Send this page to someone

In 1999, surgical ward number 6 at the Karlstad Central Hospital introduced so-called ‘patient-focused care’ based on a model from a Detroit hospital. The model’s value system builds on the rules and regulations which govern nursing care and the aim is to increase patients’ access to personnel. The work model is based on five cornerstones: common principles, an innovative work climate, a developing organisation, well-functioning work teams and a present leadership. 

Academic research shows that employees working in this environment experience considerable improvements in their work climate and they are more innovative than workers in other organisations. Those who work at ward number 6 in Karlstad scored higher on questions about challenges in the workplace, freedom, ideas and support, trust and openness, energy and dynamics, playfulness and humour, debate and diversity, risk taking and opportunities to take time out to develop new ideas. They scored lower on questions regarding conflict in the workplace.