Reengineering hospitals: evidence from the field

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Change
• Hospital Administration

Background:

• Significant financial investment in hospital reengineering initiatives across the U.S.
• Limited research clarifying the content and management practices of these initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a clearer picture of hospital reengineering content and implementation.
• To identify management practices that facilitate or impede reengineering.
• To explore common facilitators and barriers in hospital reengineering.

Main Methods:

• Extensive field research conducted in fourteen U.S. hospitals.
• Analysis of reengineering initiatives to identify common components.
• Exploration of management practices, facilitators, and barriers through case studies.

Main Results:

• Identification of seven core components of hospital reengineering.
• Recognition of eight major barriers hindering implementation.
• Examples illustrating the practical application of facilitators and barriers.

Conclusions:

• Hospital reengineering involves diverse configurations of seven key components.
• Understanding facilitators and barriers is crucial for successful implementation.
• Further research is needed to optimize management practices in hospital reengineering.