The Anatomy Of Leadership In Clinical Health Networks

Abstract

A major priority of healthcare systems globally is to improve the quality of patient care through the collaborative work of clinical and health networks and the evaluation of outcome-focused service delivery. Clinical network communities span boundaries not only between clinicians, consumers and policy makers, but also between health service providers operating across different geographic regions. As such, health networks present unique challenges for clinicians to lead and influence clinical practice improvement and shape health policy. The purpose of this study is to magnify the leadership behaviours that help networks function effectively. In this work in progress, we employ Leximancer text analysis software as the microscope to analyse the content of 48 interviews with both leaders and members across seven clinical networks operating under the aegis of Queensland Health. The findings reveal a tightly shared cognitive map of priorities around leadership in relation to network processes, health policies, and leadership roles. We suggest that a relationship-oriented pattern of skills based on an integrative, egalitarian, and inclusive approach to leadership can contribute to effective network leadership.