This paper deals with challenges faced by local health managers in times of economic crisis, since almost nothing in our modern healthcare system is preserved from both immediate and long term effects of economic oscillations. The healthcare becomes more and more subject to higher technologies with a growing number of private, well organized and benefit-oriented hospitals. Researchers found that approximately 50% of health improvements were due to access to better technology, whereas remaining gains resulted from income improvements and better education. Healthcare is actually referenced to as one of the most complex, costly and challenged sector of our contemporary societies.
Just as health conditions at any time improve with income level, so too, might adverse income shocks have detrimental effects on health. Economic downturns have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality, and to poor nutrition and mental health. The recent economic crisis through the increasing socioeconomic disparities and difficulties such as unemployment, extreme poverty, homelessness, stigma, discrimination and social isolation and through the budgetary constraints and poor policies for financing prevention and treatment, have been translated to heightened risk behaviors on the individual level and impaired public health response on the population level.
The negative impacts can also be observed at the societal level, as all sensitive social indicators have been distorted. In European countries, the late 2000's economic crisis laid to a consistent tendency of European governments to diminish the spending on healthcare. This have led to considerable decrease in the number of people accessing healthcare as in countries with weak health insurance policy people had to use money from their pocket.
The economic crisis provokes certainly the need for multifactorial adjustments at all health managerial levels. To powerfully address this issue health managers should have clear understanding of the impacts of economic crisis on their ability to maintain and promote an adequate healthcare provision. The present paper will discuss indeed, the main challenges that a health services manager can face regarding the impact of an economic crisis to a local society.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAP. 1 : IMPACTS OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS TO A LOCAL SOCIETY
CHAP. 2: MAIN MANAGERIAL CHALLENGES IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS
CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this work is to examine the significant managerial obstacles that health services managers encounter when local societies are subjected to the detrimental effects of an economic crisis, particularly concerning healthcare accessibility and resource management.
- The causal link between economic downturns and public health outcomes.
- Socioeconomic determinants of health during periods of financial scarcity.
- Managerial strategies for maintaining organizational goals under severe budget constraints.
- The impact of staffing challenges and staff demotivation on health service delivery.
- The necessity of community and authority support for local health management.
Excerpt from the Book
CHAP. 2: MAIN MANAGERIAL CHALLENGES IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS
As discussed before, the economic crisis has multi-faced consequences since all economic and social sectors are concerned. As a process, Management consists of achieving organizational goals through planning, organizing, directing, and controlling human and physical resources (Swanwick and Mc Kimm 2011, Mokhlis 2011). In time of crisis, carrying out these managerial functions becomes a serious challenge. Successful health care organizations are those that have leaders who understand the nature and implications of external change, and have the ability to set adaptive measures through the development of effective strategies (Ginter, Duncan and Swayne 2013). To efficiently hold the health system through such a difficult period, the manager must call upon his experience to find out all the possible channels by which an economic crisis may affect health and by the way address each of them as separate entity.
To address an economic meltdown some governments tend to diminish the spending on healthcare leading to fewer financial resources available for public health programs during and after times of economic crisis, increased out of pocket payments in some countries, which do not have a robust health insurance policy and a decrease in the number of people accessing healthcare services in the other countries (Palascaa and Jabab 2015, Merson, Black and Mills 2012). In a sensitive sector such as health, the lack of adequate funding and the subsequent reduction of personnel earnings create frustrations that simply melt the devotion of the staff to the vision of the health organization. This leads to failure of the managerial aims as management is the process of getting work done through others (Cummings and Worley 2014:447). Organizing adequate health care provision becomes challenging since lower motivation has negative consequences on the health system performance and renders the managerial processes difficult (Hossein and Vicheth 2011).
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter establishes the context of modern healthcare systems and explains how economic oscillations and funding constraints negatively influence health outcomes and access to services.
CHAP. 1 : IMPACTS OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS TO A LOCAL SOCIETY: This chapter analyzes the bidirectional relationship between national income and public health, highlighting how economic contraction leads to increased morbidity, poverty, and reduced healthcare utilization.
CHAP. 2: MAIN MANAGERIAL CHALLENGES IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS: This chapter focuses on the operational difficulties for health managers, specifically regarding resource allocation, maintaining staff motivation, and implementing adaptive strategies during times of austerity.
CONCLUSION: This chapter summarizes the complex nature of managing health services under economic crises and emphasizes the need for resilience and clear strategic understanding to overcome resource scarcity.
Keywords
Economic crisis, Health management, Healthcare provision, Socioeconomic disparities, Public health, Financial scarcity, Managerial challenges, Resource allocation, Austerity measures, Vulnerable communities, Health system performance, Unemployment, Mental health, Morbidity, Healthcare accessibility
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the multifaceted challenges that local health managers face when operating healthcare services during periods of economic crisis and societal financial instability.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The key themes include the impact of economic downturns on public health, the relationship between national income and health status, and the strategies managers use to navigate budget cuts and staff shortages.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to determine how health services managers can maintain adequate healthcare provision and organizational performance when faced with the negative impacts of an economic crisis on the local population.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a literature review and thematic analysis, synthesizing established research and theoretical frameworks from health economics and management studies.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the direct health effects of economic shocks, the societal consequences of austerity, and the specific managerial functions that are jeopardized by financial and social stress.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The work is defined by terms such as economic crisis, health management, public health, resource scarcity, and managerial challenges.
How does an economic crisis specifically affect the morale of healthcare staff?
The research notes that reduced funding and lower earnings lead to staff frustration and demotivation, which in turn hinders the ability of the organization to achieve its managerial and clinical objectives.
What role does the community play in the health system according to the author?
The author argues that in developing regions, direct financial support from the community is essential, and that economic crises can render the local health system almost nonexistent without this support.
Why does the author consider the manager's experience crucial in times of crisis?
Experience is essential because the manager must identify the myriad channels through which an economic crisis impacts health and be able to implement adaptive, entity-specific strategies.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr Bruce Wembulua Shinga (Autor), 2016, Main challenges faced by local health managers in times of economic crisis, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/349844
