Engineering the next generation of health systems

This chapter focuses on three changes that will dramatically affect the rapidly evolving health ecosystem. It highlights today's high value/high usability computing paradigm, the explosion of information within the Web and the challenges for EHR systems as they try to face the data tsunami. The chapter proposes that a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) framework will be essential for an inclusive health ecosystem that meets the needs of clients, consumers and health workers. The authors suggest that a person-owned wellness-health record (POWR) will be required in the new ecosystem. It postulates that a Smart point of need system for all users should replace the current point of care systems that are limited to healthcare workers. The chapter concludes with a description of a community-based health ecosystem that adopts the behaviors of a CAS, incorporates continuous quality improvement and exploits new technologies to support decision-making for all individuals within the community.