Aligning the Stars: Using Systems Thinking to (Re)Design Canadian Healthcare

It has become commonplace to refer to a "Canadian healthcare system," implying some monolithic system of prevention and care, yet failing to acknowledge its various subsystems, some performing well and some not. This article argues that a more nuanced understanding of healthcare systems, based on the principles of Systems Theory, provides a useful lens to understand our current system(s) as well as those that are possible, the principles of design and the levers available to leaders and policymakers as we implement our healthcare strategies for Canada.