What Is the Role of Human Resource Management in Healthcare?

The importance of human resource management in healthcare lies in the fact that a well-managed human resources mode is vital for the provision of efficient and quality healthcare. Many challenges exist in various healthcare systems in the quest to ensure that the healthcare provision of that region is the best it can be. One of the challenges in human resources management is encountered during the selection of the employees to fill the various positions in healthcare systems. Another challenge is the management of both the non-clinical and clinical staff, the size of the workforce, the training of workers, and the migratory tendencies of some healthcare practitioners.

When considering the role of human resource management in healthcare from a global perspective, it is important to point out that different countries may have some of their own peculiar set of challenges, which may differ substantially from that of other healthcare models. For instance, one major problem faced in the management of human resources in developing countries is lack of adequate finances to recruit the necessary healthcare workers. As such, the necessary model for human resource management of healthcare in those countries may be crippled by a lack of the financial wherewithal to facilitate the model. These countries may also face a mass exodus of some of the more qualified healthcare practitioners who immigrate to other countries with better managed healthcare models.

Another issue that is a part of the role of human resource management in healthcare is the provision of necessary tools to selected employees in order to ensure that they adequately perform their duties. A surgeon may be the best in his or her field, but even his or her expertise can be hampered if the necessary medical tools are not available. As such, part of the role of human resource management is to make sure that the different employees have the tools needed to effectively perform their duties. Some of these tools include items like the necessary drugs, antiseptic, enough hospital beds, surgical equipment and other necessities for the clinical staff. The non-surgical staff may require tools like computers, stationery and other important office equipment.

During the process of employee selection, the role of human resource management in healthcare is to ensure that the people with the best skills are matched with the available identified jobs. This is facilitated by the efforts of the human resources managers to advertise the positions, conduct interviews, and make proper selections. Again, the selection will be determined by the available financial resources. If the budget is limited, the healthcare management will have to manage the resources by hiring the best employees within the scope of its budget.