Title: Healthcare management challenges in two university hospitals

Authors: Jori Reijula; Emmi Reijula; Kari Reijula

Addresses: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Neulaniementie 4, 70210 Kuopio, Finland ' Science Service Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Puijonlaaksontie 2, 70029 Kuopio, Finland ' Department of Public Health, Occupational Health, University of Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

Abstract: The economic downturn in developed countries has had implications in the field of healthcare. In Finland, public hospitals have been forced to improve their production efficiency while coping with limited resources. In this study, 14 interviewees from two Finnish University hospitals were interviewed. The aim of the study was to shed light on today's work process, change, information, medical technology, and lean management challenges. Both hospitals had recently undergone rigorous renovation and relocation projects. The employees and patients were happy with the hospital management. However, there were several improvements needed regarding hospital hierarchy, bureaucracy, communication, ICT technology, logistics, safety, teamwork, personnel structure and outsourcing. The managements at both hospitals desired to improve their work processes, employee well-being and patient care, and also develop the lean work processes. Several functions were praiseworthy, and those in need of improvement were transparently discussed by the hospital management.

Keywords: healthcare; management; university hospitals; change management; lean management; technology; hospital environment; work processes; hierarchy; logistics; safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2016.084129

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2016 Vol.15 No.4, pp.308 - 325

Received: 08 Jan 2016
Accepted: 15 Nov 2016

Published online: 13 May 2017 *

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