The Role of Doctors During Apprenticeships and Medical Residents in Knowledge Transfer in Teaching Hospitals

Abstract

In the era of the knowledge economy, knowledge is the most important asset of an organization. Teaching hospitals are medical entities that provide healthcare services to patients. The specialized medical staff not only provides medical care, but also educates future healthcare professionals, while also conducts clinical research and supports the advancement of medical technologies. Knowledge transfer in teaching hospitals is essential to their growth and serves as a key operational goal. Future healthcare professionals undertaking apprenticeships and placements in teaching hospitals not only contribute to knowledge transfer, but also play a strategic role in addressing current and future challenges facing the healthcare system. The aim of this paper is to identify knowledge-sharing processes within teaching hospitals as part of the medical staff education system. The following research question was posed: Is the education of doctors during apprenticeships and residents an element of the knowledge transfer strategies of teaching hospitals? The analyses indicate that the training of doctors during apprenticeships and residency is central to the mission and strategy of teaching hospitals, particularly in terms of knowledge transfer and the development of intellectual capital. The analyses are professional by nature, conducted from the perspective of a certified auditor and long-term researcher of the operational challenges of hospitals as healthcare institutions.The reflections presented in this paper offer an important perspective on the conditions required for the development of teaching hospitals as institutions with intellectual capital capable of addressing global health challenges. The paper continues the author's previous research on the development of intellectual capital among staff in Polish teaching hospitals.