Abstract
Purpose
– The Spanish health care system has undergone important changes, particularly in the
development of new homecare services. In practice, however, results have been mixed. Some homecare
services have been successful, but implementation failures are common and the intended patients are
frequently reluctant to use home care services. A possible explanation for efficiency and effectiveness
gaps of services provided by hospital-in-the-home units may relate to the advantages and
disadvantages of the knowledge processes that these units highlight as a result of their different
structural properties. The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for
hospital-in-the-home units developed to guide learning within the context of homecare services.
Design/methodology/approach
– Using data collected from the hospital-in-the-home unit at a
Spanish regional hospital, this work examines how the existence of some practices is linked to
knowledge transfer and how this component is linked to patient service.
Findings
– This paper reports a knowledge management program that is customised and based on
four frameworks – i.e. technical infrastructure; people to facilitate and drive the process; a system that
supports and rewards sharing; and the team leader.
Research limitations/implications
– Conducting this type of single case study (an interview-based
case study approach) is to be understood foremost as a prelude to further quantitative studies including
common measures for patients, clinicians, staff, managers and board members.
Originality/value
– In an applied sense, the model provides homecare practitioners with identifiable
factors that enable the four frameworks and address the relevant issues by changing strategies at both
the individual and organisational levels. Without a knowledge management program, practitioners
may lose the ability to see the market signals stemming from healthcare members, and they may
decide to go solely by their own ways of doing and interpreting things.
Keywords
Knowledge management, Hospital management, Management strategy, Leadership
Paper type
Research paper