Information Literacy and SPL Model in Health Care Administration

The Scholarship, Practitioner, Leadership (SPL) Model is a conceptual framework that highlights the critical integration of scholarship, practice, and leadership to bring about transformative changes in various professional domains. As elucidated by the University of Phoenix, the SPL Model encompasses lifelong learning (scholarship), social and workplace contribution (practice), and the ability to exert positive influence (leadership) across academic, professional, and personal spheres (2010, p. 1). This essay delves into the profound influence of information literacy on scholarship, practice, and leadership within the dynamic and evolving landscape of health care administration.

Scholarship: A Pillar of Informed Leadership

In the realm of health care administration, the advent of technology has revolutionized the management of health care institutions. Scholarly leaders in this field engage in continuous research to glean valuable insights into information technology, enabling organizations to remain competitive and responsive to industry demands. McClintock (2003) underscores the significance of scholarly practice, emphasizing that experimental knowledge, grounded in theory and research, empowers leaders to formulate strategies for organizational advancement.

Get quality help now

Prof. Finch

Verified writer

Proficient in: Health

4.7 (346)

“ This writer never make an mistake for me always deliver long before due date. Am telling you man this writer is absolutely the best. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Lack of knowledge or unreliable information can impede a leader's ability to scrutinize problems and devise effective solutions.

Effective scholarship in health care administration involves not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the critical assessment of information. Badke (2009) asserts that the usefulness of knowledge is contingent upon its readership. Leaders devoid of scholarly backgrounds may lack the proactive approach needed for strategic planning within organizations, particularly in navigating the intricate web of evolving health care regulations. Successful health care leaders, as posited by the University of Phoenix (2010), are those who continually inform and are informed by knowledge and experience, fostering a culture of perpetual learning within their organizations.

Furthermore, scholarship equips leaders with the skills to identify and discern valuable information from irrelevant data. This discernment is crucial in a dynamic industry where decision-making is often reliant on the latest and most reliable information. The ability to access, evaluate, and apply scholarly knowledge empowers leaders to steer their organizations toward success. It is through these informed leadership practices that health care administrators can effectively navigate the challenges of an ever-evolving health care landscape.

Practice: Leadership Skills in Multidisciplinary Health Care Teams

Leadership skills are indispensable for practitioners in the health care industry, where multidisciplinary teams collaborate to achieve common goals. Frankel (n.d) characterizes leadership as a multifaceted process involving goal identification, motivation of team members, and providing support to achieve negotiated objectives. In health care, practitioners are integral members of such multidisciplinary teams, requiring them to possess leadership skills for effective coordination of services.

Fletcher (2008) highlights the complexity of team development, emphasizing that successful team leadership is a comprehensive process demanding diverse skills. Practitioners lacking leadership skills may struggle to make decisions, delegate responsibilities, and resolve conflicts, thereby compromising patient care outcomes. Leadership skills are essential for ensuring coordinated care, optimal resource utilization, and the attainment of quality outcomes.

The evolution of a health care leader's role necessitates continuous development. Leadership skills, as articulated by Frankel (n.d), can be refined through personal reflection and guidance from experienced leaders. Scholarship plays a pivotal role in this development, allowing practitioners to research different leadership models and strengthen their roles. Knowledge gained through scholarship empowers practitioners to adopt proven leadership styles that accommodate the dynamic needs of multidisciplinary teams.

Moreover, the application of leadership skills is closely intertwined with information literacy in health care practice. As practitioners seek to provide optimal patient care, they rely on information literacy to efficiently assess, synthesize, and apply the latest evidence-based practices. This integration of leadership skills and information literacy ensures that health care practitioners are not only effective leaders within their teams but also champions of evidence-based, patient-centered care.

Information Literacy: A Guiding Force in SPL Model Integration

Information literacy serves as a guiding force in the learning process, particularly in the context of health care practitioners. The University of Phoenix (2011) defines information literacy for practitioners as the application-based knowledge geared toward workplace learning. Turusheva (2009) identifies key components of information literacy, including determining information relevance, efficient use of information, source evaluation, knowledge base development, and ethical information use for goal achievement.

Advancing educational levels, such as obtaining a doctorate, is a component of information literacy. Academic pursuits at this level involve research, writing, and peer review of academic literature, fostering ethical incorporation of knowledge into daily activities. Information literacy becomes paramount in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the health care industry, where a focus on quality outcomes and cost reduction prevails.

Badke (2008) emphasizes that information literacy is foundational and should not be considered remedial. This foundational competence enables organizational leaders in health care to identify credible resources, a skill crucial for effective leadership. The SPL model establishes a foundation for leaders to utilize new media, explore various information sources, and build their conceptual frameworks (Russell, P. 2009).

Organizational leaders, facing the challenge of implementing new regulations, engaged in ongoing education facilitated by credible resources such as representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and the National Renal Association (NRA). This education, rooted in information literacy, equipped leaders to identify, evaluate, and ethically implement the necessary data to meet the new guidelines. The SPL model, in this context, ensures that information literacy becomes an integral part of leadership practices, promoting a culture of continuous learning and improvement within health care organizations.

Conclusion: The Synergy of Information Literacy and SPL Model

In conclusion, information literacy serves as a linchpin in the scholarship, practice, and leadership model within health care administration. Through a detailed exploration, we have illustrated how the SPL model enables health care leaders to acquire and implement new knowledge, fostering positive influence within their organizations. Leadership skills, cultivated through scholarship and practice, provide practitioners with the tools to navigate complex multidisciplinary teams and drive cross-boundary improvement opportunities.

The SPL model, in its integration of scholarship, practice, and leadership, emerges as a comprehensive framework that empowers health care leaders. As the health care industry continues to evolve, information literacy remains a guiding force, ensuring that leaders can access, evaluate, and apply knowledge effectively. In the dynamic landscape of health care administration, the SPL model, coupled with information literacy, paves the way for leaders to make informed decisions, foster innovation, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of the health care industry.