| 101 | 103 | This figure shows the cycle of information creation due to an iterative, problem solving process typical not just of clinical medicine but of science in general. The "system" as a whole is made up of two parts: the "patient system" and the "clinical investigator system". The latter consists of health carers, and may include the patient (at points in time when the patient performs observational or therapeutic activities), and is responsible for understanding the state of the patient system and delivering care to it. A problem is solved by making observations, forming opinions (hypotheses), and prescribing actions (instructions) for next steps, which may be further investigation, or may be interventions designed to resolve the problem, and finally, executing the instructions (actions). |
