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A Very Unpleasant Disease: Successful Post-Crisis Management in a Hospital Setting

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The Reform of Health Care

Abstract

Research concerning accidents, crises, and other serious incidents has focused mainly on causes, and on crisis management. The implementation of change following such extreme events has attracted less attention, but is often problematic. This chapter examines the experience of Burnside Hospital, where an outbreak of the ‘superbug’ Clostridium difficile (C. diff) was successfully managed, resulting in a dramatic and sustained reduction in the incidence of infections. What are the implications for management practice and health care policy, and for further research?

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© 2012 Colin J. Pilbeam and David A. Buchanan

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Pilbeam, C.J., Buchanan, D.A. (2012). A Very Unpleasant Disease: Successful Post-Crisis Management in a Hospital Setting. In: Dickinson, H., Mannion, R. (eds) The Reform of Health Care. Organizational Behaviour in Health Care series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230355026_16

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