Systems thinking for health emergencies

Use of process mapping during outbreak response

Bibliographic Data

ID21880187
AuthorsKara Durski (University of Minnesota, corresponding author), Kara N Durski (0000-0003-1456-626X, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland), Dhamari Naidoo (0000-0002-8565-4227, World Health Organization), Shalini Singaravelu (World Health Organization), Anita Shah (0000-0003-1865-2085, World Health Organization), Anita A Shah (World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland), Mamadou Harouna Djingarey (World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa), Pierre Formenty (0000-0002-9482-5411, World Health Organization), Chikwe Ihekweazu (0000-0003-0659-0833, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), James Banjura (University of Sierra Leone), Benoit Kebela (Ministry of Public Health), Adesola Yinka-Ogunleye (0000-0003-0900-4772, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), Ibrahima-Soce Fall (World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa), Womi Eteng (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), Mohamed Vandi (University of Sierra Leone), Charles Keimbe (University of Sierra Leone), Anwar Abubakar (0009-0005-1683-3490, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control), Abulazeez Mohammed (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention), Desmond E Williams (0000-0002-7915-7486, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Margaret Lamunu (World Health Organization, Freetown, Sierra Leone), Sylvie Briand (0000-0002-7479-1381, World Health Organization), Jean Claude Changa Changa (National Institute of Biomedical Research), Etienne Minkoulou (World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa), Daniel B Jernigan (0000-0002-0653-2433, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Dan Jernigan (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA), Demba Lubambo (World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa), Asheena Khalakdina (World Health Organization), Ibrahim Mamadu (World Health Organization - Nigeria), Ambrose Talisuna (0000-0002-7632-1535, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa), Albert Mbule Kadiobo (World Health Organization, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo), Amara Jambai (University of Sierra Leone), Bruce Aylward (World Health Organization), Michael T Osterholm (0000-0003-1017-2618, University of Minnesota), Michael Osterholm (University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA)
Year2020
Volume5
Issue10
Pagese003901
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003901
PMID33033054
OpenAlexW3092055827
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited14

Process mapping is a systems thinking approach used to understand, analyse and optimise processes within complex systems. We aim to demonstrate how this methodology can be applied during disease outbreaks to strengthen response and health systems. Process mapping exercises were conducted during three unique emerging disease outbreak contexts with different: mode of transmission, size, and health system infrastructure. System functioning improved considerably in each country. In Sierra Leone, laboratory testing was accelerated from 6 days to within 24 hours. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, time to suspected case notification reduced from 7 to 3 days. In Nigeria, key data reached the national level in 48 hours instead of 5 days. Our research shows that despite the chaos and complexities associated with emerging pathogen outbreaks, the implementation of a process mapping exercise can address immediate response priorities while simultaneously strengthening components of a health system

Business · Economics · Environmental health · Environmental resource management · Geography · Medical emergency · Outbreak · Pathology · Process management · Sierra leone · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Systems thinking · Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research · Computer Science · Medicine · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Zoonotic diseases and public health