Research

The importance of human resources management in health care: a global context

Stefane M Kabene^1,3 , Carole Orchard³ , John M Howard² , Mark A Soriano¹ and Raymond Leduc¹

¹Management and Organizational Studies, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

²Schulich School of Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

³School of Nursing, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

author email corresponding author email

Human Resources for Health 2006, 4:20doi:10.1186/1478-4491-4-20

Published:	27 July 2006

Abstract

Background

This paper addresses the health care system from a global perspective and the importance of human resources management (HRM) in improving overall patient health outcomes and delivery of health care services.

Methods

We explored the published literature and collected data through secondary sources.

Results

Various key success factors emerge that clearly affect health care practices and human resources management. This paper will reveal how human resources management is essential to any health care system and how it can improve health care models. Challenges in the health care systems in Canada, the United States of America and various developing countries are examined, with suggestions for ways to overcome these problems through the proper implementation of human resources management practices. Comparing and contrasting selected countries allowed a deeper understanding of the practical and crucial role of human resources management in health care.

Conclusion

Proper management of human resources is critical in providing a high quality of health care. A refocus on human resources management in health care and more research are needed to develop new policies. Effective human resources management strategies are greatly needed to achieve better outcomes from and access to health care around the world.