Health care huddles: Managing complexity to achieve high reliability

Shannon M. Provost, Holly J. Lanham, Luci K Leykum, Reuben R. McDaniel, Jacqueline A Pugh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Health care huddles are increasingly employed in a range of formats but theoretical mechanisms underlying huddles remain relatively uncharted.

Purpose: A complexity science view implies that essential managerial strategies for high-performing health care organizations include meaningful conversations, enhanced relationships, and a learning culture. These three dimensions informed our approach to studying huddles. We explore new theories for how and why huddles have been useful in health care organizations.

Methods: We used a study design incorporating literature review, direct observation, and semistructured interviews. A complexity science framework guided data collection in three health care settings;we also incorporated theories on high-reliability organizations to analyze our observations and interpret huddle participants perspectives.

Findings: We identify theoretical paths that could link huddles to improvement in patient safety outcomes. Huddles create time and space for conversations, enhance relationships, and strengthen a culture of safety. Huddles can be of particular value to health care organizations seeking or sustaining high reliability.

Practice Implications: Achieving high reliability, the organizational capacity to deliver what is intended to be delivered every time is difficult in complex systems. Managers have potential to create conditions from which huddle outcomes that support high reliability are more likely to emerge. Huddles support efforts to improve patient safety when they afford opportunities for heedful interactions to take place among individuals caring for patients and embed mindfulness into the organization.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2-12
Number of pages11
JournalHealth Care Management Review
Volume40
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 14 2015

Keywords

  • complex adaptive systems
  • conversation
  • health care huddles
  • high reliability organizations
  • relationships

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Policy
  • Leadership and Management
  • Strategy and Management

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