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.