Managing Resistance to Change Along the Journey to High Reliability

Background: Becoming a high reliability organization requires that health care organizations undergo significant safety, quality, and efficiency improvements. Change can be complex and challenging because it often creates instability and discomfort in the workplace. It is imperative that health care organizations understand the sources of resistance to change and recognize strategies to effectively address this challenge. Observations: Understanding the reasons behind resistance to change and developing methods to address the challenge is of great value. This article describes the most common reasons for resistance to change in health care organizations and outlines evidence-based strategies that can be implemented to manage the process. Conclusions: Implementing change in a health care system can be challenging, especially for organizations on the journey to high reliability. Reasons for resistance to change are multifactorial, and recognizing the potential impact these factors may have on organizational change can result in success or failure. Evidence-based strategies can mitigate resistance and assist organizations throughout the change process.