Document Detail


The impact of re-engineering and other cost reduction strategies on the staff of a large teaching hospital: a longitudinal study.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10386568     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: To examine changes over time in the hospital staff's perceptions of how rapid organizational change, caused by fiscal constraints imposed by governments, affects them, their work environment, and the quality of care and services that they provide. METHODS: A random sample of hospital employees (n = 900) of a large Ontario teaching hospital participated in a longitudinal study which involved surveys at 3 measurement periods over a 2-year period. The questionnaire used in this study included scales reflecting work environment, emotional distress, personal resources, spillover from work to home and vice versa, and perceptions regarding patient care and the hospital as an employer. RESULTS: Significant increases in depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and job insecurity were seen among employees, particularly during the first year of the change process. By the end of the second year, employees reported deterioration in team work, increased unclarity of role, and increased use of distraction to cope. Job demands increased throughout the period whereas little change occurred in the employee's job influence or decision latitude. Overall, the work environment was negatively affected. Although patient care was unaffected in the first year, a significant decline in perceptions of patient care, attention to quality improvement, and overall quality of care were later seen. CONCLUSIONS: This study raises questions about whether hospital re-engineering and mergers will be able to achieve the cost reductions sought without sacrificing quality of work life. Along with the rapid change, there was increase in emotional distress among staff and a deterioration in their relationship with their employer.
Authors:
C A Woodward; H S Shannon; C Cunningham; J McIntosh; B Lendrum; D Rosenbloom; J Brown
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Medical care     Volume:  37     ISSN:  0025-7079     ISO Abbreviation:  Med Care     Publication Date:  1999 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1999-07-09     Completed Date:  1999-07-09     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0230027     Medline TA:  Med Care     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  556-69     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. woodward@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Anxiety / psychology
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Burnout, Professional / psychology
Cost Control
Decision Making, Organizational
Depression / psychology
Female
Hospital Restructuring / manpower*
Hospitals, Teaching / manpower,  organization & administration*
Humans
Job Satisfaction*
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Ontario
Organizational Innovation
Personnel Administration, Hospital
Personnel, Hospital / psychology*
Quality of Health Care
Questionnaires
Time Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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