Improving the Healthcare using the Appreciative Inquiry approach
One of the ways that can be used to transform the health sector is the use of appreciative inquiry that aims at changing the social, political and economic environments. Most of the changes needed in an organization or a sector are better implemented by the management. It is therefore crucial for the management to encourage the culture of improved service delivery in the health facilities. This can be done by providing new structures and processes that facilitate high quality services. In the past, the healthcare sector has been known to have the worst services to the public. The healthcare officials have been known to treat the patients and the general public very badly but it is time for transformation.
The use of appreciative inquiry in the sector is vital because it encourages workforce learning and engagement thus promoting change in the organization. For the service delivery to be enhanced the employees have to change their attitude towards the patients and the public. The main focus of the appreciative inquiry is positive dialog, appreciation, and affirmation. In the past, problems were solved using a problem-based perspective but the philosophy in appreciative inquiry encourages problem-solving based on the strengths (Richer, Ritchie, & Marchionni, 2010). The evolution in the economic, social, and political environments requires the healthcare sector to shift as well. It has to adjust to the changing environments for it to be efficient in its work. Individuals and groups must be encouraged to develop ways of solving their issues creatively. This is meant to foster innovation at the workplace and enhance quality of services. It is therefore the work of the health care professionals to foster positive changes in the health care sector.
Reference
Richer, M. C., Ritchie, J. & Marchionni, C. (2010). Appreciative inquiry in health care. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 16(4), 164-172.