Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426118›Full record

ArticleHealth research policy and systems2025

Strategizing towards the future hospital: a systems thinking approach.

Ashish Kumar, Sean Shao Wei Lam, Sze Ling Chan, Yingqi Xu, Yao Ge, Geoffrey Kah Tack Gui, Hiang Khoon Tan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health research policy and systems, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ashish Kumar *Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Sean Shao Wei Lam *Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. gmslasws@nus.edu.sg.
Sze Ling ChanDuke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yingqi XuDuke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yao GeSingapore Health Services, Singapore, Singapore.
Geoffrey Kah Tack Gui *Singapore Health Services, Singapore, Singapore.
Hiang Khoon Tan *Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe complex systemic nature of Future Hospital design in the rapidly ageing city-state of Singapore calls for systems thinking. We apply this approach to answer two research questions: (i) What are the variables that drive the present and future dynamics of the Future Hospital system? (ii) How are these driving variables related?

methodsCausal loop diagrams (CLDs) were developed collaboratively by a cross-functional system modelling team through group modelling discussions and reviews, totalling 20 sessions. Network analysis of the resulting CLDs was used to identify dominant variables.

resultsSeven interlocking CLDs (national view, cluster view, and study hospital top level, outpatient, emergency department, inpatient and surgeries and procedures views) were created to serve as "boundary objects" for different Future Hospital stakeholders, as well as researchers and planners of other Future Hospital systems. Important feedback loops and 15 interventions for redesign were identified. In all the modelled services (outpatient, emergency, inpatient and surgeries and procedures), capacities are subject to positive feedback loops. Alternative models of care are needed to restrain ever-increasing demand. Need for agility (the need for ability to quickly deploy and pivot capacity in responses to crises) is the variable with the highest betweenness centrality in the combined network of seven CLDs.

conclusionsWe address the need for greater openness on Future Hospital initiatives by making our resulting logic maps public. Due to their qualitative nature, the CLDs are insightful for Future Hospital strategic planning exercises globally.

Indexed as

Hospital AdministrationHospital Design and ConstructionHospitalsSystems AnalysisForecastingHumansSingaporeComplex systemsComputer simulationHospital of the futureNetwork analysisStrategic planningSystems thinking

Identifiers

PMID40426118
PMCPMC12107927

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.