The impact of interdepartmental communication on cost saving strategies in a South African private acute care hospital
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Date
2016
Authors
Cloete, Lorinda
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of interdepartmental communication between the pharmacy and the nursing staff on the cost saving strategies implemented in a South African private acute care hospital. The research was designed to investigate the impact of interdepartmental communication in an objective manner, ensuring that the data analysis and subsequent findings was based on factual data. A quantitative approach was followed; hence, a questionnaire was developed to collect the data. Analysis of the data showed that there is a definite and significant positive relationship between interdepartmental communication and cost saving strategies and that more efficient communication will lead to more successes with the implementation of cost saving strategies. The key issues or barriers to interdepartmental communication were identified. The barriers included the following: infrequent and not so timeous communication from the pharmacy, high ward and theatre activities, language differences, the lack of personal contact with pharmacy staff, staff attitude and the limited access staff has to computers and as a consequence to the private acute care hospital’s electronic intranet.
The nursing staff’s perception at the time of the study was that the interdepartmental communication between the pharmacy and nursing was inefficient, that meetings were the most utilised vehicle of communication and those other communication vehicles such as the private acute care hospital’s intranet and communication via e-mails were not sufficiently utilised. Based on these findings, two recommendations were made that might contribute to more efficient interdepartmental communication and in turn boost the success rate of cost saving strategy implementation. The first recommendation was to ensure a dedicated computer was available in each ward or unit specifically for staff members to access the private acute care hospital’s intranet, in doing that the staff will be able to utilise the computer during times of slower ward and theatre activities and enable them to keep up to date with formulary product changes. The second recommendation was to utilise current compulsory quality based ward rounds being done by the pharmacists. This includes discussions on formulary products per ward or unit as the rounds are being done and providing clear, concise and correct information applicable to the relevant ward or unit. This will enhance interdepartmental communication, improve cost saving strategy implementation and as an added bonus improve relationships between the pharmacy and the nursing staff.
Description
Dissertation (MBA (Business Administration))--University of the Free State, 2016