Transitioning From Closed to Open Health Care Delivery Systems - Essay Example

"Transitioning From Closed to Open Health Care Delivery Systems" is a remarkable example of a paper on the health system.
One of the most serious problems in my organization is the poor quality of health care services and poor health care delivery systems. It is important to note that both a health care institution and the community, in general, play a significant role in healthcare as they are all stakeholders. Therefore, the level of involvement or integration of the community members in health care determines the quality of care in a health institution (McCormack, Manley, and Walsh, 2008). This paper offers a description of this problem from a closed-system perspective, and how the problem could be addressed by viewing it from an open-system perspective. In addition, this paper explains how this modification would help me and others improve health care outcomes.

Closed system

The poor nature of health care services can be attributed to the closed nature of my institution. Activities in a closed system are not determined by the external environment. In other words, the closed system is completely isolated hence it is not manipulated by issues of factors in the external environment (Encyclopedia of Management, 2006). Due to the closed nature of the institution, strategies, and plans of action to improve health care delivery are established and subsequently discussed within the four walls of the institution. Any plans of action fail to involve the community members and other stakeholders within the community such as Non-Governmental Organizations.   

Open system

Health care delivery and quality of health care services can only be addressed in my institution through adapting an open system approach. According to Meyer and O’Brien-Pallas, 2010). An open system recognizes and takes into account factors in both the internal and external environment. There are certain factors within the community that determines health care delivery systems. For instance, the customs and beliefs of a particular community will determine the quality and delivery of health care. It is therefore important for all health care professionals to comprehend and consider the cultural beliefs of the patients. It is also important for the management of the health care institution to engage all the stakeholders in addressing health problems facing the community. The local people understand the problems facing them better hence engaging and involving them in all aspects will help identify these problems and subsequently implement plans of actions to address them.

How this modification would help me and others improve health care outcomes

An open system will lead to the implementation of better health care delivery systems hence better and high-quality services through adapting a systems approach (Johnson,  Miller and Horowitz, n.d.). An open system encourages and recognizes the importance of communication in health care. Communication is important as it is the only way nurses and other health care professionals can share experiences and propose solutions to problems. An environment that allows nurses, patients, community members, and other stakeholders to boost motivation with the health care system. Motivation has a lot of advantages to the health care system. Nurses who are motivated are more likely to provide better services as compared to less motivated nurses. Modifying the closed system to an open system will encourage and ensure better relationships or associations between the nurse and the patients. Therefore, patients are able to feel relaxed and hence share all their problems without fear. As nurses, an open system would give us more freedom and authority in our duties (Meyer and O’Brien-Pallas, 2010). All these factors will help improve health care outcomes. In a nutshell, an open system is more likely to ensure better and quality health care services as compared to a closed system. An open system will encourage communication, motivation, and better relationships between nurses and patients.