An ethnographic study of knowledge sharing across the boundaries between care processes, services and organisations: the contributions to safe hospital discharge
Waring J, Marshall F, Bishop S, Sahota O, Walker M, Currie G, Fisher R, Avery T
Record ID 32014001290
English
Authors' objectives:
To identify interventions and practices that support knowledge sharing and collaboration in the processes of discharge planning and care transition.
Authors' recommendations:
The study supports the view of hospital discharge as a complex system involving tightly coupled and interdependent patterns of interaction between multiple health and social care agencies. Knowledge sharing can help to mitigate system complexity through supporting collaboration and co-ordination. The study suggests four areas of change that might enhance knowledge sharing, reduce system complexity and promote safety. First, knowledge brokers in the form of discharge co-ordinators can facilitate knowledge sharing and co-ordination; second, colocation and functional proximity of stakeholders can support knowledge sharing and mutual appreciation and alignment of divergent practices; third, local cultures should prioritise and value collaboration; and finally, organisational resources, procedures and leadership should be aligned to fostering knowledge sharing and collaborative working. These learning points provide insight for future interventions to enhance discharge planning and care transition. Future research might consider the implementation of interviews to mediate system complexity through fostering enhanced knowledge sharing across occupational and organisational boundaries. Research might also consider in more detail the underlying complexity of both health and social care systems and how opportunities for knowledge sharing might be engendered to promote patient safety in other areas.
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2014
URL for published report:
http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/hsdr/hsdr02290/#/abstract
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
- Patient Discharge
- Continuity of Patient Care
- Patient Safety
- Knowledge Management
Contact
Organisation Name:
NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research programme
Contact Address:
NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email:
journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Copyright:
Queen's Printer and Controller of HMSO
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.