Principal InvestigatorsDr Sylvie Naar &
Dr. Carrie Pettus
Project Manager
Ms.Taylor L. Watson
Understanding Health Systems
THJC is collaborating with two major health system partners in Tallahassee, FL to carry out this important work. Together we want to find new ways to make health care better and easier to get, including mental health care. We want to change policies and practices to make sure everyone gets the same high quality care.
How are we doing this? Our team has talked with community members, leaders, doctors, and patients to make sure our work will truly help. We use a method called Systems Science to see how health systems work, how they interact with patients, and how to make care better for everyone.
WHAT IS SYSTEMS SCIENCE?
Systems Science is a way of studying complex things by looking at how all the different parts work together. It’s like seeing how all the pieces of a puzzle fit to make a complete picture. In health care, system science helps us understand how different parts of the system, like hospitals, doctors, patients, and policies, work together to keep people healthy. By studying these connections, we can find better ways to improve the whole system.
PURPOSE OF GROUP MODEL BUILDING WORKSHOP
• Understand Racism: Explained system thinking and ways to map out how racism works in health care.
• Find Solutions: Identify key areas where we can make big changes to fight racism.
• Choose the Best Ideas: Review and rank possible strategies based on how effective, doable, and acceptable they are.
OUR FOCUS AREAS
From talking with the community, health systems, and our advisors, we learned about two important health issues for the local Black community:
- Managing Type II Diabetes and
- Supporting people with Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
SYSTEMS SCIENCE WORKSHOPS
Group Activities: From May 2023 through April 2024, we held six group activities with patients, doctors, nurses, and staff from our health system partners. These workshops, called Group Model Building, helped us understand how the health system works, how racism might appear, and ways to improve the system.