Analysis Terminology

 Many of us think that theoretical part of any project, might be less than practical or applied one. Actually any successful application of project you had been dealing with, was standing behind great work and individuals effort. We can’t deny that, even good project with unfit execution does not work properly or gives awaited results for public. Undoubtedly; with who draw the parallel work line between theoretical and applied applications going more effectively to achieve intended objects than without. Though, the work sustainability of work highly impact on final end rewards but also hurrying maintenance integration among variable kind of ideas and implementation procedures leading to proper accepted yield. Analysis terminology is first set of knowledge regards medical system analysis process, whether you are medical expert or just enterprising reader cares about more academic and scientific data, terms of any domain give the skeleton for that science and form angel stone to understand current analytical perspectives enclosed. System analysis depending on human factor engineering and equipment/instrumental analysis with new applied technologies techniques such as; networks, database architecture, database articulations, information management pattern and reviewing platforms. All of them carry different sort of terminology in order to provide sound understanding and knowledge. Regarding the terminology of health system analysis enumerated as follow;

System element: A system element is anything that is part of a particular system. Elements can include people, technologies, policies, lighting, furniture, and jobs. In the case of the medication administration system, elements include the nurses, patients, medications, medication administration record (MAR), medication stock room, patient rooms, and identification bands.

System attribute: System attributes are the perceived characteristics of the system. The medication administration system attributes could include “error-free,” “time consuming,” “chaotic,” and “high quality.”

System boundary: System boundaries are zones between one system and another. These zones can be in time, space, process, or hierarchy.

Temporal boundary: A temporal boundary separates systems in time. For the medication administration system, a temporal boundary could be drawn between the first and second shift.

Spatial boundary: A spatial boundary separates systems in space. An example could be the medication administration system for one particular unit versus that of another unit.

 Process boundary: A process boundary separates systems intra-adjacent components, also known as sub-processes. The medication use system contains component processes of ordering, transcribing, verifying, dispensing, administering, and documenting. An example might then be the boundary between the process of dispensing and delivering medications to the unit and the process of administering the medication.

Hierarchical boundary: A hierarchical boundary separates system partitions by their location. For example, the medication administration system exists within a larger system known as a unit. The unit exists within a larger system of a hospital.

System input: A system input is anything necessary to exaggerate the system activities. For administration, inputs include nurses who administer drugs, drugs, MARs, physician orders, and pharmacy dispensing. These elements are inputs because they are necessary for process complementation.

Transformation: Transformation is the processes that turn inputs into outputs; The action of administration in order to medicate certain patient would transform an input (i.e., a medication) into an output (i.e., a medicated patient). However, many other transformations carried out in the medication administration system network procedures. These include patient manipulations, patient monitoring, retrieving drugs from medication carts or cabinets, and reading MARs, ..etc.

Outputs: Outputs are the results of transformations. For example, the output of administering a medication is a medicated patient.

Unit operation: A unit operation is a simple input-transformation output processed solitary that by its role;  does not contain any other convertible transformations It is the most basic component process of interest. For example, within the larger process of administering medications, which might have a process boundary that starts with a nurse examining a MAR and ends when the administration is documented, there are a number of unit operations.

By reviewing terms of system analysis, hope you right now more aware with health system analytical life style, for sure it needs more details and explanation but for whose who interested to know more about working steps, feel free to ask more about explaining documents and associated materials, most of them available free and on demand. Seriously, I always believe that any work or life correction start with understanding and evaluation then the rest which coming easier to implement and get desirable results, try to believe me most of our work and life mistakes had been come basically resultant from inappropriate understanding and evaluation. If you applying the same concept with health systems understanding and evaluation, eventually you will find the whole process actually dependable on both concepts then the matter of implementation going to be normal routine work steps with expected accuracy and much affordable. :) 

Reference:

Stamatis D. Failure mode and effect analysis: FMEA

from theory to execution. Milwaukee, WI: American

Society for Quality; 1995.

40. Sheff R, Marder R. The step-by-step guide to failure

modes and effects analysis. Marblehead, MA: HCPro,

Inc.; 2002.

41. VA National Center for Patient Safety. Healthcare

failure mode and effect analysis course materials

(HFMEA™). Available at:

http://www.patientsafety.gov/HFMEA.html. Accessed

March 3, 2004.