Expectations of what an entry-level manager should know about the application of health services research methods: perspectives of an administrator of a university teaching hospital.
The difficulty in applying research methods to the operational environment is not unique to health services administration. Roper et al. observed that many physicians lack the skills to interpret and critically evaluate medical literature and have difficulty incorporating information about probabilities of disease and outcomes of care into the decisions they make. The science of health care evaluation is still in its formative stages. Methods of gathering and analyzing data on health outcomes and effectiveness are limited. The same may also be true of applying research methods to the management process within our institutions. While it is clear that research methods can contribute to the management process, much work is still needed within our institutions to provide an organizational environment conducive to its effective application. The lack of successful implementation of these methods does not result from intrinsic deficiencies in the health administration curriculum, but rather reflects the ongoing complexity of the operational world. Training in research methods must be viewed as a long-term investment by senior managers. Specific initiatives must be taken by senior management to establish the organizational climate that will foster the application of research methods to the management process. The academic community should also recognize the need to provide ongoing learning opportunities for the senior management levels of our organizations. Exposure to new and innovative research methods must be viewed as a continuing process. Efforts must be increased to close the gap between those who teach research methods and those who are attempting to apply them. Continuing education efforts, curriculum refinements, and innovative linkages between the practitioner and the health services educator will be essential.
D006302:Health Services Research; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000193:education*; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States