The Power of Appreciative Inquiry in Healthcare
This blog highlights how Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a strengths-based approach, is transforming healthcare by focusing on successes to improve patient safety, staff well-being, and care quality. It explores AI’s application in frameworks like PSIRF and AAR, fostering a positive, collaborative culture for continuous improvement.
Transforming Outcomes for Patients and Staff with Appreciative Inquiry
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of healthcare, creating meaningful change is both vital and challenging. With the growing focus on patient safety, staff well-being, and overall care quality, healthcare leaders are increasingly exploring innovative approaches to drive positive outcomes.
One such approach is Appreciative Inquiry – a powerful, strengths-based model that shifts the focus from problem-solving to envisioning possibilities and building on successes.
Unlocking Positive Change in Healthcare Through Appreciative Inquiry
In a recent What the Healthtech? podcast episode, “Appreciative Governance: Transforming Outcomes in Health and Care with Appreciative Inquiry,” we dive into this transformative approach. Joined by two passionate advocates, Katy Fisher and Kayleigh Barnett, who both have a wealth of experience working in the NHS, we explore how Appreciative Inquiry can revolutionise healthcare, enhancing both patient care and staff experience.
Katy Fisher, a Senior Nurse for Quality and Improvement across the Greater Manchester Region, and Kayleigh Barnett, an advanced Appreciative Inquiry practitioner and co-author of Appreciating Health and Care, bring extensive expertise to the conversation. Together, they co-host the Caring Corner Appreciative Inquiry podcast, where they champion Appreciative Inquiry as a tool for cultivating a positive, collaborative healthcare environment. Here, we’ll explore the core principles of Appreciative Inquiry, its benefits for patients and healthcare staff, and its applications within frameworks like the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and After Action Reviews (AAR).
What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based, collaborative approach focused on identifying what works well within an organisation and envisioning ways to build on these successes. Unlike traditional problem-solving approaches, which often concentrate on identifying and addressing problems, Appreciative Inquiry shifts the focus to understanding and amplifying the factors that contribute to positive outcomes.
What are the Five Stages of Appreciative Inquiry?
- Definition – Determine the central topic or question for the process.
- Discovery – Identifying strengths, successes, and what’s working well.
- Dream – Imagining an ideal future and exploring new possibilities.
- Design – Developing actionable plans and processes to move towards that ideal vision.
- Destiny – Implementing changes and empowering teams to sustain positive outcomes.
In healthcare, this approach can be transformative, helping organisations shift from a reactive, problem-focused culture to a proactive, strengths-oriented one that emphasises learning, collaboration, and improvement.
As explained within the podcast, Appreciative Inquiry is not just about finding solutions; it’s about creating a culture where people feel valued, heard, and inspired to contribute to something bigger than themselves.
"Appreciative Inquiry is both a mindset and a heart set—a way of viewing the world through a positive, generative lens rather than a deficit-based one. As humans, we’re biologically wired to focus on potential dangers, a survival instinct rooted in our limbic system. This natural tendency means we often look for what’s wrong or threatening, as our brains evolved to stay alert to risks. But in today’s world, we don’t need that constant vigilance. Appreciative Inquiry helps our brains shift focus. Instead of automatically seeing what’s wrong, it guides us to ask, “What’s strong?” By intentionally seeking out the good, the strengths, and the opportunities, we open ourselves to rapid improvement and meaningful change. It’s more than tools or techniques—it’s a way of thinking that enables us to grow from what’s already working well, transforming challenges into opportunities for progress.”
What are the Benefits of Appreciative Inquiry for Patients and Staff?
Enhanced Patient Safety and Quality of Care
By focusing on what works well in patient care, Appreciative Inquiry can help healthcare teams identify best practices and replicate successful strategies. This proactive focus on strengths fosters an environment where excellence is continuously pursued, helping reduce risks and improve patient safety. As discussed in the podcast, Appreciative Inquiry can be especially useful when applied to safety frameworks like PSIRF, where learning from what went right can be just as valuable as learning from what went wrong.
Katy notes, “Extensive research, including initiatives like the Civility Saves Lives campaign and Learning from Excellence, shows that when healthcare teams focus solely on deficiencies, it negatively impacts patient care and creates a culture where staff may feel reluctant to raise concerns. In healthcare, we’ve built structures that often highlight problems but rarely pause to study what’s working well. When things go right, we move quickly to the next task, yet when things go wrong, our systems thoroughly investigate—and rightly so, as this commitment to improvement is essential for our patients, carers, and staff.”
Increased Staff Engagement and Well-being
A common challenge in healthcare is staff burnout. Working in high-stress environments can take a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of healthcare workers. Appreciative Inquiry encourages a supportive, collaborative approach where team members feel valued and connected to their purpose. By celebrating accomplishments and recognising the positive contributions of each team member, AI fosters a sense of pride and belonging that can be instrumental in reducing burnout and improving morale.
Katy continues, “We also owe it to everyone in healthcare to focus on the positive. Recognising and celebrating what goes well allows us to see the ‘joy in work’ and reveals the exceptional, often innovative, ways that staff achieve outstanding outcomes. This focus, known as ‘positive deviance,’ identifies individuals who, by taking different approaches, achieve better results—something that goes unnoticed when our systems aren’t set up to look for it.
Appreciating staff for their strengths not only boosts morale but also acknowledges the dedication of those who face difficult situations and still come in each day to deliver exceptional care. By building on what staff are doing well, we enhance patient care and create a culture of positivity.”
Building Stronger Patient-Provider Relationships
When healthcare professionals are encouraged to adopt a strengths-based approach, they naturally bring a more positive and supportive presence to their interactions with patients. This approach not only builds trust and fosters a compassionate, patient-centered environment but also leads to better patient outcomes. Patients who feel respected, listened to, and cared for are more likely to engage in their treatment, improving adherence to care plans and overall satisfaction.
“There are countless examples where this approach has led to real improvements in patient outcomes: patients discharged sooner, engagement in therapeutic activities, and a collective effort across teams. This aligns perfectly with Appreciative Inquiry’s ‘wholeness principle,’ where every team member contributes to patient care, creating a collaborative, strengths-focused environment that benefits both patients and staff. It's inspiring to be part of a system that recognises and builds upon its successes for the good of all.”
Applying Appreciative Inquiry to Frameworks like PSIRF and AAR
The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and After Action Reviews (AAR) are essential processes for enhancing safety in healthcare. Traditionally, these frameworks focus on analysing incidents to prevent future errors. Appreciative Inquiry brings a fresh perspective to these reviews, allowing healthcare teams to not only examine what went wrong but also recognise what went right.
Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)
- Traditional Approach: PSIRF traditionally centers on understanding the root causes of patient safety incidents, focusing heavily on identifying errors and addressing systemic weaknesses.
- Appreciative Inquiry Integration: By applying Appreciative Inquiry to PSIRF, healthcare providers can shift from a deficit-based review to a strengths-based one. This includes analysing cases with positive outcomes to understand which practices, behaviors, and team dynamics contributed to success. Through this approach, teams can replicate successful strategies across the organisation.
After Action Reviews (AAR)
- Traditional Approach: AARs typically follow critical incidents or high-stakes situations, providing a structured process for teams to review what happened and identify areas for improvement.
- Appreciative Inquiry Integration: AI can enhance AARs by encouraging teams to focus on both successes and challenges, asking questions such as, “What worked well, and how can we build on this?” or “How did our strengths contribute to a positive outcome?” This balance allows healthcare teams to celebrate achievements while also addressing areas for improvement in a constructive way.
Incorporating Appreciative Inquiry into these frameworks transforms how healthcare teams perceive and approach incident reviews. Rather than concentrating solely on errors, teams can develop a more balanced, holistic understanding of both strengths and weaknesses. This change can promote a learning culture focused on growth, resilience, and continuous improvement.
"Every single staff member in health and care needs to start talking about our successes—the positive patient interactions and experiences we create every day. While patient safety data highlights when things go wrong, which is about 0.08% of interactions, that focus alone means we’re missing out on learning from the remaining 99.92% of cases where things go right. By not sharing and celebrating these successes, we’re doing ourselves and the healthcare system a disservice, overlooking valuable insights that could enhance our work and patient care.”
How Can the Right Technology Help?
The right technology can be a game-changer in fostering positive change within healthcare settings, providing a balanced, comprehensive view that highlights both strengths and areas for improvement. Radar Healthcare’s risk, quality, and compliance software, for instance, captures a wide range of event types and feedback, including compliments, giving organisations a more rounded perspective on performance within their governance and compliance systems.
Designed to support key frameworks like CQC, AARs, PSIRF, and more, our platform’s advanced analytics offer a holistic view into both successes and opportunities for growth. This balanced approach not only aids in preparing for inspections and meeting regulatory requirements but also enables organisations to internally celebrate achievements, fostering a positive, strengths-focused culture that benefits both staff and patients.
Learn more about how Radar Healthcare can help your organisation.
Appreciative Inquiry as a Catalyst for Change in Healthcare
Healthcare is an ever-evolving field, and adopting innovative approaches to enhance patient care and staff well-being is more critical than ever. Appreciative Inquiry offers a unique framework for creating a more positive, inclusive, and effective healthcare environment. By celebrating what works well, empowering staff, and focusing on shared successes, Appreciative Inquiry can foster a culture of continuous improvement that directly benefits both patients and providers.
As Katy explains, “Appreciative Governance isn’t just about policy; it’s about setting up an environment where every decision reflects a commitment to empowering staff and providing the best care possible.” This approach reimagines governance as a collaborative, inclusive process that invites feedback, values all voices, and supports sustainable, strengths-based growth.
To learn more about Appreciative Inquiry and its transformative potential in healthcare, tune into our podcast episode, “Appreciative Governance: Transforming Outcomes in Health and Care with Appreciative Inquiry.”
Watch the episode now to discover how Appreciative Inquiry could revolutionise outcomes in your organisation.
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