1.24 Complexity in Healthcare

This episode features a review of a paper by Sidney Dekker featuring the attributes of complex systems, as opposed to simple or complicated systems. We use many stories and examples from healthcare that illustrate these attributes of complexity and, more importantly, the best way to resolve the challenges in a way that helps us care safely.

Source Reference: Dekker S, Cilliers P, Hofmeyr J-H "The Complexity of failure: Implications of complexity theory for safety investigations" Safety Science 49 (2011) 939–945

doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2011.01.008

Disclaimer: The first person narration of safety events is done to preserve the learning power of stories. The safety events discussed are fictional though the risks and safety concerns are very real. They are created from over decades from multiple home care, acute care, and long-term care institutions; and gathered from discussion with peers around the world who shared their stories to help others. In no way do these fictional safety events reflect the patient experience at my current employer. This podcast is purely a personal and private endeavor to enhance patient safety in some small way.

Hosted by Michael Van Ornum RPh, RN, BCPS, CPPS with over 30 years experience in the medical field and more than 10 years with medication safety.