Knowledge Management Systems in Polish Public Hospitals – research results and directions of improvement

The paper aims to present the progress in building a knowledge management system in Polish public hospitals and as well as recommended actions improving it. It describes a fragment of the multi-annual research of the author with regard to knowledge management in public hospitals. According to the research at least 1/3 of the surveyed hospitals are advanced in terms of building a knowledge based system which means it comprises all areas of management as well as applies more advanced methods and procedures of managing the knowledge. The issue of improving knowledge management systems, assuming they always exist even in a chaotic and not well-ordered form, is problematic not only for public hospitals in Poland. A correct operation of a knowledge management system depends on many factors which makes its implementation and efficient usage extremely difficult. All actions must be carefully thought over and duly undertaken. A team of hospital employees in charge of knowledge management should be appointed and supported with information technologies. Great importance must be attached to building an organization culture encouraging knowledge sharing. Similarly, appropriate relations between particular elements of the knowledge management system operating in a hospital and its environment are vital.