Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
12:19
Co-Culture In Vitro Systems to Reproduce the Cancer-Immunity Cycle
Published on: June 7, 2024
Convergent Points for Conventional Medicine and Whole Systems Research: A User's Guide
Charles Elder1, Nadine Ijaz2, John Weeks3
11 Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR.
Summary
Whole Systems Research (WSR) offers innovative methods to evaluate complex interventions in health care. Applying WSR principles can enhance the implementation and measurement of value-based health care, improving patient outcomes and research strategies.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Value-based health care emphasizes patient-centeredness and cost reduction.
- Whole Systems Research (WSR) emerged to evaluate traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) practices.
- Standard methods like randomized controlled trials faced challenges in measuring TCIM effectiveness, prompting WSR methodological innovation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of WSR methods on value-based health care.
- To identify key themes for integrating WSR into clinical practice and research.
- To foster dialogue between conventional and TCIM communities.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of WSR methodologies and exemplars.
- Discussion of four cross-talking themes: complex interventions, patient-centered outcomes, team-based care, and well-being.
- Synthesis of learnings from WSR literature.
Main Results:
- WSR methods can address the complexities of value-based health care.
- Specific themes like patient-centered outcomes and team-based care are crucial for value-based care.
- WSR provides a framework for robust research and improved clinical practice.
Conclusions:
- Clinicians and researchers can leverage WSR to enhance health care.
- WSR methodologies support the development of more effective research strategies.
- Integrating WSR fosters collaboration between TCIM and conventional medicine.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Traditional Level Of Health Care System
The levels of care describe the services provided in the healthcare system. Accordingly, there are six levels of the traditional healthcare system in the US: preventive, primary, secondary, tertiary, restorative, and continuing healthcare. A nurse must understand how the healthcare industry organizes and provides services within these levels of care.
The preventive healthcare service includes tests for screening. Preventive health care services include identifying and reducing disease risk...
The preventive healthcare service includes tests for screening. Preventive health care services include identifying and reducing disease risk...
01:29Concepts of Health and Illness
Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital...
01:18Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The person's health status fluctuates continually, varying from being in good health to becoming ill and returning to being healthy. To understand the concept of illness prevention, there are two models. First, the health-illness continuum model is a graphic representation of an individual's wellness. It states that a person is considered healthy in the absence of physical disease and the presence of good emotional health.
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results from...
01:26Methods of Documentation II: POMR
The Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR) revolutionized medical record-keeping by introducing a systematic approach focusing on the patient's problems rather than merely listing symptoms. Dr. Lawrence Weed's introduction of this method in the 1960s marked a significant advancement in medical documentation. The POMR framework consists of four key components: the database, problem list, plan of care, and progress notes.
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
01:30Methods of Documentation VII: EMR
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) primarily center around electronically documenting patients' health information within a single healthcare organization or practice. They contain essential clinical data related to a patient's medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, lab results, and other pertinent information relevant to the specific encounter or episode of care. EMRs are designed to streamline documentation and workflow processes within individual healthcare settings,...