To illustrate the relevant strategies according to the occasions, Sun Tzu categorised the battle fields into nine categories. He dedicated a whole chapter to describe them, the eleventh chapter titled "The Nine Situations" in his "The Art of War".
Sun Tzu said, "The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground: (1) Dispersive ground; (2) facile ground; (3) contentious ground; (4) open ground; (5) ground of intersecting highways; (6) serious ground; (7) difficult ground; (8) hemmed-in ground; (9) desperate ground."
Interestingly, they can be well interpreted within the healthcare context. In this issue, the first situation "Dispersive ground" is interpreted as Primary Care.
Firstly, look at the definition.
Sun Tzu said, "When a chieftain is fighting in his own territory, it is dispersive ground."
The chieftain who fights battle can be assimilated to a healthcare professional and a patient as they fight against diseases. In a primary care setting, a healthcare professional is a general practitioner or a primary care nurse who plays its role in its own territory. The patient is provided healthcare service in the proximity of its own community.
So far so good. Then secondly, what about strategy there?
Sun Tzu said, "On dispersive ground, therefore, fight not."
Because of proximity of the battlefield to home, soldiers rather run away than taking risk of fight. In healthcare context, a patient would not tolerate heavy stressful treatment or intervention. So in the primary care setting it would be wise to concentrate on prevention and health promotion rather than intensive battle against diseases.
The final words for this situation.
Sun Tzu said, "On dispersive ground, I would inspire my men with unity of purpose. "
In Primary Care setting, definitely this is very important point. The general practitioner and the primary care nurse should be informed of latest best practices and the awareness and participation of patient should be encouraged and supported by adequate information in the same purpose of lifting health.
So what should be dispersed here are the proper information and knowledge, not the people, or even worse, diseases.
The English texts of Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' are from The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Art of War, by Sun Zu
