Project “Tillsammans” has gone from “what” to “how”

“In addition to our discussions, analyses and measures becoming more concrete, a lot of the work done this past winter and spring has led to several crucial and helpful insights”, explains Anders Bjustam, project manager for Tillsammans.

Concrete tests lead to insights and results

Anders mentions a couple of areas where this increased concretisation is particularly evident. One is the process work including testing new ways of working at the clinics. Data on patient flows has been analysed and compiled as synoptic graphics that clearly show reality when it comes to patient flow, bookings and capacity utilisation. Based on these insights, work will continue creating a better flow between the Small Animal Clinic and Diagnostic Imaging and ensuring better capacity utilisation by planning for a more even distribution of patients over a week.

Real costs for education becoming clear

Another area where substantial progress has been made is finance. In short, this is about to what extent direct government funding and the fee paid by the VH Faculty to the UDS match the hospital’s real costs for the degree programmes in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing. The working group is planning talks with all heads of clinic and heads of subject with clinical responsibility to identify the actual costs related to education. Meetings have already been held with diagnostic imaging, corresponding meetings will be held with all heads of clinic and heads of subject during late summer and early autumn.

An important factor for the working group on finance is the calculation of the number of UDS patients needed. For this reason, the project has calculated the number of patients needed to cover the degree programmes’ needs, given that the hospital is running 24/7, including during the summer months.

The objective for the area Food-Producing Animals and Food Safety

According to Anders Bjurstam, another area where the project is showing clear progress is on an objective for the area Food-Producing Animals and Food Safety. The working group has agreed on an objective and can now move forward identifying how to best work together and who is responsible for what if the objective is to be achieved. The group is planning a workshop with external actors with the purpose of making them help us understand their needs and requirements when it comes to education, to enable us to meet current and future challenges.

Joint management function a reality

To conclude, a step critical to the whole project should be mentioned. There is now a working joint management function with representatives from the Department of Clinical Sciences and the University Animal Hospital. The group has regular, documented meetings on important, joint clinic-related issues such as finance and organisation.

“This is a very clear example of progress and proof that our work is yielding results”, says Anders.