| Summary: | Objectives: The concept of clinical champions has been widely promoted, yet empirically underdeveloped in health services literature. The objectives of this study are to investigate the role of the clinical champion and how it contributes to effective patient safety change.
Methods: Case study design was used to examine the role of champions in the implementation of rapid response teams in two hospitals. Central themes were derived through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with key informants.
Results: Analysis revealed a typology of champions: clinical, managerial, and executive. Champions engaged in five core activities: disseminating knowledge, advocating, building relationships, navigating boundaries, and facilitating consensus. Individuals became champions
by informal emergence or by formal appointment combined with informal emergence.
Conclusions: This study furthered understanding of patient safety champions by revealing types, activities, and modes of emergence. Findings will allow health care professionals to use an evidence-based approach to identifying and supporting champions.
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