Evidence-informed leadership in healthcare: New collaboration between academia and practice in Kalmar County

Purpose and goal

Leadership has impact on the work environment of employees and on the quality of care. Today, however, it is difficult for healthcare organizations to improve their leadership practices in an evidence-informed manner. The project´s aim was therefore to establish long-term collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Region Kalmar to work together to find ways to strengthen a leadership in healthcare that rests on a scientific basis. During the project, a close collaboration has been established and new issues have been raised which we will continue to investigate together.

Expected results and effects

During the project period, we investigated how research support could be integrated into existing management, HR and business development structures at different levels. Our mutual hope is that the project can be a first step towards scientifically based knowledge of leadership being translated into practical use and lead to more competent management, increased trust between managers and employees, more attractive working environment for healthcare professionals, as well as good, safe and equal care for all citizens.

Planned approach and implementation

The project builds on a close collaboration between academia and healthcare where leadership researcher Mia von Knorring has followed daily work in hospitals, in primary care and in psychiatry, as well as in the healthcare and regions management teams over a period of three months. The fact that the project encompasses the entire healthcare system in a region has contributed to reach valuable knowledge of how successful leadership can be exercised by managers and employees at all levels and across organizational boundaries in the everyday life of healthcare.