To have a model that simulates the human body – its physiology, diseases, behaviors and the healthcare system sounds too good to be true! As I read through the features of the Archimedes Model, I was quite impressed with the amount of work that must have gone into bringing the Model into its current form. It would be no mean feat to simulate the human body that has been evolving since millions of years and healthcare systems that have gained structure since the past century or so. And if this Model is a creation of the Kaiser Permanente and can boast of prestigious clients like the CDC, RWJ Foundation and other professional bodies, I would like to believe that it has its distinct merits.
Having said this, the human body and healthcare systems are both complex adaptive by nature. Within such systems, the ‘reaction’ at each step sets the tone for future actions. And it is this ‘reaction’ of the human mind that can take countless forms. So how does a model replicate these unpredictable or rather unprecedented reactions and convert them to mathematical equations? For a student of HSR, this model could hold dual value. Firstly, with its limitations, it can still be a useful tool during the conduct of our research. Secondly, it can also provide an opportunity to help shape and implement not only the model but also the outcomes in practical settings.
But would it meet with success in simulating clinical outcomes? Can a model realistically represent the complex interactions that occur within one’s body or the way a disease is likely to progress in groups of individuals or analyze the response that a treatment modality is likely to generate or ‘predict’ the way clinicians think (this by far would be the most challenging!)? If I have understood the concept correctly and if the Archimedes Model achieves all that it claims to achieve, it could be a solution to a number of woes that plague healthcare today. It will be interesting to read further, experience and fully understand the dynamics of this innovative model.
To have a model that simulates the human body – its physiology, diseases, behaviors and the healthcare system sounds too good to be true! As I read through the features of the Archimedes Model, I was quite impressed with the amount of work that must have gone into bringing the Model into its current form. It would be no mean feat to simulate the human body that has been evolving since millions of years and healthcare systems that have gained structure since the past century or so. And if this Model is a creation of the Kaiser Permanente and can boast of prestigious clients like the CDC, RWJ Foundation and other professional bodies, I would like to believe that it has its distinct merits.
ReplyDeleteHaving said this, the human body and healthcare systems are both complex adaptive by nature. Within such systems, the ‘reaction’ at each step sets the tone for future actions. And it is this ‘reaction’ of the human mind that can take countless forms. So how does a model replicate these unpredictable or rather unprecedented reactions and convert them to mathematical equations? For a student of HSR, this model could hold dual value. Firstly, with its limitations, it can still be a useful tool during the conduct of our research. Secondly, it can also provide an opportunity to help shape and implement not only the model but also the outcomes in practical settings.
But would it meet with success in simulating clinical outcomes? Can a model realistically represent the complex interactions that occur within one’s body or the way a disease is likely to progress in groups of individuals or analyze the response that a treatment modality is likely to generate or ‘predict’ the way clinicians think (this by far would be the most challenging!)? If I have understood the concept correctly and if the Archimedes Model achieves all that it claims to achieve, it could be a solution to a number of woes that plague healthcare today. It will be interesting to read further, experience and fully understand the dynamics of this innovative model.