How does a Network Platform Work for Participating Actors Towards Integrated Care Governance? A Case Study of a Dutch Hospital Region

Introduction: Network platforms are interesting for integrated care governance as they seek solutions for the problem of competition and tensions between networks. In this paper, we analyse how a network platform functions for the actors involved, and how it is used in their work.Methods: We employed a case study in a Dutch urbanised hospital region, and conducted 17 interviews with hospital physicians, directors, and supporting staff who are involved in a network platform called “BeterKeten” (BK).Results: Actors assign different functions and purposes to BK: facilitating and legitimising prof... Mehr ...

Verfasser: van der Woerd, Oemar
van Veen-Berkx, Elizabeth
van der Scheer, Wilma
Bal, Roland
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
Verlag/Hrsg.: Ubiquity Press
Schlagwörter: integrated care governance / network platforms / physicians / hospital directors / qualitative research
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28994018
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/6736

Introduction: Network platforms are interesting for integrated care governance as they seek solutions for the problem of competition and tensions between networks. In this paper, we analyse how a network platform functions for the actors involved, and how it is used in their work.Methods: We employed a case study in a Dutch urbanised hospital region, and conducted 17 interviews with hospital physicians, directors, and supporting staff who are involved in a network platform called “BeterKeten” (BK).Results: Actors assign different functions and purposes to BK: facilitating and legitimising professional (learning) communities; adapting to a changing policy context; enlarging professionals’ and the networks’ circle of influence; and extending governing possibilities. Network platform’ dynamics and frictions entail changing professional and managerial practices; embedding a BK network in a partner network; and alignment of (conflicting) network platforms.Discussion: Network platforms are a promising strategy to govern, facilitate, and nurture network-building actions to enhance integrated care, offering new ways of working to cope with its multi-level nature.Conclusion: BK is a dynamic actor with steering capacities that enables the co-existence of multiple purposes. Further research could pay attention to how network platforms are able to develop modalities of integrated care governance that suit healthcare system’s networked character.