Networks - a briefing paper for the Health Foundation - Centre for ...

IntegrationWeakStrongcolleagues (2004) identified four core types of health and social care networks: Informational,Coordinated, Procurement and Managed. Each contains distinctive characteristics in termsof network goals, management structures and overarching ideals. Litwin (1995) distinguishedbetween four different social network types: Kin Network, Family Intensive Network; FriendFocused Network; Diffuse Tie Network. Litwin also distinguished between grades ofperceived obtainable social support on four detached measures: 1. emotional; 2.instrumental; 3. affirmational support; 4. advocacy assistance. Carlsson (Carlsson, 2003)identified three types of inter-organizational networks: extra-networks; inter-networks; andopen networks.Perri and colleagues provided a typology of healthcare networks based on a four cell matrix(Also see last paragraph in Section 2.1.1) of networked forms (Perri et al., 2006 in Ferlie etal., 2010: p.40/41).:Regulation/Integration Matrix: Perri 6' Four Cell Matrix of Network FormsRegulationWeakStrongIndividualismIsolateEnclaveHierarchyPerri et al.then applied the matrix to current literature which: ‘suggests a ‘continuum’ ofnetwork forms ranging between ‘loose’ (e.g. learning and informational networks) and ‘tight’(e.g. managed clinical networks). A common assumption within the health care managementliterature that the ‘tight’ (most managed) form is desirable is to be investigated’ (ibid,). Aprofile of Public Health Networks, (PHNs) (as an example of health networks) from 2005illustrates the different planes of networks in English regions which operate across thefollowing levels and beyond: a single PCT, a group of PCTs, throughout the SHA and at theregional level. Network membership encompasses three or more areas including a nucleusof public health professionals (‘including public health specialists, healthprotection/communicable disease specialists, health promotion personnel, and informationspecialists’), a broader hub of public health practitioners such as health visitors, and a widergroup of individual stakeholders across the local authority, voluntary and third sectors (Abbottand Killoran, 2005: p.2). Public network literature is also considerably fragmented,encompassing a plurality of definitions, theories, methods and explanations (Turrini et al.,2010). This literature review is concerned with the type, structure, governance and future roleof networks in health care which encompass informational networks (education, guidelinesand research) to more co-ordinated forms of network including joint assessments, care13