Complex Problems in Need of Inter-organizational Coordination: The Importance of Connective and Collaborative Professionalism Within an Organizational Field of Rehabilitation

Abstract

Rehabilitation processes of working-age citizens involve several organizations and professions, and require inter-organizational and inter-professional coordination and collaboration across hospitals, community healthcare, and employment services. Institutional perspectives on organizations and professions can contribute to understanding the conditions that facilitate or impede coordinated services. Since the services apparently belong to a joint organizational field of rehabilitation, one should expect that the field supports collaboration and coordinated services across agencies. However, both knowledge sharing and joint action seem hindered by infrastructure deficits, knowledge transfer from hospitals that does not meet the needs of frontline professionals, and ‘pure’ forms of professionalism. Connective and collaborative forms of professionalism, including boundary-spanning tasks, seem necessary to ensure smooth transitions, undisrupted pathways, and coordinated services for injured citizens.

This analysis is based on the project ‘Transitions in rehabilitation: Biographical reconstruction, experiential knowledge, and professional expertise’ (Norwegian Research Council, grant no. 229082). I would like to thank the project group for valuable discussions, and am especially grateful to Mirela Slomic and Ole Kristian Håvold, who have undertaken large parts of the data collection, as well as Bjørg Christiansen, Per Koren Solvang, and Ivan Harsløf, who, like me, have also contributed in this task.