Creating a Culture of Innovation

Facilities that implement the Chronic Care Model should instill an organizational culture that supports and encourages innovation. For example, the internal medicine and family practice residency program directors at Summa Health System, together with the director of ambulatory care, share a commitment to cultivating innovative change that has radically transformed the way health care is delivered there.

These administrators "lead by letting," giving staff and residents daily opportunities to test new ideas and share results with colleagues. The organizational and departmental cultures have been significant factors in Summa's successful implementation of the Chronic Care Model into its curriculum.

Because of Summa's separate residency curricula, each program developed different approaches for the collaborative that delivered diabetes care and served the unique residency requirements and needs for each discipline.

Also, with the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center's multisite focus, a strong leadership structure was crucial to successfully implementing the center's diverse set of projects.

Tools:

• Building Two Different Approaches
• Supportive Leadership Structure

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