The importance of a high-performance work environment in hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the benefits of a high-performance work environment (HPWE) for employees, patients, and hospitals.


METHODS
Forty-five adult, medical-surgical units in nine hospitals in upstate New York.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Surveys were collected from 1,527 unit-based hospital providers (68.5 percent response rate). Hospitals provided unit turnover and patient data (16,459 discharge records and 2,920 patient surveys).


RESULTS
HPWE, as perceived by multiple occupational groups on a unit, is significantly associated with desirable work processes, retention indicators, and care quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings underscore the potential benefits for providers, patients, and health care organizations of designing work environments that value and support a broad range of employees as having essential contributions to make to the care process and their organizations.
Queens College and The Graduate Center-CUNY, Department of Sociology, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. dana.weinberg@qc.cuny.edu
Dana Beth
DB
Weinberg
Ariel Chanan
AC
Avgar
Noreen M
NM
Sugrue
Dianne
D
Cooney-Miner
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors