Enhancing Public Health Networks with Knowledge Management

1. Knowledge management SEPHIG 21st January 2004

2. What is knowledge management? • The capabilities by which communities within an organisation capture the knowledge that is critical to them, constantly improve it, and make it available in the most effective manner to those people who need it, so that they can exploit it creatively to add value as a normal part of their work.

3. Modernisation and KM • Three platforms or pillars • Developing a knowledge environment (skills, systems, processes) • Developing the evidence base • Sharing knowledge with and facilitating local knowledge networks and communities.

4. Promoting the knowledge base • Knowledge is the enemy of disease… Applying knowledge we already possess could improve the health of patients more than any drug or technology likely to be developed in the next decade. • Muir Gray

5. Types of knowledge • What are the types of knowledge we use?

6. Types of Knowledge • Knowledge from research • Knowledge from data • Knowledge from experience

7. The National Knowledge Service • NKS partners • NeLH • NHS direct online • Electronic library for social care • Nhs.uk • NPSA • NHSMA • DH – ISG, Comms, RDD

8. Knowledge mobilisation • Active promotion of the KNS so that decision making is supported by high quality information and knowledge • Developing appropriate training and capacity development programmes • Actively supporting knowledge networks.

9. Local Public Health NetworksElectronic Resource Management Project SEPHIG 21st January 2004

10. Local Public Health Networks:identifying needs

11. Why Local Public Health Networks? • Avoid duplication • Maximize available expertise • Infrastructure for audit • Infrastructure for reflective practice • Support training and professional development in response to locally identified needs

12. Our vision of a user’s access to knowledge Common data and metadata standards

13. Assessing ‘needs’ of LPHNs • 1 national and 9 regional workshops funded by DoH between December 2002 and March 2003 • National mapping of PHNs commissioned by Health Development Agency • MSc dissertation on PHNs by Daragh Fahey

14. Key Findings • No one model for networks – they are developing in different ways to respond to local needs • Different stages of development – management and infrastructure support crucial to pace of development • Broad agreement on functions of PHNs

15. Key Findings • Electronic support through websites is key to communicating and sharing across networks and accessing information from a range of sources • Websites should be interoperable – but a need to agree common standards to reduce duplication and ensure consistent search results • Complexity of networks – who involved, who they engage with – should not be underestimated

16. An Electronic Memory Bank for a Public Health Network • Key contacts • Identify ‘expertise’ and skills • Groups within networks • Information resources • Events • Projects

17. LPHNERMP Key Points • Based on standards being worked on by PHOs: • Interoperability (searching across websites) • National Public Health Language (PHITS) • Type Encoding Scheme (resources) • Web Services (authentication, methods) • Identifying ‘expertise’ on different levels • Contribution of resources by all local network members • Members decide how widely to share resources • Private – with optional open access

18. Early Screenshots Software in development

23. Current Status • Software will be ready for pilot network late February 2004 • Testing and debugging February 2004 • 5-8 implementation networks identified • Implementation networks require funds of £1,000 to cover set-up and hosting in year 1 then annual hosting fee of £1,500 from year 2 • Implementation networks to be set up from March 2004 onwards

24. For more information contact: • Jonathan West, SEPHO • Jonathan.west@phru.nhs.uk • 01865 226986