CoPs as effective knowledge sharing tools

I thought I'd share the citation to this short commentary that was just published:

Creating a more efficient healthcare knowledge market: using communities of practice to create checklists.
Lashoher A, Pronovost P. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010 Dec;19(6):471-2.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/qshc.2010.047308
Pubmed

What I like about this is it provides a nice example of why "knowledge" can be more helpful and actionable that "information" -- in this case guidelines -- and the usefulness of a knowledge sharing mechanims (ie CoP) to support better care and tools to make the care as reliable as possible (checklists).

Let me know what you think!

Nice example of CoP outcomes

This free article illustrates some of the power of what can come from collaborative work for safety and quality improvement via the launch and support of a community of practice (CoP). As a knowledge sharing mechanism, I think CoPs can provide great opportunities for multidisplinary, multi-location teams to come together to get work done that might not get accomplished by one organization or one team.

Enjoy -

Alliance for Pediatric Quality: Creating a Community of Practice to Improve Health Care for America's Children
Paul V. Miles, Marlene Miller, Donna M. Payne, Robert Perelman, Mimi Saffer, Edward Zimmerman for the Alliance for Pediatric Quality
Pediatrics 2009; 123: S64-S66