Lean implementation approaches at different levels in Swedish hospitals: the importance for working conditions, worker engagement, health and performanceShow others and affiliations
2014 (English)Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Background
Swedish healthcare organizations are investing heavily in internal reforms. Lean has been frequently used as an overall concept to improve care processes and decrease costs. Some evidence shows positive results, especially if work environment issues are considered in parallel with other desired outcomes. However, there are considerable difficulties in evaluating lean as a concept since its application and interpretation seem to vary widely. Further, like for other management concepts, lean outcomes crucially depend on the implementation process.
Aim
This program investigates implementations of lean and lean-like developments of processes of care, and how these affect the working conditions, health, and performance of healthcare employees. We also investigated organizational factors and conditions that mediated specific outcomes.
Method
Mixed method design: questionnaire to employees (n=880) and managers (n=320), qualitative interviews (n=55) and observations with follow up during three years. Five hospitals were selected, and within them five units that were connected by their flow of acute care patients, i.e. the emergency unit, the medical and surgical emergency ward (or ICU at small hospital) as well as one medical and one surgical ward. Initially we used qualitative-driven analyses and thereafter quantitative-driven mixed method analysis.
Results
The implementation strategies varied between the hospitals and between the strategic and operative levels. Strategic managers also used different approaches to overcome the gap between strategic and operative levels. Operative managers shared similarities in their stepwise and coaching approaches encouraging participation among employees, but differences regarding how assignments were delegated. Social capital and attitudes among health care profession were of importance for employees’ work engagement and active engagement in development work.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Nordic Ergonomics Society (NES) , 2014.
National Category
Health Sciences
Research subject
Technology and Health
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-158202DOI: 10.4122/dtu:2433OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-158202DiVA, id: diva2:775352
Conference
11th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organisational Design and Management (ODAM) and 46th Annual Nordic Ergonomics Society Conference (NES)
Projects
Implementering av Lean i sjukhusorganisationer: Betydelse för vårdpersonalens prestation, engagemang, arbetsförhållanden och hälsa samt vårdens effektivitet och kvalitetNyorientering av svensk sjukvård: Hur kan kapacitet byggas som stärker lärande, entusiasm och välbefinnande under utvecklingsarbetet - i praktiken
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 65412AFA Insurance, 6547
Note
QC 20150210
2015-01-012015-01-012016-04-12Bibliographically approved