Summary
Objectives: 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.
Keywords
Change management - organizational innovation - diffusion of innovation - data warehouse
- hospital information systems
