The value of systems and complexity sciences for healthcare: a review

Overview The analysis of healthcare systems by considering them as complex adaptive systems (CAS) (Holland 2012) is a new and emerging field. The key idea is based on the inherent complexity of healthcare systems—in terms of the dynamics, nonlinearity, and unpredictability (Lipsitz 2012). While healthcare systems are naturally linked with CAS, there has always been a strong need for a compendium with a focus specifically on the needs of healthcare professionals and researchers. Here, we review the edited proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Systems and Complexity Sciences for Healthcare. This conference took place in the Washington DC, USA. The proceedings of the conference were published as a book titled “The value of systems and complexity sciences for healthcare” This book has been edited by Joachim P. Sturmberg.