The role for a healthcare system of systems approach coupled with collaborative technologies to provide superior healthcare delivery

Healthcare delivery in the United States exists at varying levels. The Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Kaiser, and the Mayo Clinic are noted for typically providing world class care. However, there also exist several instances of inferior delivery of care, mostly as a result of inefficient and ineffective processes which in turn result in poor access and low quality. One segment of the community that continues to suffer from issues pertaining to poor access and low quality is the American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) population. Such a situation is clearly untenable, especially given the plethora of tools, techniques, technologies, and tactics afforded by today's knowledge economy. In this chapter, we proffer a model incorporating a system of systems approach in order to streamline process flows and thereby provide better healthcare delivery to Native American patients. We note that while this chapter specifically focuses on the case study of Native American patients we strongly urge for the incorporation of a system of systems perspective in all areas of healthcare delivery.