Going in circles? - Identifying the dissemination process of healthcare networks within their member organizations
1Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 5229ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, 5229ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Rijnkade 5, 3511 LC, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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View abstract on PubMed
Healthcare networks struggle to improve outcomes because member organizations rarely adopt network decisions. This study reveals a five-component process model explaining dissemination failures and offering strategies for network success.
Area of Science:
- Health services research
- Organizational network analysis
- Implementation science
Background:
- Purpose-oriented networks are common in healthcare but often fail to improve health outcomes.
- Limited adaptation of network-level decisions by member organizations hinders impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a process model explaining the dissemination of network-level decisions to operational levels within multi-hospital networks.
- To identify factors inhibiting successful dissemination and provide a framework for network managers.
Main Methods:
- In-depth multiple case study of three multi-hospital networks.
- Data collection included observations, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews.
- Analysis involved identifying a cyclical dissemination process and inhibiting factors.
Main Results:
- A five-component cyclical dissemination process was identified: transferrable output, brokerage, internal transfer, adoption, and organizational input.
- Lack of time, commitment, and constituency misalignment were identified as key inhibiting factors.
- The developed model explains network failures and offers a framework for improvement.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the cyclical dissemination process and inhibiting factors is crucial for network success.
- Network managers can use the proposed framework to systematically address barriers and enhance dissemination.
- This research provides insights into improving the effectiveness of healthcare networks.