Organizational Culture, Knowledge Management, and Patient Safety in U.S. Hospitals

Abstract

Research in healthcare operations has grown in interest and importance over the last decade, as the healthcare environment continues to become more complex and challenging. This study investigates the relationships among organizational culture, knowledge management, and patient safety performance. Drawing on existing literature, the authors develop and test a model for patient safety performance using data from a nationwide survey of more than 200 hospitals. Structural equation modeling is used to provide empirical support for the model. In particular, they find that different dimensions of organizational culture are related to more effective knowledge management, which in turn is associated with better patient safety performance. The authors conclude by discussing the major implications of their study for operations managers and healthcare practitioners and then provide directions for future research.

• competing values framework
• healthcare operations
• knowledge management
• medical errors
• organizational culture
• patient safety

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gregory N. Stock

Gregory Stock is currently associate professor in the College of Business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in technology and operations management. He is also codirector of the bachelor of innovation program at UCCS. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Duke University and his doctorate in business administration from the University of North Carolina. Prior to beginning his academic career, he held design and development engineering positions in a variety of high-technology industries, including computer graphics, data communications, and wireless telecommunications. He has also served on the faculties of the University of Hartford, Arizona State University West, Hofstra University, and Northern Illinois University. In addition, he has served as visiting professor in the MBA program at the China-Europe International Business School. Stock's research interests include technology management, new product development, healthcare operations, and supply chain management. His work has been published in a variety of journals. He can be reached at [email protected].

Kathleen L. McFadden

Kathleen L. McFadden is professor of operations management in the College of Business at Northern Illinois University. She received her doctorate from the University of Texas at Arlington, and bachelor's and master's degrees from Gonzaga University. Her research interests focus on operations safety and quality management in both the healthcare and aviation industries. She has published articles in several journals.

Charles R. Gowen

Charles R. Gowen III is a professor of management in the College of Business at Northern Illinois University. He received his doctorate and M.B.A. from the Ohio State University. His research interests focus on quality and strategic management, especially for Lean Six Sigma in healthcare operations. He has published articles recently in several journals, including the Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Production Research, and International Journal of Operations and Production Management, among others.