According to inwent.org, an international leadership and skills training programme, the healthcare systems in sub-Saharan African countries suffer from shortages of personnel, laboratory equipment, money and know-how.
"The training of key resources is fundamental to improving the efficiencies, productivity and overall performance of a hospital, particularly when the vital resources of qualified and competent nurses are in such short supply," says Keith Bonsall, director of Halcyon Management Services, specialists in hospital management and a keynote speaker at the Operational Hospital Management Conference (OHMC) 2011.
According to PERSAL (Government's Personnel Salary System), the vacancy rate of nurses at hospitals in March 2010 was 42%, with 109 075 more nurses needed. In Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, only around one third of professional nurses' posts were filled.
"Staff training and development are an imperative for hospitals, in particular nursing staff and the lower professional levels." continues Bonsall. "Potential future managers need to be identified and given opportunities to grow, including empowerment and broader responsibilities."
Bonsall believes that every hospital should also have a staff retention strategy to keep the people who deliver in excess of what is expected - and even consistently to standard. "The cost of unproductive, incompetent and non-performing staff is substantial and directly affects the outcome of patient care - in both clinical and cost terms," adds Bonsall. "Appropriate compensation structures that recognise performance and reward serve delivery are essential"
Bonsall will address OHMC delegates on the "4P" approach - Productivity, Performance, Process and Procurement.
The two-day OHMC takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 5 to 7 October 2011, with the theme "First Class Hospital Housekeeping". Topics on Bonsall's agenda include Wastage Management, the Dynamics of Benchmarking and Setting New Standards, The myths of Patient Care and What does the Health Care Manager Really Do?
A specialist in the area with over 25 years of experience in the private hospital industry in South Africa; Bonsall will focus on patient satisfaction, the changing business model, new medical technologies, the efficient and effective costs of delivery staff training and development, staff retention strategies, the establishment of an electronic patient and medical record; and competent, skilled and experienced management who have the knowledge to positively act and address these imperatives. "As in any other industry, hospital management has a number of priorities that it has to adhere to, especially because these institutions function as service providers," Bonsall explains.
"Hospitals deliver healthcare as a team - from doctors who cure, nurses who care, radiologists and pathologists who provide accurate data for accurate diagnosis to be made, nursing support services - who ensure care is conducted competently in a safe and infection free environment, other paramedical personnel - who provide other medical supporting services - not to mention all the general, administrative and financial support staff. A greater focus on re-building the "care team" is vital."
OHMC is the Southern African healthcare sector's premier hospital management conference aimed at improving the performance and quality of services at public hospitals. The conference offers a tangible learning and sharing opportunity for all management levels in public and private hospitals and clinics, and the health care sector in general.
The conference is endorsed by the Department of Health, MedPages, the South African Medical Association, Medical Chronicle, the Medical Electronic Library of South Africa and the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.
The 2011 OHMC workshop is approved by The Health Professional Council for CPD points.
The Pan African Health Expo is the premier event in the broad healthcare community in Southern Africa. The Expo allows manufacturers and distributors of medical equipment and technology to showcase their products with qualified healthcare professionals in attendance. The objective is to promote the capabilities and capacity of the medical industry, including medical and pharmaceutical technologies available throughout Africa.
For more information on the Pan African Health Expo and the OHMC, contact Bette McNaughton at Fair Consultants. Tel: +27 11 784 4279; email: moc.stnatlusnocriaf@cmetteb; website: www.fairconsultants.com
