Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Managed clinical networks (MCNs), a relatively new phenomenon in the health service, aim to ensure equitable provision of high-quality, evidence-based care using an innovative interdisciplinary work model. This article describes a study that aimed to highlight themes which could be explored in a fuller information needs analysis of individuals working in MCNs. Comparison with an earlier study of staff in more traditional roles shows that staff working in MCNs have a greater appreciation of: the value of information and knowledge in the organizational context; the tools and skills required to use information and knowledge to improve service delivery; the value of personal or tacit knowledge and the role of individuals in coordinating networks of knowledge; and the importance of developing a culture which includes the patient in the knowledge network. These findings indicate that MCNs may support a more ‘knowledge-based’ work model than traditional structures within the health service.

Keywords

evidence-based practice health information knowledge sharing managed clinical networks

References

Liebowitz J . Building Organisational Intelligence: A Knowledge Management Primer. London: CRC Press , 2000.

McAdam R , Reid R . A comparison of public and private sector perceptions and use of knowledge management . Journal of European Industrial Training 2000; 24 (6); 317-329 .

Bate S , Robert G . Management and communities of practice in the private sector: lessons for modernising the National Health Service in England and Wales . Public Administration 2002; 80 (4); 643-663 .

Scottish Executive Health Department . Partnership for Care. Edinburgh: SEHD , 2003.

Scottish Executive Health Department . Working for Health. Edinburgh: SEHD , 2002.

Scottish Executive Health Department . Our National Health: A Plan for Action, a Plan for Change. Edinburgh: SEHD , 2001.

Scottish Executive Health Department . Learning Together. Edinburgh: SEHD , 1999.

Muir Gray J A . Evidence-Based Healthcare. Edinburgh: Churchill-Livingstone , 2001.

Enabling Access to the Knowledge Base of Healthcare: Library and Information Provision for the NHS in Scotland. Report of a Working Group of the Scottish Library and Information Council. http://www.slainte.org.uk/files/pdf/slic/enablingaccess.pdf

10.

Senge P M . The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation. London: Century Business , 1990.

11.

Argyris C . On Organisational Learning. Oxford: Blackwell , 1999.

12.

Huber G P . Organisational learning: the contributing processes and the literatures . Organizational Science 1991; 2; 88-115 .

13.

Drucker P . The Landmarks of Tomorrow. London: Heinemann , 1959. The term ‘knowledge worker’ was coined by Drucker to describe those who work with intangibles (ideas, information, knowledge) as opposed to objects.

14.

Scottish Executive Health Department . Acute Services Review. SEHD , 1998.

15.

Harman C , Brelade S . Knowledge Management and the Role of HR. London: Financial Times/Prentice-Hall , 2000.

16.

Scottish Office Health Department Management Executive Letter MEL (1999) 10. http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/mcn/pdf/mel199910.pdf, 18 March 2004. MEL is the former name for a Health Department Letter (HDL), used for formal communications from the Scottish Executive Health Department to NHS Scotland.

17.

Katzenbach J R , Smith D K . The Wisdom of Teams. Boston: Harvard Business School , 1993.

18.

Van Beveran J . Does health care for knowledge management? Journal of Knowledge Management 2003; 7 (1); 90-95 .

19.

Connor M . Developing network-based services in the NHS . International Journal of Healthcare Quality Assurance 2001; 14 (6); 237-244 .

20.

Burnett S , Webster L , Williams D . Access to the Knowledge Base to Support Interdisciplinary Models of Healthcare Delivery and Clinical Priority Areas. Centre for Knowledge Management, The Robert Gordon University. Report for NHS Scotland Library and Knowledge Service , 2003. http://www.elib.scot.nhs.uk/news/documents/Interdisciplinary_Report%2520-%2520final%2520version.doc

21.

Burnett S , Webster L , Williams D . The Nature of Future Strategy for Library and Knowledge Services for NHS Scotland: A Preliminary Analysis of User Needs. Centre for Knowledge Management, The Robert Gordon University. Report for NHS Scotland Library and Knowledge Service , 2003. http://www.elib.scot.nhs.uk/news/documents/Complete%2520report%2520-%2520final%2520version.doc, 18 March 2004.

22.

Booth A , Walton G . Managing Knowledge in Health Services. London: Library Association , 2000.

23.

American Library Association . Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report. Chicago: ALA , 1989. http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/presidential.htm, 18 March 2004.

24.

Proud V K , Johnson E D , Mitchell J A . Students online: learning medical genetics . American Journal of Human Genetics 1993; 52; 637-642 . Cited in [22].

25.

Taylor C , White S . Practising Reflexivity in Health and Welfare: Making Knowledge. Buckingham: Open University Press , 2000.

26.

Seely Brown J . Research that reinvents the corporation. In Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management. Boston: Harvard Business School , 1998.

27.

Nonaka I , Takeuchi H . The Knowledge Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. New York: Oxford University Press , 1995.

28.

Nonaka I . The knowledge-creating company. In Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management. Boston: Harvard Business School , 1998.

Knowledge support for interdisciplinary models of healthcare delivery: a study of knowledge needs and roles in managed clinical networks

Abstract

Keywords

References