Facilitating cultural change in healthcare organisations

Abstract

The need for cultural change in healthcare organisations is well documented. There is a plethora of evidence to demonstrate the devastating impact of poor workplace culture on staff and patient outcomes. However, balanced against the significant financial pressures and a staffing crisis, cultural change is unlikely to be made a priority, despite the fact that many of the problems faced by organisations are compounded by poor workplace culture. The evidence demonstrates the positive difference cultural change can make, building staff confidence and encouraging innovation which, in turn, will result in greater efficiency and best use of limited funding. This article presents a simple model that may, when combined with other cultural tools, offer organisations a cost-effective and practical way to develop a positive workplace culture.