Certified Healthcare Systems Thinking Specialist (CHSTS™)
Length: 2 Days
This course applies systems thinking to healthcare, helping healthcare professionals understand and improve the complex interdependencies that affect health outcomes and service delivery.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the application of systems thinking in healthcare settings.
- Analyze healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
- Implement systems thinking strategies for health service management and policy development.
- Assess the impact of systemic changes on health services and patient care.
Target Audience: Healthcare administrators, policy makers, medical professionals, and anyone involved in healthcare management or reform.
Course Content:
Module 1: Introduction to Systems Thinking in Healthcare
- Fundamentals of Systems Thinking
- Systems Theory and Concepts
- Complexity and Interconnectedness in Healthcare Systems
- Importance of Systems Thinking in Healthcare Improvement
- Historical Perspectives on Systems Thinking in Healthcare
- Ethical Considerations in Systems Thinking Applications
Module 2: Mapping Healthcare Systems and Processes
- Identifying Stakeholders and Boundaries
- Process Mapping Techniques
- Data Collection and Analysis Methods
- Identifying Feedback Loops and Interdependencies
- Visualization Tools for System Mapping
- Incorporating Patient Perspectives in System Mapping
Module 3: Strategies for Implementing Systems Thinking in Health Policy and Management
- Leadership and Cultural Change in Healthcare Organizations
- Systems Thinking in Health Policy Development
- Building Collaborative Networks and Partnerships
- Aligning Incentives with Systems Goals
- Education and Training for Systems Thinkers
- Overcoming Resistance to Change in Healthcare Systems
Module 4: Case Studies: Systems Approaches to Healthcare Challenges
- Improving Patient Flow and Access to Care
- Reducing Medical Errors and Adverse Events
- Addressing Health Disparities through Systems Interventions
- Enhancing Population Health Outcomes
- Optimizing Resource Allocation and Utilization
- Managing Healthcare Costs and Sustainability
Module 5: Workshop: Applying Systems Thinking to Healthcare Scenarios
- Identifying System Dynamics in Healthcare Scenarios
- Problem Framing and Boundary Setting
- System Mapping and Causal Loop Diagrams
- Scenario Analysis and Sensitivity Testing
- Designing Interventions Based on Systems Insights
- Evaluating the Impact of Systems Approaches in Simulated Scenarios
Exam Domains:
- Fundamentals of Systems Thinking in Healthcare
- Understanding system dynamics
- Identifying system boundaries
- Feedback loops and causal relationships
- Application of Systems Thinking in Healthcare Operations
- Process mapping and analysis
- Identifying leverage points for improvement
- Systematic problem-solving approaches
- Systems Thinking in Healthcare Quality and Safety
- Root cause analysis using systems thinking
- Error reduction strategies
- Human factors engineering in healthcare systems
- Leadership and Change Management through Systems Thinking
- Leading system change initiatives
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Sustainability of system improvements
Question Types:
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Testing understanding of key concepts and principles in systems thinking.
- Scenario-based Questions:
- Presenting real-world scenarios and asking candidates to apply systems thinking principles to analyze and solve problems.
- Case Studies:
- Providing detailed case studies from healthcare settings and asking candidates to identify system issues, propose solutions, and assess potential impacts.
- Short Answer Questions:
- Requiring candidates to explain specific concepts, methodologies, or applications of systems thinking in healthcare.
Passing Criteria:
- Minimum Passing Score: Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 70%.
- Weighted Sections: Each exam domain will be weighted equally.
- No Negative Marking: There will be no penalty for incorrect answers.
- Retake Policy: Candidates who do not pass the exam on the first attempt may retake it after a specified waiting period, with a maximum number of attempts allowed.