Hospice programs and the hospice movement: an investigation based on general systems theory

This study used General Systems Theory as the framework for examining hospice programs and the hospice movement. Data drawn from program administrators and archival sources were used to test the thesis that two broad types of hospice programs exist in the United States. Results indicate that independent programs tend to be characterized by processes that amplify change in the extant medical delivery system--that is, deviation amplification. Hospices associated with preexisting institutions tend to be characterized by processes that counteract change, thus maintaining the status quo--that is, deviation counteracting processes.