Investigating Key Processes in the Transition of A Non-Teaching Hospital to aTeaching Hospital

Background and purpose: The transition of hospitals from non-teaching to teaching institutions has been increasing in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the key processes involved in this transition. Materials and methods: This research was conducted using a mixed-methods qualitative approach. The first step involveddocument analysis, the multiple voting technique, and scenario and process development. The second step employed a comparative qualitative study using data extraction tables. Results: In the first step, 195 processes were identified, and after prioritization, 19 were selected. Then, 67 documents were reviewed to categorize the content related to each type of hospital. Workstations and flowcharts were compared, leading to the identification and mapping of seven new processes introduced by the addition of the teaching mission, as well as the strengthening of 12 existing processes. The changes include the involvement of new personnel in activities, an increase in the number of process steps and processes, and a greater number of individuals responsible for executing these steps. Also, the complexity of teaching processes increases due to clinical training, requiring the simultaneous presence of students and medical staff. Conclusion: Considering the involvement of new personnel and the changes in the number and variety of responsible individuals, special attention should be given to employee resistance, potential conflicts, and both individual and group communication. The doubling and prolonging of processes require careful consideration of hospital performance, patient satisfaction, and the clinical training of future healthcare professionals. The simultaneous presence of students and medical staff highlights the need for increased supervision and attention to patient safety and quality. Two key processes from the total reviewed processes are related to patient acceptance and assignment, making it crucial to focus on these as the first point of contact and key communication channels for providing services and preventing quality and performance gaps, based on the findings of this study.