The Oxford Healthcare Culture Programme
A convenient podcast-based learning system
Sir Muir Gray explains The Healthcare Culture Programme
Users of the programme can:
- Listen to short, informative podcasts on a regular schedule
- Read background information and follow links to resources
- Share their thoughts by commenting on podcasts
- Fill in their own learning record for each podcast
- Subscribe via RSS in iTunes to listen on their iPod or iPhone
You can give it a go on our demo site: Try it now
Culture is...
“...the pattern of basic assumptions that a given group has invented, discovered or developed in learning to cope with its problems of external adaptation and internal integration and that have worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems”.
Edgar Schein
Organisations consist of a structure, systems, and a culture
Of these, the structure is easiest to change and for this reason structural change is common, although the least important of the three components of an organisation; healthcare is so complex that there is no correct structure. Systems are more difficult to change but can be developed and modified. The culture of the organisation, of at least equal importance to its systems, is, for many people who manage healthcare, the most difficult part of an organisation to influence.
The contribution of leadership
The person in charge of an organisation, either a whole healthcare organisation or a significant component of it, plays a vitally important part in the creation and development of its culture in part by their personality, in part by creating a common set of belief and assumptions based on
- a common language – ensuring that the frequently used terms are used with a common meaning;
- a common knowledge base – ensuring that the individuals within an organisation have access to the same evidence base and that they are presented on a weekly or monthly basis with a key document or research report, with the focus of this service being on the evidence base for service management;
- common concepts – drawing on influential books, both books directly focused on healthcare and books which, although not on the subject of healthcare, are of direct relevance to people who work in a health service.
The Oxford Healthcare Culture Programme
Delivers key books, key words and key papers using different media, including five minute podcasts and web sites which the recipient can store and to which they can add a commentary on what they have heard or read to their personal development folder.