Abstract
Rationale With realization that non-linearity is generally the rule rather than the exception in nature, viewing patients and families as complex adaptive systems may lead to a better understanding of health and illness. Doctors who successfully practise the 'art' of medicine may recognize non-linear principles at work without having the jargon needed to label them. Methods Complex adaptive systems are systems composed of multiple components that display complexity and adaptation to input. These systems consist of self-organized components, which display complex dynamics, ranging from simple periodicity to chaotic and random patterns showing trends over time. Results Understanding the non-linear dynamics of phenomena both internal and external to our patients can (1) improve our definition of 'health'; (2) improve our understanding of patients, disease and the systems in which they converge; (3) be applied to future monitoring systems; and (4) be used to possibly engineer change. Conclusion Such a non-linear view of the world is quite congruent with the generalist perspective.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 755-760 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2009 |
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Keywords
- Complex systems
- Family practice
- Models
- Patient care
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Health Policy
Cite this
Lessons from Jurassic Park : Patients as complex adaptive systems. / Katerndahl, David A.
In: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, Vol. 15, No. 4, 08.2009, p. 755-760.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Lessons from Jurassic Park
T2 - Patients as complex adaptive systems
AU - Katerndahl, David A
PY - 2009/8
Y1 - 2009/8
N2 - Rationale With realization that non-linearity is generally the rule rather than the exception in nature, viewing patients and families as complex adaptive systems may lead to a better understanding of health and illness. Doctors who successfully practise the 'art' of medicine may recognize non-linear principles at work without having the jargon needed to label them. Methods Complex adaptive systems are systems composed of multiple components that display complexity and adaptation to input. These systems consist of self-organized components, which display complex dynamics, ranging from simple periodicity to chaotic and random patterns showing trends over time. Results Understanding the non-linear dynamics of phenomena both internal and external to our patients can (1) improve our definition of 'health'; (2) improve our understanding of patients, disease and the systems in which they converge; (3) be applied to future monitoring systems; and (4) be used to possibly engineer change. Conclusion Such a non-linear view of the world is quite congruent with the generalist perspective.
AB - Rationale With realization that non-linearity is generally the rule rather than the exception in nature, viewing patients and families as complex adaptive systems may lead to a better understanding of health and illness. Doctors who successfully practise the 'art' of medicine may recognize non-linear principles at work without having the jargon needed to label them. Methods Complex adaptive systems are systems composed of multiple components that display complexity and adaptation to input. These systems consist of self-organized components, which display complex dynamics, ranging from simple periodicity to chaotic and random patterns showing trends over time. Results Understanding the non-linear dynamics of phenomena both internal and external to our patients can (1) improve our definition of 'health'; (2) improve our understanding of patients, disease and the systems in which they converge; (3) be applied to future monitoring systems; and (4) be used to possibly engineer change. Conclusion Such a non-linear view of the world is quite congruent with the generalist perspective.
KW - Complex systems
KW - Family practice
KW - Models
KW - Patient care
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2009.01228.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2009.01228.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19674231
AN - SCOPUS:68349123695
VL - 15
SP - 755
EP - 760
JO - Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
JF - Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
SN - 1356-1294
IS - 4
ER -