A systems science perspective on the capacity for change in public hospitals

doi:10.1186/s13584-017-0143-6

Editorial

. 2017 Mar 24:6:16.

doi: 10.1186/s13584-017-0143-6. eCollection 2017.

A systems science perspective on the capacity for change in public hospitals

J Braithwaite¹, J Westbrook², E Coiera³, W B Runciman⁴, R Day⁵, K Hillman^{6

7}, J Herkes¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia.
² Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
³ Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
⁵ St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ The Simpson Centre for Health Services Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Intensive Care Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 28352457
PMCID: PMC5366102
DOI: 10.1186/s13584-017-0143-6

Editorial

A systems science perspective on the capacity for change in public hospitals

J Braithwaite et al. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2017.

. 2017 Mar 24:6:16.

doi: 10.1186/s13584-017-0143-6. eCollection 2017.

Authors

J Braithwaite¹, J Westbrook², E Coiera³, W B Runciman⁴, R Day⁵, K Hillman^{6

7}, J Herkes¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia.
² Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
³ Centre for Health Informatics, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Population Health Research, School of Health Sciences, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
⁵ St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ The Simpson Centre for Health Services Research, South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Intensive Care Unit, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 28352457
PMCID: PMC5366102
DOI: 10.1186/s13584-017-0143-6

Abstract

Many types of organisation are difficult to change, mainly due to structural, cultural and contextual barriers. Change in public hospitals is arguably even more problematic than in other types of hospitals, due to features such as structural dysfunctionalities and bureaucracy stemming from being publicly-run institutions. The main goals of this commentary are to bring into focus and highlight the "3 + 3 Decision Framework" proposed by Edwards and Saltman. This aims to help guide policymakers and managers implementing productive change in public hospitals. However, while change from the top is popular, there are powerful front-line clinicians, especially doctors, who can act to counterbalance top-down efforts. Front-line clinicians have cultural characteristics and power that allows them to influence or reject managerial decisions. Clinicians in various lower-level roles can also influence other clinicians to resist or ignore management requirements. The context is further complicated by multi-stakeholder agendas, differing goals, and accumulated inertia. The special status of clinicians, along with other system features of public hospitals, should be factored into efforts to realise major system improvements and progressive change.

Keywords: Complexity science; Health systems; Organisational change; Public health; Systems science.

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Comment on

Re-thinking barriers to organizational change in public hospitals.
Edwards N, Saltman RB. Edwards N, et al. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2017 Mar 20;6:8. doi: 10.1186/s13584-017-0133-8. eCollection 2017. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2017. PMID: 28321291 Free PMC article.

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References

1. Callen JL, Braithwaite J, Westbrook JI. Cultures in hospitals and their influence on and attitudes to, and satisfaction with, the use of clinical information systems. Soc Sci Med. 2007;65(3):635–9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.03.053. - DOI - PubMed
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1. Nugus P, Greenfield D, Travaglia J, et al. How and where clinicians exercise power: interprofessional relations in health care. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(5):898–909. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.029. - DOI - PubMed
1. Braithwaite J, Westbrook MT, Iedema R, et al. A tale of two hospitals: assessing cultural landscapes and compositions. Soc Sci Med. 2005;60(5):1149–62. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.06.046. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Callen JL, Braithwaite J, Westbrook JI. Cultures in hospitals and their influence on and attitudes to, and satisfaction with, the use of clinical information systems. Soc Sci Med. 2007;65(3):635–9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.03.053. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Callen JL, Braithwaite J, Westbrook JI. Cultures in hospitals and their influence on and attitudes to, and satisfaction with, the use of clinical information systems. Soc Sci Med. 2007;65(3):635–9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.03.053. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Coiera E. Why system inertia makes health reform so difficult. BMJ. 2011;342:d3693. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d3693. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Coiera E. Why system inertia makes health reform so difficult. BMJ. 2011;342:d3693. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d3693. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Allen D, Braithwaite J, Sandall J, et al., editors. The sociology of healthcare safety and quality. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell; 2016. - PubMed

[6] Allen D, Braithwaite J, Sandall J, et al., editors. The sociology of healthcare safety and quality. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell; 2016. - PubMed

[7] Nugus P, Greenfield D, Travaglia J, et al. How and where clinicians exercise power: interprofessional relations in health care. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(5):898–909. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.029. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Nugus P, Greenfield D, Travaglia J, et al. How and where clinicians exercise power: interprofessional relations in health care. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(5):898–909. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.029. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Braithwaite J, Westbrook MT, Iedema R, et al. A tale of two hospitals: assessing cultural landscapes and compositions. Soc Sci Med. 2005;60(5):1149–62. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.06.046. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Braithwaite J, Westbrook MT, Iedema R, et al. A tale of two hospitals: assessing cultural landscapes and compositions. Soc Sci Med. 2005;60(5):1149–62. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.06.046. - DOI - PubMed

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A systems science perspective on the capacity for change in public hospitals

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A systems science perspective on the capacity for change in public hospitals

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