Meeting point as an innovative arena - quality improvements for elderly persons with complex needs

Purpose and goal

An existing innovative meeting arena for actors in healthcare and social care would improve their ability to collaborate to create quality improvements for the elderly with complex needs. One objective was to study how collaboration was created in the meeting arena, which has been fulfilled. Other objectives, has been partially fulfilled. Experience from the researchers´ observations was used in the planning of the arena´s meetings and also in three other meeting arenas. Two methods from the innovation field were tested, while a major activity was interrupted by the pandemic.

Expected results and effects

The studies resulted in an accepted article and a manuscript. The participants in the arena appreciated that their collaborative work has been researched. The result is useful for the arena and for other similar arenas, including legitimizing the arena´s working methods. The development of the arena was interrupted by the pandemic, rather it was a matter of keeping the arena going despite a strenuous situation for managers and employees. Contact was established with an innovation researcher. Lessons from the project period will be used in the continued work to develop collaboration.

Planned approach and implementation

Two activities from the project plan were tested: a reflection instrument on innovation in the public sector was used, it provided some insights but was not taken further; views from the “end users” were obtained in a pilot project with patients and relatives, a continuation was planned but interrupted by the pandemic. A workshop for employees was planned together with an innovation researcher, first in physical form then digitally, but was not carried out due to the pandemic. The research group re-planned its second sub-study, but was able to carry out two studies as planned.