The Change Toolkit: Implementing Change in Practice

When considering the adoption of an evidence-based practice (EBP), numerous issues are likely to surface before an EBP is even considered for adoption: How can I do this with the resources that I have? How will I introduce this change when staff present as not interested, overwhelmed, or unwilling to change? After expending considerable effort in incorporating an EBP, will this change make a difference?

The resources listed in this section address issues surrounding the process of change in organizations and clinical practice. While entries were selected to “best fit” the addiction field, some resources come from other disciplines. The resources include commentaries on the change process, change theories, and change tools. The listings vary in opinion regarding the necessary components of organizational change.

The Change Book: A Blueprint for Technology Transfer - A guide to implementing research into practice: This step-by-step handbook includes the Principles, Steps, Strategies and Activities for achieving effective change. Six full chapters guide readers through the ten key steps of technology transfer, concluding with a detailed, educational workbook to put the principles into practice. In addition, the easy-to-read guide includes a detailed case study to illustrate the enormous benefits of technology transfer. Available in Spanish and English. http://www.nattc.org/resPubs/changeBook.html

Complexity and the Adoption of Innovation in Health Care. Plsek, P. and Associates, Inc. (2003, January). This paper was prepared for Accelerating Quality Improvement in Health Care: Strategies to Speed the Diffusion of Evidence-Based Innovations. It examines what it means to say that health care is complex and how that complexity affects the generation and spread of process innovations.
http://www.nihcm.org/Plsek.pdf

Bringing the Power of Science to Bear on Drug Abuse and Addiction
Five Year Strategic Plan: NIDA's mission is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. This charge has two critical components: The first is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve drug abuse and addiction prevention, treatment, and policy. This site provides information on this five-year strategic plan. http://www.drugabuse.gov/StrategicPlan/Index.html

Why Change Programs Don’t Produce Change. Beer M., Eisenstat R.A., and Spector B. (1990). Harvard Business Review, 68(6): 158-166. This articles explores the challenges and barriers of change. http://chess.chsra.wisc.edu/pathstorecovery/
Articles_Reports/Gustafson.pdf