IngentaConnect `Designing Better Health Care in the South': A Case Study of Unsu...

Authors: Catherine Hurley¹; Fran Baum²; Helen Eyk²

Source: Australian Journal of Public Administration, Volume 63, Number 2, June 2004 , pp. 31-41(11)

Abstract:

This article presents a case study of a project known as ‘Designing Better Health Care in the South’ that attempted to transform four separately incorporated health services in southern Adelaide into a single regional health service. The project's efforts are examined using Kotter's (1996) model of the preconditions for transformational change in organisations and the areas in which it met or failed to meet these preconditions are analysed, using results from an evaluation that was commenced during the course of the attempted reform. The article provides valuable insights into an attempted major change by four public sector health organisations and the facilitators and barriers to such change. It also examines the way in which forces beyond the control of individual public sector agencies can significantly impact on attempts to implement organisational change in response to an identified need. This case study offers a rare glimpse into the micro detail of health care reform processes that are so widespread in contemporary health services but which are rarely systematically evaluated.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2004.00376.x

Affiliations: 1: SA Community Health Research Unit Flinders University Adelaide, Australia 2: Department of Public Health Flinders University Adelaide, Australia

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‘Designing Better Health Care in the South’: A Case Study of Unsuccessful Transformational Change in Public Sector Health Service Reform