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1 – 10 of 361Health systems worldwide are hampered by disconnects between governance, management, and operations, which negatively impact on their ability to deliver efficient, effective, and…
Abstract
Purpose
Health systems worldwide are hampered by disconnects between governance, management, and operations, which negatively impact on their ability to deliver efficient, effective, and safe healthcare services. This paper shows how insights from the Viable System Model (VSM) can help us to conceptualise health system disconnects impacting specialist clinical services and develop solutions to address organisational fragmentation.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study of a specialist clinical service was undertaken, where the VSM was used to guide semi-structured interviews and workshops with clinicians and managers and analysis of findings.
Findings
The VSM provides a coherent way to conceptualise the disconnects and identify their structural underpinnings. Three novel organisational pathologies emerged from the study.
Research limitations/implications
This New Zealand-based study was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of major health system reform, introducing uncertainty into service provision that may have impacted stakeholders’ views.
Practical implications
The three novel pathologies affect how health systems define their services, their understanding of the management function, and the importance of coordination. The resulting clarity of functioning could improve service quality, staff and patient satisfaction, and the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare service delivery.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the VSM literature on organisational pathologies by providing three novel pathologies for a perspective that may be useful beyond healthcare and invites consideration of health system disconnects as a coherent field of study.
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This viewpoint introduces a “Readiness Self-Assessment Guide” that can be used as a diagnostic tool to help health service governors and managers, particularly in Low-Middle…
Abstract
Purpose
This viewpoint introduces a “Readiness Self-Assessment Guide” that can be used as a diagnostic tool to help health service governors and managers, particularly in Low-Middle Income Countries, or those in the early stages of developing their governance program.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach uses the conceptual framework for governance developed by Barbazza and Tello (2014).
Findings
The Guide is based on five foundational elements or components of governance that frame the actual governance activities. The self-assessment process uses a sequence of real-world examples to help users of the Guide assess their organization’s “readiness” or current capacity to strengthen quality. A simple scoring process allows users to rate their organization’s progress through potential evolutionary steps. The resulting analysis is intended to be the starting point of a structured discussion among team members about priorities, enabling factors and constraints.
Practical implications
Assessment of the institutional context is a fundamental step that will enable quality teams to select the appropriate tools for their priority concerns. This Readiness Self-Assessment Guide can be used as part of that diagnostic assessment.
Originality/value
This paper is empirically derived from the author’s experience as a consultant helping health service organizations and governing authorities to develop health governance programs in several countries.
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Peer support work is increasingly becoming part of the delivery of health and social care services. However, in an Irish context, there is a paucity of research in this area. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Peer support work is increasingly becoming part of the delivery of health and social care services. However, in an Irish context, there is a paucity of research in this area. This study aims to investigate the experiences of peers and other key stakeholders across four sectors in Ireland.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative interviews (N = 35) were conducted with key respondents in mental health, substance use, migrant health and homelessness sectors. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and reported using an ecological framework.
Findings
Peer work is a slowly emerging area of practice, although mental health is further ahead in this journey. Findings suggest that peers are important additions to service delivery but also have various support and development needs. Organisations can encourage and support peers into employment through enacting human resource policy and practices, effective supervision, management and maintaining a positive working culture. Helping other professionals to understand the peer role and how it can function within the wider team is highlighted. National policy and governance structures can also support the emergence of the peer role, which exists in a highly complex arena.
Research limitations/implications
Peers can play a meaningful role in supporting service users in four sectors of health and social care in Ireland. Structures and processes to help embed these roles into systems are encouraged across micro, meso and macro levels. Implications and limitations are discussed for moving forward with peer work.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to include these four areas of practice simultaneously.
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Federica Bosco, Chiara Di Gerio, Gloria Fiorani and Giulia Stola
This paper aims to identify the key issues that healthcare knowledge-intensive organizations (KIPOs) should focus on to define themselves as socioenvironmentally and governance…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the key issues that healthcare knowledge-intensive organizations (KIPOs) should focus on to define themselves as socioenvironmentally and governance responsible for integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) logic into their business strategy. At the same time, this provides an understanding of how healthcare KIPOs contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking a cue from the model developed by the World Economic Forum, an “ESG Processing Map” was constructed to identify qualitative disclosures that a healthcare company should consider when implementing sustainability logic. The aspects investigated were processed, considering national and international standards, frameworks and disclosures. The social network analysis technique was used to systemize and combine the outcomes of these processes and analyze their consistency with sustainable development.
Findings
Through the “ESG Processing Map,” 13 areas of action and 27 topics specific to the health sector were defined on which to intervene in sustainability in order to concretely help HCOs to place specific corrective and improvement actions over time concerning socioenvironmental and governance aspects.
Originality/value
The paper provides contribute, on the one hand, to enriching and updating the academic literature on ESG logic in a still underexplored field and, on the other hand, to provide these types of organizations with a “compass” to guide and orient their business strategies towards sustainability.
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This article aims to address the need for a more structured partnership between civilian and military healthcare, particularly in the context of cross-border threats in the EU…
Abstract
Purpose
This article aims to address the need for a more structured partnership between civilian and military healthcare, particularly in the context of cross-border threats in the EU. While both systems are driven by the same goal of providing high-quality healthcare services and achieving optimal patient outcomes, they operate under different national approaches and resources.
Design/methodology/approach
Two recent crises are presented as examples that highlight the necessity of cooperation between civilian and military medical systems. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Ukrainian Conflict are described based on the experience gathered by the author as a member of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine and form the base to shape a broader perspective on the future of civil-military interaction in healthcare at the European Union level.
Findings
The ability to deliver coordinated responses during crises depend on the level of interoperability, preparation and mutual understanding. To improve synergies, a structured partnership should be established, prioritizing common standards of care and shared best practices. Integrating military and civilian healthcare pathways can be especially beneficial in situations where patients are moved from the point of injury or sickness across different military and civilian structures to receive the most appropriate treatment and rehabilitation for their conditions.
Originality/value
The relationship between military and civilian healthcare systems is often discussed at multinational level, but a clear focus is lacking concerning their shared mission, distinct functions and potential for cross-border collaboration.
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Byongcheon Choi and Cheolho Yoon
Recently, interest and necessity for cloud-based hospital information systems (HISs) have emerged as an appropriate alternative for revitalizing medical information exchange…
Abstract
Purpose
Recently, interest and necessity for cloud-based hospital information systems (HISs) have emerged as an appropriate alternative for revitalizing medical information exchange between hospitals, analyzing “big data” medical information and developing the use of new medical technologies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that affect the switching of information systems in existing on-premise environments into cloud-based HISs.
Design/methodology/approach
A research model was developed using the push–pull–mooring model based on migration theory. The research model was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling.
Findings
The results of this study showed that low compatibility, perceived value, low cost and inertia influenced the intention to switch to cloud-based HISs; low flexibility and low compatibility influenced dissatisfaction; and low cost, ease of maintenance and ease of managing indicators influenced perceived value.
Originality/value
This study is expected to be used as the basis for developing a research model in subsequent studies to analyze the transition to new innovative technologies. Also, in practice, it is expected to contribute to the activation of cloud computing environments in hospitals.
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Ngatindriatun Ngatindriatun, Muhammad Alfarizi and Tika Widiastuti
This study aims to analyze the influence of the dimensions of Sharia hospital service standards, religiosity commitment and trust of Muslim patients on attitudes and satisfaction…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the influence of the dimensions of Sharia hospital service standards, religiosity commitment and trust of Muslim patients on attitudes and satisfaction, as well as the implications of loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out by analyzing data obtained from a survey with purposive sampling techniques with 425 patients in an Indonesian-certified Sharia hospital and analyzing it using partial least squares structural equation modeling software to test the path modeling and the relationship between the instruments.
Findings
This study shows that hospital amenities, doctor’s services, nurses’ services, health-care technicalities and hospital environmental and administrative behavior affect patient satisfaction. In addition, religiosity and trust in encouraging patient attitudes determine patient satisfaction. High satisfaction points will increase loyalty to Sharia hospitals.
Research limitations/implications
This study encourages managers to maximize the quality of humanist Islamic medical services and the infrastructure of comfortable facilities. In addition, hospitals need to improve their holistic atmosphere, technical services and administrative behavior so that they can become essential value for hospital marketing – the development of competence and ethical behavior of health workers through various training programs internally and externally.
Originality/value
This study presents the determination of Sharia hospital service standards accompanied by a commitment to religiosity and trust as a psychological perspective of Muslim patients on attitudes and satisfaction and its implications on the brand loyalty of Indonesian Sharia hospitals that have been officially certified.
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Madalyn Anne Scerri and Rajka Presbury
Spoken service language is critical for service experiences and human welfare in many service settings. However, little is known about how spoken service language can enhance…
Abstract
Purpose
Spoken service language is critical for service experiences and human welfare in many service settings. However, little is known about how spoken service language can enhance customer well-being in transformative service contexts. This paper explores spoken service language and well-being for customers experiencing vulnerability in a transformative service context, informed by an empirical account of the human welfare service of residential aged care.
Design/methodology/approach
Situated within transformative service research (TSR), this study was guided by a theoretical framework of service language and adopts a strengths-based approach to customer experiences of vulnerability. A qualitative multiple case study methodology was applied to explore carers’ perspectives on spoken service language and well-being from three residential aged care homes in Australia.
Findings
The findings demonstrate five spoken service language practices and four principles of spoken service language for well-being that co-create customer well-being and support the alleviation of customer experiences of vulnerability. Conceptualised as transformative spoken service language, the spoken service language practices and principles collectively recognise, support and leverage residents’ capabilities and uplift customer well-being, by enacting a process of mattering highly salient to transformative service contexts.
Originality/value
This study is the first to conceptualise how employee spoken service language can be used to support customer well-being and enhance transformative value for customers experiencing vulnerability to align with the goals of TSR. Practically, the study advocates for a greater awareness and more considered use of transformative spoken service language in human welfare and other transformative service contexts.
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Salam Abdallah and Ashraf Khalil
This study aims to understand and a lay a foundation of how analytics has been used in depression management, this study conducts a systematic literature review using two…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand and a lay a foundation of how analytics has been used in depression management, this study conducts a systematic literature review using two techniques – text mining and manual review. The proposed methodology would aid researchers in identifying key concepts and research gaps, which in turn, will help them to establish the theoretical background supporting their empirical research objective.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper explores a hybrid methodology for literature review (HMLR), using text mining prior to systematic manual review.
Findings
The proposed rapid methodology is an effective tool to automate and speed up the process required to identify key and emerging concepts and research gaps in any specific research domain while conducting a systematic literature review. It assists in populating a research knowledge graph that does not reach all semantic depths of the examined domain yet provides some science-specific structure.
Originality/value
This study presents a new methodology for conducting a literature review for empirical research articles. This study has explored an “HMLR” that combines text mining and manual systematic literature review. Depending on the purpose of the research, these two techniques can be used in tandem to undertake a comprehensive literature review, by combining pieces of complex textual data together and revealing areas where research might be lacking.
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This study aims to explore the impact of experiencing virtual reality (VR) and three-dimensional (3D) printing during the design process on the creativity of interior design…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the impact of experiencing virtual reality (VR) and three-dimensional (3D) printing during the design process on the creativity of interior design students in a luminaire design project.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used the case-study approach within the context of a nine-week luminaire design project. Collected data included self-reported interest and engagement of students from a Qualtrics questionnaire and the ratings of their creativity via the Creative Product Semantic Scale (CPSS) with two judges.
Findings
Descriptive statistics from the Qualtrics questionnaire indicated an overall high level of student interest and engagement with the VR and 3D printing learning experience. Paired t-tests from CPSS ratings of the two judges showed a moderate increase in novelty and a significant increase in style with the introduction of VR and 3D printing technologies, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
Spearman’s correlations (rho) showed no statistical evidence for the relationships between CPSS ratings for creativity and students’ self-reported interest and engagement in VR and 3D printing learning experience.
Practical implications
Ample access time to VR technology and sufficient control over the 3D printing process are important for effective applications of Industry 4.0 technologies in organizations.
Social implications
This study dissected the confounding variables in its results as practical considerations for intergrading VR and 3D printing technologies for organizations in Industry 4.0.
Originality/value
This study acknowledged VR and 3D printing technologies as simulants for interest and engagement, which benefit creativity.
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