trisha Greenhalgh, professor of primary health care ^b.

^a Paul E Plsek & Associates Inc, 1005 Allenbrook Lane, Roswell, GA 30075, USA, ^b University College London, London N19 3UA

Correspondence to: P E Plsek paulplsek@directedcreativity.com

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Across all disciplines, at all levels, and throughout the world, health care is becoming more complex. Just 30 years ago thetypical general practitioner in the United Kingdom practised fromprivately owned premises with a minimum of support staff, subscribedto a single journal, phoned up a specialist whenever he or sheneeded advice, and did around an hour's paperwork per week. Thespecialist worked in a hospital, focused explicitly on a particularsystem of the body, was undisputed leader of his or her "firm,"and generally left administration to the administrators. Theseindividuals often worked long hours, but most of their problemscould be described in biomedical terms and tackled using the knowledgeand skills they had acquired at medicalschool.

You used to go to the doctor when you felt ill, to find out what was wrong with you and get some medicine that would makeyou better. These . . . [Full text of this article]

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