Translating efficiency into effectiveness : employing intelligent HR practices to produce better patient care

Abstract

This study gives a comprehensive analysis of what human resource practices are most important and possibly lacking in the ITU nursing unit of a general Maltese hospital. A pilot intelligent HR solution, consisting of an HR module in an ERP system and a business intelligence tool, were implemented to analyse their possible effectiveness and efficiency on the hospital. A series of data pertaining to the ITU unit of the hospital was collected, which mainly consisted of a list of employees and their corresponding absence records for a period of two years. All the data was cleansed and migrated into the installed ERP system’s database, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Several visual reports, trends and patterns relating to employees’ absenteeism were generated from the ERP system and from a business intelligence tool linked directly to the system’s database. A questionnaire was distributed to all nurses stationed in the ITU unit, which focused on those HR practices which they believed should be improved in the workplace. A response rate of 52.2% (n=47) was obtained. The results were analysed, and based on the issues highlighted by the participants, a series of HR solutions were further implemented into the pilot system. The evaluation phase of this study consisted of several structured interviews with the most important nursing stakeholders of the hospital, where the ERP solution was demonstrated to obtain their feedback on the solution’s effectiveness. The stakeholders clearly indicated during the interviews that this solution can offer several benefits to the hospital, and can ultimately produce better patient care.