Intangibles facilitating or inhibiting health care delivery systems.

Proponents of general systems theory believed its principles were applicable to a variety of living systems. General systems theory was applied to health care delivery systems and provided a conceptual framework for operation. Intangibles in the health care delivery system may inhibit or facilitate open or closed systems and thereby directly or indirectly influence the quality and quantity of care. This paper reviews and discusses: 1) Basic concepts of general systems theory; 2) Application of general systems theory to health care delivery systems, including the Air Evac system; 3) Intangibles in systems which facilitate or inhibit health care delivery; and 4) Suggestions to facilitate open systems and the delivery of quality care.