Leading Patient—Centred Change in the Swedish Health System: Lessons from the 2009 Sweden Study Tour

Abstract

In May 2009, 17 senior health leaders from Canada travelled to Sweden as part of a Canadian College of Health Service Executives study tour. This paper provides an overview of the tour, outlines a number of health service reform practices in Sweden and proposes five "lessons learned" with regard to the practice of leading reform. Knowledge of the current Swedish practices of "leading change" based on the itinerary shows that a patient-centred vision, when combined with effective leadership practice, can bring about significant change. Ongoing dialogue between the Swedish and Canadian leaders provided the substance for this paper.