Knowledge management infrastructure to support quality improvement: A qualitative study of maternity services in four European hospitals.

The influence of multilevel healthcare system interactions on clinical quality improvement (QI) is still largely unexplored. Through the lens of knowledge management (KM) theory, this study explores how hospital managers can enhance the conditions for clinical QI given the specific multilevel and professional interactions in various healthcare systems. The research used an in-depth multilevel analysis in maternity departments in four purposively sampled European hospitals (Portugal, England, Norway and Sweden).

Translating research on quality improvement in five European countries into a reflective guide for hospital leaders: the 'QUASER Hospital Guide'.

Objective: The aim was to translate the findings of the QUASER study into a reflective, dialogic guide to help senior hospital leaders develop an organization wide QI strategy.

Design: The QUASER study involved in depth ethnographic research into QI work and practices in two hospitals in each of five European countries. Three translational stakeholder workshops were held to review research findings and advise on the design of the Guide.

Horizon 2020 SME-Instrument topic: clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices.

The European Commission released €130 million over 2014, 2015 and 2017 under the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020, to support innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in the diagnostic area. The call topic focused on 'Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices'. It attracted 1194 applicants from all over Europe.

Hybrid practices as a means to implement quality improvement: A comparative qualitative study in a Dutch and Swedish hospital.

Background: Managers and scholars commonly perceive resistance from professionals as hampering the implementation of quality improvement (QI) and refer to the incompatibility of clinical and managerial approaches to QI as a reason. Yet a growing body of research indicates that, in practice, these two approaches rather blend into hybrid practices that embody different types of QI-related knowledge and values. This opens up a new perspective on implementation challenges that moves attention away from resistance against managerial QI toward difficulties for clinicians to draw together different types of knowledge and values within their clinical work.