Abstract
Introduction: A challenging aspect of integrated care governance is the complexity of organizing supervision of collaborating inter-organizational networks. Supervision can be understood as parties explaining and justifying their conduct, answering other parties that pose questions, pass judgement, and potentially intervene. Contemporary supervisory arrangements and instruments are predominantly aimed at individual organizations and not at the functioning of an integrated care network. Because of this, CEO’s focus dominantly on the goals of their own organization, often despite a feeling of responsibility for the transition towards integrated care.
Supervision of a network as-a-whole can make it more feasible for organizational leaders to overcome their own specific interest, to strive for the common, integrated interest of society. Our preliminary research results inform about potential supervisory arrangements that are applicable within specific situations and contexts. Our findings are part of the extensive domain overarching NWA research program “External and Internal Supervision Methods and Modalities for Organizational Networks Addressing Complex Societal Issues (EISON)”.
Context & problem: Inter-organizational networks are formed because of a specific need of a group of clients or a wicked problem in society, which urges the need for collaboration. Difficult challenges arising during integrated care collaboration might be tackled successfully when network supervision is (more) supportive to the mission to solve such a wicked problem.
Take for example the case which occurred during our research when a crucial organization departed from an integrated care network, after signaling repeatedly that the collaboration was not beneficial for their organization. This departure almost caused a crisis for care delivery and threatened the sustainability of the network. Interviewees in our research have stated that supervision of the network might have prevented this situation. Potential arrangements were suggested that might enable supervisors to help find a sustainable solution.
We will present and discuss preliminary (potential) arrangements we have found in our research, and we are interested in existing or desired supervisory arrangements functioning in different countries.
Target audience: Our primary target audience consists of professionals operating within healthcare or social care organizations that participate in integrated care networks and managers, CEOs and supervisors involved in integrated care governance. Our session will especially take the cross-domain and international perspective in scope.
Facilitation: The poster presentation will be facilitated by dr. Sander Merkus, senior researcher at Vilans. After an introduction, examples of existing as wel as potential supervisory arrangements from the context of the Netherlands will be given. Also, the contingent factors of an integrated care network will be discussed (e.g. size of the network or whether network formation is mandatory of voluntary), for these factors influence the suitability of specific arrangements. In discussion with the audience, we hope to learn about supervisory arrangements and situational factors in other settings and countries.
Attendees increase their awareness of the importance of innovative network supervision as a part of integrated care governance. Furthermore, they will learn about (potential) supervisory arrangements that might be beneficial in their own context.