Healthcare Systems Engineering (glossary)
The application of systems engineering or systems thinking approaches, methods, processes, and tools to healthcare systems, i.e. systems used to maintain and improve physical or mental health of individuals, as well as to population-level healthcare issues. (Created for SEBoK)
Source(s)
Created for the SEBoK.
Discussion
Some uses of the term healthcare systems engineering refer to systems engineering specifically within the healthcare delivery space; i.e. the provision of health-related services by medical professionals. However, there are applications for systems engineering throughout the healthcare sector, including in the development of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, in public health, systems biology, etc. The SEBoK Authors created this definition to reflect the wider applications of systems engineering which are beginning to occur and which will grow in future.