I recently facilitated a workshop at the Institute of Health Management Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland. The workshop was well attended by leaders representing a range of health management services who eagerly participated in a spirited and lively debate about how new technologies and new ways of working can improve health care delivery.

A major theme at the conference was moving from a passive health care delivery model to one where the patient is more informed and participative. We discussed what tools, knowledge, connections and services would be required by ‘active patients’ and if this was a major trend for health care or limited to those patients who were web savvy and comfortable with new technologies.

We all agreed that changes in the health sector are being driven by ageing populations, ever rising fuel costs; growing concerns about work life integration; new location independent work styles; and the need for employees to work as dynamically forming teams sharing knowledge and collaborating to achieve shared goals. Some big questions were asked. Do health care managers really understand these trends? Are they important? What impact they will they have and what should they do about them? [Read more...]