Title: Administrative climate and staffing levels in healthcare systems: a risk-adjusted analysis of veterans' hospitals

Authors: Jian Gao, James Campbell

Addresses: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare Network Upstate, New York, 113 Holland Avenue-Bldg. 7, Albany, NY 12208, USA. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare Network Upstate, New York, 113 Holland Avenue-Bldg. 7, Albany, NY 12208, USA

Abstract: Administrative personnel|s salary is a substantial portion of total healthcare cost. The administrative climate, i.e. the combined effects of administrative staff|s working attitude/intensity and managerial skills, plays a significant role in staffing levels. A healthcare system could reduce its costs and increase its operational efficiency by identifying those hospitals overstaffed with administrative personnel and adjusting its climate accordingly. This study, using the data from US veterans| hospitals and simple regression technique, through comprehensive risk-adjustment, set up a practical framework for a healthcare system to reach this goal. Results from this study show that millions of dollars can be saved if the administrative climate can be identified and altered.

Keywords: administrative climate; staffing levels; cost; risk adjustment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2002.001148

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2002 Vol.4 No.5, pp.350-362

Published online: 01 Jul 2003 *

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