Resource Spotlight: From Staff Mix to Skill Mix and Beyond: Towards a Systemic Approach to Health Workforce Management


 
Optimizing HRH © HRH
Optimizing HRH © HRH

Throughout the world, countries are experiencing shortages of health care workers. Policy-makers and system managers have developed a range of methods and initiatives to optimize the available workforce and achieve the right number and mix of personnel needed to provide high-quality care. This literature review found that such initiatives often focus more on staff types than on staff members' skills and the effective use of those skills. This review describes evidence about the benefits and pitfalls of current approaches to human resources optimization in health care. The authors conclude that in order to use human resources most effectively, health care organizations must consider a more systemic approach - one that accounts for factors beyond narrowly defined human resources management practices and includes organizational and institutional conditions. [abstract]

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