ABSTRACT
Evaluation of an expert system provides unique challenges in an organizational setting. Often the proposed system is provided by an independent supplier who is not in a position to provide an unbiased assessment of the effectiveness or merit of the system. Even when the system is developed by personnel within the same firm or by the users themselves, these individuals, being instrumental in the design and development of the system, lack the autonomy necessary to evaluate the system. This article describes one evaluation process which was applied by the authors. It is an adaptable approach which provides the needed independent assessment without being excessively cumbersome or difficult to administer.
Subject(s)
Contract Services/standards , Expert Systems , Quality Control , Decision Making, Organizational , Documentation/standards , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Institutional Management Teams , United StatesABSTRACT
Nonlinear analysis can improve the adaptive ability of clinical paths and aid in providing improved continuity of care. This article continues our exploration of the ways "chaos theory" can be applied in health care by focusing on clinical applications. It describes a specific application of nonlinear techniques to knee arthroplasty, but the generalized nature of the technique suggests it can be applied in many other settings. The approach offers an innovative means for both improved patient care and cost savings.
Subject(s)
Case Management , Critical Pathways , Health Services Research/methods , Hospitals, Teaching/economics , Knee Prosthesis , Nonlinear Dynamics , Continuity of Patient Care , Hip Prosthesis , Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over , Hospitals, Teaching/standards , Humans , Movement , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pain, Postoperative , Prognosis , TexasABSTRACT
This article applies the new science of nonlinearity to administrative issues and accounts receivable management in health care, and it provides a new perspective on common operating and quality control measures.
Subject(s)
Financial Management, Hospital/standards , Models, Organizational , Nonlinear Dynamics , Systems Analysis , Accounts Payable and Receivable , Cost Allocation , Hospital Costs , Laboratories, Hospital/economics , Nursing Service, Hospital/economics , Organizational Innovation , Physical Therapy Department, Hospital/economics , Quality Control , Southwestern United StatesABSTRACT
Chaos theory, also called nonlinear systems theory, provides new insights into processes previously thought to be unpredictable and random. It also provides a new set of tools that can be used to analyze common administrative and clinical data. This tutorial provides an introduction to chaos theory. Subsequent articles will address applications of those principles to the administrative activities of health care organizations, implications of those principles for clinical data, and application of chaos theory concepts to our understanding of organizational dynamics.
Subject(s)
Models, Organizational , Nonlinear Dynamics , Systems Analysis , Fractals , Linear Models , Nursing Administration Research/economics , Organizational Innovation , Total Quality Management , United StatesABSTRACT
This study estimated correlates of psychological distress with a heterogeneous sample of American subjects (N = 122; M age = 33.5 yr.) who were involuntarily displaced from work. Expectation of finding a new job is a significant source of psychological distress in job loss after taking into account length of unemployment and economic dependence. Psychological distress also showed significant negative association with self-esteem and significant positive relationship with job-seeking effort. Other important findings are discussed.
