title: Rethinking health systems strengthening: key systems thinking tools and strategies for transformational change.
abstract: While reaching consensus on future plans to address current global health challenges is far from easy, there is broad agreement that reductionist approaches that suggest a limited set of targeted interventions to improve health around the world are inadequate. We argue that a comprehensive systems perspective should guide health practice, education, research and policy. We propose key 'systems thinking' tools and strategies that have the potential for transformational change in health systems. Three overarching themes span these tools and strategies: collaboration across disciplines, sectors and organizations; ongoing, iterative learning; and transformational leadership. The proposed tools and strategies in this paper can be applied, in varying degrees, to every organization within health systems, from families and communities to national ministries of health. While our categorization is necessarily incomplete, this initial effort will provide a valuable contribution to the health systems strengthening debate, as the need for a more systemic, rigorous perspective in health has never been greater.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, 1668 North 1590 West, Provo, UT 84604, USA. swancitos@gmail.com
authors.forename: R Chad
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chunharas
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atun
authors.forename: Kaja M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Korina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsaliaki
authors.forename: Navonil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustafee
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mason Meier
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Best
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D014943:Global Health; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006295:Health Resources / Q000458:organization & administration; D006302:Health Services Research; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007857:Leadership; D007858:Learning; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D013850:Thinking