Increased capability for innovative development in primary healthcare: a development of flexible support concepts

Purpose and goal

Our purpose was to improve conditions for strategic approaches to lead and support innovation and change in primary care. We tested and further adapted flexible support-concepts based on a generic model designed by the researchers. A support-concept is a combination of process-support, knowledge bank and follow-up approaches, which are adapted to a particular development area. The model’s concepts was tested in pro-active and re-active ways on an attempt to develop integrated care and multi professional geriatric teams and on strategic development with complex content.

Expected effects and result

Higher level managers have established a way of thinking in line with the generic model and its support concept, for use as a base for innovative development within primary care in Piteå. Further expectations is that this approach will mature, spread and strengthen the organisations basic capacity to handle development, change and organisational learning. The generic model and the concepts have been also tested by developers and support functions and the approach have been discussed and used by the region’s development unit.

Planned approach and implementation

Project activities included management team meetings, planning, anchoring, workshops, local and researcher meetings and input to a knowledge bank. Development and tests have taken place in 7 workshops with participants from the regions’ primary care and development unit. Between these a practical application of the concepts took place. Parallel with tests of the model pedagogical aspects of use and spread was discussed. From a managerial level the experience was that the approach gave advantages and a better holistic view compared to approaches focusing on micro-system levels.