Exploring Health Services With the Help of a Work Systems Lens

The challenges of providing universal health care in modern society is a subject of concern among citizens, patients and health professionals alike. It is discussed among politicians of every persuasion. While there may be little agreement on the way forward, there is at least agreement that this is a ‘wicked' problem that defies a simple solution. Optimal solutions to many separate problematic situations will probably not result in a satisfactory dissolution of the ‘mess.' Open systems approaches are required, recognizing that organizations subsists from moment to moment as a reflection of interactions among people and technologies. As part of such an inquiry, work systems methods may be useful as a vehicle for reflection and comparison.