Applicability of Lewin s change management model in a hospital setting.
OBJECTIVE
Today's socio-economic developments in the healthcare area require continued optimization of processes and cost structures at hospitals, often associated with process changes for different occupational groups in the hospital. Formal methods for managing change have been established in other industries. The goal of this study was to assess the applicability of Kurt Lewin's change management method to a health informatics-related project at a German university hospital.


METHODS
A project at the University Hospital Erlangen introducing changed requirements in the documentation of costly material in the surgical area was conducted following the concept of Lewin's approach based on field theory, group dynamics, action research and the three steps of change. A data warehouse contributed information to several steps in the change process.


RESULTS
The model was successfully applied to the change project. Socio-dynamic forces relevant to the project goals were identified and considered in the design of the new documentation concept. The achieved documentation level met the new requirements and in some areas even exceeded them.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the project experiences, we consider Kurt Lewin's approach applicable to change management projects in the hospital sector without a requirement for substantial additional resources, however, specific hospital characteristics need to be taken into account. The data warehouse played an important role by providing essential contributions throughout the entire change process.
Suc
Jasmina
J
Chair of Medical Informatics, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91052 Erlangen, Germany. jasmina.suc@imi.med.uni-erlangen.de
Prokosch
H-U
HU
Ganslandt
T
T
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003361:Cost Allocation; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005858:Germany; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D008421:Materials Management, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009737:Nursing Records; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D009936:Organizational Innovation / Q000191:economics*; D012985:Software Design; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration