Research Article

Reducing patient mortality in hospitals: the role of human resource management

  1. Michael A. West1,*,
  2. James P. Guthrie2,
  3. Jeremy F. Dawson1,
  4. Carol S. Borrill3,
  5. Matthew Carter1

Article first published online: 21 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1002/job.396

Issue

Journal of Organizational Behavior

Journal of Organizational Behavior

Special Issue: Healthcare: The problems are organizational not clinical

Volume 27, Issue 7, pages 983–1002, November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

West, M. A., Guthrie, J. P., Dawson, J. F., Borrill, C. S. and Carter, M. (2006), Reducing patient mortality in hospitals: the role of human resource management. J. Organiz. Behav., 27: 983–1002. doi: 10.1002/job.396

Author Information

  1. 1

    Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham, U.K.

  2. 2

    School of Business, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kanas, U.S.A.

  3. 3

    Sheffield Care Trust, Sheffield, U.K.

*Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 21 SEP 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 JAN 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 27 NOV 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 29 JAN 2005

Funded by

  • UK National Health Service Executive North Thames Organization and Management Group

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

Get PDF (156K)

Abstract

Developing effective health care organizations is increasingly complex as a result of demographic changes, globalization, and developments in medicine. This study examines the potential contribution of organizational behavior theory and research by investigating the relationship between systems of human resource management (HRM) practices and effectiveness of patient care in hospitals. Relatively little research has been conducted to explore these issues in health care settings. In a sample of 52 hospitals in England, we examine the relationship between the HRM system and health care outcome. Specifically, we study the association between high performance HRM policies and practices and standardized patient mortality rates. The research reveals that, after controlling for prior mortality and other potentially confounding factors such as the ratio of doctors to patients, greater use of a complementary set of HRM practices has a statistically and practically significant relationship with patient mortality. The findings suggest that managers and policy makers should focus sharply on improving the functioning of relevant HR management systems in health care organizations as one important means by which to improve patient care. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Get PDF (156K)