Abstract:
This thesis is a study of the principles and personnel management of the 4 hospitals (Central Hospital, Vajiar Hospital, Taksin Hospital and Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital) run by Bangkok Metropolis. Primary data was obtained from interviews and questionnaires which were answered by five groups of hospital personnel namely: doctors, nurses, nurses-aids, paramedics and general personnel. Secondary data was obtained from articles and text-books. The results of the research were as hypothesized and can be elaborated as follows:- 1. Personnel management in the hospitals under the control of Bangkok Metropolis lacks cooperation. Since the hospitals and the Personnel Division of Bangkok Metropolis share the responsibility in personnel management, this takes time for communication. Moreover, the hospitals can be classified as a division the Bangkok Metropolis medical department. Within the hospital it is also divided to different divisions. Thus, there are division directors in the hospital working on the same level as the hospital director. This results in redundancy among directors which make administration and co-ordination difficult and complicated. 2. The hospitals are short of staff, 17.8 % of physicians positions and 15.4 % of nurse positions are vacant. Reasons put forward are first, salaries are too low, second; there is too little opportunity for advancement and thirdly; the vacant positions are not sufficiently well advertised. 3. Personnel development programs need to be improved. Sixty-four percent of the doctors and a majority of nurse-aids and paramedics indicated that they are not satisfied with the program. 4. Compensations are not high enough to motivate physicians to work with the hospitals. Sixty-three point nine percent of doctors likewise nurses, nurse-aids, paramedics, and general personnel are not satisfied with a raise in salary. And the majority of the sample need more benefit and welfare. The following recommendations are proposed to solve the mentioned problems, and to improve the personnel management system of the Bangkok Metropolis hospitals.
1. Recruitment problems should be solved by improving the announcement of vacant positions both in content and media. Moreover the personnel of Bangkok Metropolis should help in persuading people to apply for the jobs and spreading the information. For a short-term solution to solve the problem of lack of physicians, scholarships to study for medical doctor should be provided. The student who got a scholarship should work in the hospitals in return. A long term proposal is that the hospitals might produce physicians of their own. This may also motivate the doctors to work in Bangkok Metropolis hospitals because they will have a good chance to be professors in the medical school. 2. Selection of personnel would be better made if the hospital itself took sole responsibility. The line authority and the Personnel Section of each hospital should work together in a selection process in order to select the right man to match the requirement of each working unit. 3. All new employees need to undergo orientation. This should thoroughly acquaint them with their work and make for good co-operation among employees. 4. Personnel Development Programs need adjustment. Since 39.2 % of employees have never participated in any program, training programs should be improved both in quality and frequency. This would require an adequate budget. 5. Sixty-four point six percent of respondents showed that they are not satisfied with the performance appraisal. Firstly, no set procedure has been developed. Staff lack motivation since there are no standards of achievement. Secondly appraisal is not made by people who have first-hand knowledge of their work. Appraisal more than once a year is suggested and it should be made by those directly involved such as immediate supervisor, co-worker and subordinate. All employees and raters should be informed about the appraisal criteria. 6. Promotions should be based on fair performance appraisals and the ceiling of salary of each position should be raised. 7. Fringe Benefits are inadequate. Further help could be given with regard to both housing and transportation. 8. Working Conditions were commented on by 82.6% of the sample who felt that they could be up-graded. Specifically mentioned were: space-some have to work in cramped conditions, equipment-there is insufficient to meet the needs, and surroundings in many cases they are not conducive to the best results. 9. Opinions expressed in open-end questionnaires can be concluded as follows: - The vacant positions should be filled promptly and filled with properly qualified persons. Persons in authority should be of good character as well as adequately trained. The Hospital Director should be of high standing and chosen from the hospital staff so that he might have the co-operation of his subordinates. Hospital administration should be improved. In conclusion it should be pointed out that there are problems which concern higher authorities. The administration of the Bangkok Metropolis should be decentralized and adjustments made in salary scales and increases in the budget for this public health service. Finally the study and the research on administration and co-ordination of Bangkok Metropolis is recommended.