DQ 2-1
HR Expenditures within the health care industry
How does the healthcare industry compare to other industries in terms of HR staffing and expenditures?
The healthcare industry varies greatly in terms of size, staffing patterns, and organizational structures. The healthcare industry includes establishments ranging from small-town private practices of physicians who employ only one medical assistant to busy inner-city hospitals that provide thousands of diverse jobs.

Healthcare providers face more scrutiny than leaders in other industries. In whatever they do, their moves watched by government agencies to ensure laws they follow laws, by insurance companies concerned with what they bill, by professional organizations that require them to meet conduct standards, and by the consumers who receive healthcare treatment and struggle to pay the cost of it. The healthcare stakeholder group comprises all these individuals. HR is definitely one of the most important and crucial roles in healthcare, more so than in any other industry.

What role does HR programs play in the delivery of safe, competent healthcare.

•Staffing
◦Professional credentialing
◦Cultural competency
◦Ethics training
◦Staff-to-patient ratio
•Maintenance
◦Review of current needs
◦Correction of deficiencies
•Quality Improvement
◦Cases referred per fiscal year
◦Outcomes of treatment administered
◦Review of cases
◦Recommendations
•Compliance with Policies
◦Create a list of policies applying to department
◦Review current policies
◦Update policies as needed
◦Submit updated policies to Board of Directors

This list, while far from complete, can be applied to clinical departments across the board.

Flynn, W. J., Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, H. J. (2007). Healthcare Human Resource Management. Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.
Rigoli, F., & Dussault, G. (2003, November 3). The interface between health sector reform and human resources in health. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from Human Resources For Health: http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/1/1/9