Boundary spanning and health: invitation to a learning community

Heide Aungst; Mary Ruhe; Kurt C Stange; Terry M Allan; Elaine A Borawski; Colin K Drummond; Robert L Fischer; Ronald Fry; Eva Kahana; James A Lalumandier; Maxwell Mehlman; Shirley M Moore; PHAB Staff and Writing Committee; PHAB Cleveland Advisory Committee

doi:10.1080/17571472.2012.11493346

Boundary spanning and health: invitation to a learning community

London J Prim Care (Abingdon). 2012;4(2):109-15. doi: 10.1080/17571472.2012.11493346.

Affiliations

¹ Narrative Medical Writer.
² Department of Family Medicine.
³ Professor of Family Medicine, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Sociology and Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Health Commissioner, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ Angela Bowen Williamson Professor of Nutrition, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Co-Director, Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, Co-Leader, Community Research Partnership Core of the Cleveland Clinical & Translational Science Collaborative.
⁶ Director, Coulter-Case Translational Research Partnership, Department of Biomedical Engineering and School of Medicine.
⁷ Research Associate Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Co-Director, Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development Faculty, Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations.
⁸ Professor and Chair, Department of Organizational Behavior, Weatherhead School of Management.
⁹ Robson Professor of Sociology, Humanities, Nursing and Medicine, Director, Elderly Care Research Center Department of Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences.
¹⁰ Professor and Chair of Community Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine.
¹¹ Professor of Bioethics and Law, Schools of Law and Medicine.
¹² Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Abstract

Boundaries, which are essential for the healthy functioning of individuals and organisations, can become problematic when they limit creative thought and action. In this article, we present a framework for promoting health across boundaries and summarise preliminary insights from experience, conversations and reflection on how the process of boundary spanning may affect health. Boundary spanning requires specific individual qualities and skills. It can be facilitated or thwarted by organisational context. Boundary spanning often involves risk, but may reap abundant rewards. Boundary spanning is necessary to optimise health and health care. Exploring the process, the landscape and resources that enable boundary spanning may yield new opportunities for advancing health. We invite boundary spanners to join in a learning community to advance understanding and health.

Keywords: boundary spanning; collaboration; innovation; systems thinking.