Abstract
This article examines the development of diverse quality systems in the otherwise quite similar Danish and Swedish public health sectors. After decades of numerous piecemeal medical and managerial quality development programs in both countries, a nationwide mandatory accreditation system was introduced in the Danish health services in 2009. Nationwide quality indicator projects are also found in Sweden, but there has been political attempt to introduce a compulsory system. This article seeks to explain this difference. It argues, first, that resistance from the medical professions blocked the introduction of compulsory, nationwide quality systems in both countries for decades. Second, the implementation of the Danish accreditation system was triggered by a combination of unintended policy learning produced by local reforms in two counties and of the Ministry of Health’s carefully orchestrated policy process that served to co-opt critical voices in the medical profession.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | International Journal of Public Administration |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 12 |
Pages (from-to) | 963-975 |
Number of pages | 13 |
ISSN | 0190-0692 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 14 Oct 2016 |
Keywords
- Historical institutionalism
- path dependency
- policy learning
- quality management systems