Communication teachers and researchers often feel the need for practical advice, resources, support, encouragement and a sense of community. Networks also allow members to coordinate their efforts and act together to achieve results for a whole community of healthcare communicators.

The networking committee is keen to help facilitate such networks, both within countries and within disciplines.

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An EACH network can offer

Increased

Expertise, support and creativity
Access to shared resources
Kudos and reputation
Productivity – achieve more than you could alone
Influence and visibility to others

Decreased

Sense of isolation and working alone
‘Reinventing the wheel’
Constraints of one single organisation
Burden of workload

Key features of establishing a network

• Common purpose
• Co-operative structure
• Critical mass
• Collective intelligence
• Community building

Key features for building a network

There are several key steps to establishing an effective network:
[click on each step for more information]:

Step 1

Define the purpose of the network

Step 2

Define the type of the network

Step 3

Define the structure of the network

Step 4

Decide on membership characteristics

Step 5

Decide on leadership of the network

Step 6

Define activities of the network

Repeat from Step 1 replay

Case studies and best practice

View an UK NHS video on establishing networks here.
Read the Health Foundation’s report on Effective networks for improvement here.
Read Implementation Science’s report on Determinants of successful clinical networks: the conceptual framework and study protocol here.