The Study On The Management Competency Of Middle Managers In A Tertiary Hospital In Shandong Province

BackgroundSince the reform of the health system in 1997,the state has continuously strengthened the construction of the management team of public hospitals.The goal is to establish a specialized hospital management team to improve the management level of hospitals and provide high-quality medical services to the public.Among the current hospital management teams in China,most of the senior and middle managers are from the backbone of medical technology.The phenomenon of "double shoulders"is widespread,which increases the burden on hospital managers.In order to promote the professional construction of the hospital management team,we must evaluate the current management competence of the hospital firstly,find out the existing problems,and put forward targeted suggestions.ObjectivesThis study selects the suitable competency model for Chinese hospital managers by referring to the relevant literature on domestic and foreign competency research,introducing,the foreign hospital manager competency assessment scale,and use this scale to evaluate the competency of the sample hospital.Using the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)to determines the weight coefficient of competency indicators.Analyzing the competency level of the sample hospital managers,finding the problems in the management work and giving advice to promote the improvement of hospital management level.MethodsIn this study,the Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process(AHP)were used to determine the weight coefficient of competency indicators in the hospital manager competency assessment scale.Through the questionnaire survey,the data of 237 managers in the sample hospital were collected,including 58 administrative department directors/deputy directors(referred to as administrative department directors),57 clinical department directors/deputy directors(referred to as clinical department directors),and 59 head nurse/deputy head nurse(referred to as head nurse),63 administrative departments first-line managers(referred to as first-line managers).Using descriptive analysis to the basic situation(Gender,age,academic level,working time,etc.)and competency level.Using T test and single factor analysis of variance to compare the differences of competency levels in different genders,different positions,and different levels of education and to explore the impact of different factors on competency.Results(1)Determine the weight coefficient of each indicator in the hospital manager competency evaluation scale through Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process(AHP),including 6 first-level indicators and 82 second-level indicators.The weight coefficient of the first-level indicators are:correct recognize the medical environment and hospital(0.28),lead others or a department(0.22),make decisions based on data and evidence(0.15),communication ability and relationship management(0.15),promote and manage internal reforms(0.11),administration management and resource management(0.09);(2)Among the overall competency scores,the score of communication ability and relationship management was the highest,it is 4.84±1.04.Make decisions based on data and evidence,administration management and resource management scores are lower,which are 4.25±1.09 and 4.25±1.22;(3)The relationship of competency level between four different management positions is:administrative department director>clinical department director>head nurse>first-line manager.After single factor analysis of variance,P<0.05,the difference in competency scores was statistically significant;(4)The relationship of competency levels between different age groups is:(?50)>(40-49)>(30-39)>(<30).As the age increases,the competency score increase.After single factor analysis of variance,P<0.05,the difference in competency scores was statistically significant;(5)The relationship of competency levels between different working years groups is:(?30)>(20-29)>(10-19)>(<10).with the increase of working years,the competency score increase.After single factor analysis of variance,P<0.05,the difference of competency scores was statistically significant.(6)After multiple linear regression analysis,working years and post categories are the influencing factors of competency level.Conclusions and SuggestionsThrough the measurement and analysis of the competence of the sample hospital managers,this study found that among the hospital managers,the administrative department director has the highest management competency score,mainly because such people have long been engaged in management work and rich management experience.The overall competency level has the highest score on communication ability and relationship management,closely related to the nature of the medical work and the regular training activities of the hospital.Have lower scores on making decisions based on data and evidence and administration management and resource management,they need to improve their capabilities in future.In the future management work,the competency model and the human resources system can be combined for performance appraisal,and each competency indicators can be taken as the important reference for evaluating the manager's competency level.Strengthen exchanges between managers of different positions and invite experienced managers to share management skills and experience,helping young managers to grow better in the form of mentoring.In future training activities,hospitals can use the well-executed training model of interpersonal communication to train the competence of making decisions based on data and evidence and administration management and resource management,to improve the competence of managers.