Medical knowledge management and managing knowledge within the health setting

ABSTRACT

The importance of knowledge has been emphasized as early as the time of Aristotle. However, the term KM is relatively new. KM has become a distinct discipline of science during the mid-1990s with established training courses. The application of KM in Medicine has been recently suggested. The need to manage knowledge seems obvious, and discussions of intellectual capital have proliferated, but few organizations have acted on that understanding. However, a growing number are doing so .Implementations of [knowledge management] may range from technology-driven methods of accessing, controlling, and delivering information to massive efforts to change corporate culture. Opinions about the paths, methods, and even the objectives of knowledge management abound. Some efforts focus on enhancing creativity creating new knowledge value while other programs emphasize leveraging existing knowledge. KM as a discipline that can be incorporated in the medical learning branches includes training and courses taught in the fields of administration, information systems, management, and library, information sciences, computer science, and public health. KM is no longer a passing fad because of the increasing amount of research in this field. The WHO has recently established the Global WHO Knowledge Management team which aims to bridge the know-do gap in global health by fostering an environment that encourages the creation, sharing, and effective application of knowledge to improve health. The aim of this paper is to briefly review the aspects of KM relevant to doctors