HILLA KLEMETTI

Health system design through resource allocation



My role: Health system designer

Focus: Health resource allocation, value based decision making, iterative design work

PROJECT BRIEF

Brief: to design a health system in a resource restricted world. The given scenario was an area with no existing health infrastructure and we were given a scarce budget.

Method: play Health Resource Allocation Game (by KIT) in a limited time frame. First phase is the design phase and second is the testing phase.

Challenge: decide wheather to ensure at least some level of help for most people, or ensure the treatment of a wider range of symptoms and deseases.

Goal: help everyone equally regardless of their socio-economic status.


A picture of the RA board game
The resource allocation game in process

DESIGN PROCESS

1. Understanding the requirements and limitations for the game
2. Two approaches and four drafts created in total in an iterative manner
3. Pros and cons of each system, discussing values
4. Deciding on the final solution
5. Testing with patient cases


Final arrangement of the RA board game
Our final arrangement

RESULTS

The game allows us to get concerte results on how well our system worked (Tables below).

It would've been great to compare our results with another group to further analyze our performance.


A table showing the amount of cases cured and failed to cure

Success and failure rates in percentages

MY CONTRIBUTIONS

This process was done in an intense manner around one table, where the whole group took part in all aspects of the process. My key contributions were insisting on a focus on preventative healthcare and especially for women's diseases which turned out to be beneficial. I worked as a negotiator between group members with differing ideas. In the reporting phase, my responsibility was calculating, communicating and analyzing the results obtained.



LEARNINGS

Quickly digest new information and understand the restrictions of the game
Make ethical decisions in a group setting with limited information available
Discuss values to base our decisionmaking on
Understand the holistic nature of health systems
Iterative work
Transdisciplinary team work