Knowledge Sharing Among NHS EFM Management Departments: a Case Study on Oxygen Information During COVID-19

The presentation introduces the research conducted on how to enable more effective and timely knowledge sharing among NHS Hospital Estates and Facilities Management (HEFM) departments. These departments are critical in ensuring the safe delivery of care while facing not only the impacts of disasters such as COVID-19, climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives but also organisational changes (e.g., new models of care) and structural issues (e.g., maintenance backlog). Effective flows of different types of knowledge (e.g., know-how or technological knowledge) among HEFM departments could significantly improve their ability to manage change and challenges effectively and efficiently.
As part of this research, multiple case studies in 6 hospitals across England are being conducted to investigate the flow of knowledge on medical oxygen infrastructure systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The case studies track the flow of specific pieces of information through the various NHS system levels. In this way, the research identifies different types of knowledge, mechanisms, or channels for sharing these knowledge types and enablers/barriers that affect the knowledge sharing processes among HEFM departments.
The presentation will illustrate the key findings from the case studies to raise the understanding of knowledge sharing processes and simultaneously raise awareness for existing barriers to effective knowledge flows. Firstly, exemplary knowledge flows will be illustrated to highlight enablers and barriers to inter-organisational knowledge sharing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, using the persona method, knowledge needs and sharing behaviours of NHS HEFM staff on different levels are explained, elaborating on regional, organisational and structural variations. Lastly, the presentation will outline knowledge sharing structures and practices that were developed during the pandemic and ways to conserve these for non-pandemic operations in the future, enabling the efficiently manage the upcoming challenges related to the net-zero carbon targets.