Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Interprofessional Collaboration in Inpatient Care

Ahlgren, Evelina LU and From Björklund, Emma LU (2024) MGTN59 20241
Department of Business Administration
Abstract (Swedish)
There is an increased demand for managing the complex hospital organisations in which healthcare
personnel operate within, which is even more so evident from today's healthcare crisis in Sweden.
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasised the importance of interprofessional
collaboration in 2010, research on this area has increased. However, much of the research considers
only one actor, which is members of interprofessional teams, and thus misses the managerial context
of other actors playing a major role for the collaboration. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the
knowledge of interprofessional collaboration, both horizontally and vertically, and thereby create an
understanding of how Team Members, Department Managers... (More)
There is an increased demand for managing the complex hospital organisations in which healthcare
personnel operate within, which is even more so evident from today's healthcare crisis in Sweden.
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasised the importance of interprofessional
collaboration in 2010, research on this area has increased. However, much of the research considers
only one actor, which is members of interprofessional teams, and thus misses the managerial context
of other actors playing a major role for the collaboration. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the
knowledge of interprofessional collaboration, both horizontally and vertically, and thereby create an
understanding of how Team Members, Department Managers and Human Resource personnel
collaborate by studying various barriers and facilitating factors. This study is conducted through a
qualitative case study with 17 semi-structured interviews from these three actors within inpatient care
at Skånes Universitetssjukhus (SUS). Findings suggest that the actors all have different experiences
regarding both who carries the responsibility and what they are responsible for, in relation to the
different barriers and facilitating factors. It also appears that undesirable communication, both
horizontally and vertically, forms the basis on which these misunderstandings lay. However, it seems
not to be a lack of willingness to collaborate and facilitate interprofessional collaboration that is the
root cause, but rather a lack of time and resources. In relation to this, the organisational structures in
the managerial streamline for different professions along with a very limited Human Resource Partner
function working closely to the operational level of the departments, hinders proactive work, which
impacts the interprofessional collaboration. In conclusion, this thesis concludes that communication is
not a one-way path, but that there needs to be a responsibility within the organisation to create a
well-functioning collaboration, which in turn could lead to better interprofessional collaboration.
Finally, recommendations are given for future research areas that aim to optimise and deepen the
understanding of all three actors, not least to strengthen the role of the Human Resource Function in
the complex hospital environments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Ahlgren, Evelina LU and From Björklund, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
A case study at Skånes Universitetssjukhus (SUS)
course
MGTN59 20241
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Interprofessional Teams, Interprofessional Collaboration, Collaboration, Barriers, Facilitating Factors, Support, Inpatient Care, Team Members, Department Managers, Human Resource Management
language
English
id
9167322
date added to LUP
2024-06-24 12:45:00
date last changed
2024-06-24 12:45:00
@misc{9167322,
  abstract     = {{There is an increased demand for managing the complex hospital organisations in which healthcare
personnel operate within, which is even more so evident from today's healthcare crisis in Sweden.
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasised the importance of interprofessional
collaboration in 2010, research on this area has increased. However, much of the research considers
only one actor, which is members of interprofessional teams, and thus misses the managerial context
of other actors playing a major role for the collaboration. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the
knowledge of interprofessional collaboration, both horizontally and vertically, and thereby create an
understanding of how Team Members, Department Managers and Human Resource personnel
collaborate by studying various barriers and facilitating factors. This study is conducted through a
qualitative case study with 17 semi-structured interviews from these three actors within inpatient care
at Skånes Universitetssjukhus (SUS). Findings suggest that the actors all have different experiences
regarding both who carries the responsibility and what they are responsible for, in relation to the
different barriers and facilitating factors. It also appears that undesirable communication, both
horizontally and vertically, forms the basis on which these misunderstandings lay. However, it seems
not to be a lack of willingness to collaborate and facilitate interprofessional collaboration that is the
root cause, but rather a lack of time and resources. In relation to this, the organisational structures in
the managerial streamline for different professions along with a very limited Human Resource Partner
function working closely to the operational level of the departments, hinders proactive work, which
impacts the interprofessional collaboration. In conclusion, this thesis concludes that communication is
not a one-way path, but that there needs to be a responsibility within the organisation to create a
well-functioning collaboration, which in turn could lead to better interprofessional collaboration.
Finally, recommendations are given for future research areas that aim to optimise and deepen the
understanding of all three actors, not least to strengthen the role of the Human Resource Function in
the complex hospital environments.}},
  author       = {{Ahlgren, Evelina and From Björklund, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Interprofessional Collaboration in Inpatient Care}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}