Influence of organizational culture on quality healthcare delivery
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 6 September 2011
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify if aspects of organizational culture may indicate a new terrain in the cultural influences‐quality healthcare relationship. This research stems from the author's belief that viewing the role of head of department or directorate as pivotal to health care management is critical to health care planning and quality healthcare delivery.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were undertaken among 50 professional clinician and non‐clinician managers working in the role of head of department, in acute care hospitals in Ireland. The sample was drawn from the total population of 850 managers, utilized in a previous survey study.
Findings
Organizational culture is more complex than was previously thought. Several cultural influences such as excellence in care delivery, ethical values, involvement, professionalism, value‐for‐money, cost of care, commitment to quality and strategic thinking were found to be key cultural determinants in quality care delivery.
Research limitations/implications
Health care managers perceive that in order to deliver quality focused care they need to act in a professional, committed manner and to place excellence at the forefront of care delivery, whilst at the same time being capable of managing the tensions that exist between cost effectiveness and quality of care. These tensions require further research in order to determine if quality of care is affected in a negative manner by those tensions.
Originality/value
Originality relates to the new cultural terrain presented in this paper that recognizes the potential of health service managers to influence the organizations' culture and through this influence to take a greater part in ensuring that quality health care is delivered to their patients. It also seems to be important that value‐for‐money is viewed as an ethical means of delivering healthcare, and not as a conflict between quality and cost.
Keywords
Citation
Carney, M. (2011), "Influence of organizational culture on quality healthcare delivery", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 24 No. 7, pp. 523-539. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526861111160562
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited