Reducing patient mortality in hospitals: the role of human resource management

TLDR

Developing effective health care organizations is increasingly complex due to demographic changes, globalization, and medical advances, yet little research has explored these issues in health care settings. The study investigates how human resource management systems influence patient care effectiveness in hospitals, specifically examining the link between high‑performance HRM policies and standardized mortality rates. The authors analyzed 52 English hospitals, assessing the association between HRM systems and health‑care outcomes, focusing on standardized mortality rates. After controlling for prior mortality and confounders, greater use of complementary HRM practices is significantly associated with lower patient mortality, indicating that improving HRM systems can meaningfully enhance patient care. © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Developing effective health care organizations is increasingly complex as a result of demographic changes, globalization, and developments in medicine. This study examines the potential contribution of organizational behavior theory and research by investigating the relationship between systems of human resource management (HRM) practices and effectiveness of patient care in hospitals. Relatively little research has been conducted to explore these issues in health care settings. In a sample of 52 hospitals in England, we examine the relationship between the HRM system and health care outcome. Specifically, we study the association between high performance HRM policies and practices and standardized patient mortality rates. The research reveals that, after controlling for prior mortality and other potentially confounding factors such as the ratio of doctors to patients, greater use of a complementary set of HRM practices has a statistically and practically significant relationship with patient mortality. The findings suggest that managers and policy makers should focus sharply on improving the functioning of relevant HR management systems in health care organizations as one important means by which to improve patient care. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.