Abstract

This paper presents a new model of organizational information and knowledge processes as a knowledge management framework in health care. Effective knowledge management enables the health organizations to reach their goals. In modern health care the empowered patients are active partners, whose preferences and needs should be taken into account to create value. Value is defined as benefits for both the patients and the health care organizations. The aim is to identify what information and knowledge processes be identified in health care, how are the patients involved with these processes and do the processes create value for the patients. The qualitative case study was conducted in two Finnish University Hospital districts in integrated care pathways of childhood obesity. The findings indicate that the patients and families involvement in the information and knowledge processes was modest and creation of patient value was not completely fulfilled.