Abstract:
The study on Surveyor Competency Models for the Thai Healthcare Accreditation Program aimed to establish a competency model for the surveyors in the healthcare accreditation program, and to develop guidelines for applying the competency model in a surveyor development system. The researcher conducted this study by mixed research methods. The specifically selected sampling groups were twelve experts who possess tacit knowledge, skills, and experiences in healthcare accreditation. The research methods included in-depth interviews and an actual survey observation, and the data was analyzed by using a content analysis approach prior to concluding surveyor competencies and behavioral definitions, followed by a draft of surveyor competency models, validated with twelve experts and other twenty-four surveyors. The study results found twenty-six competencies for surveyors: 1) seven core competencies: beliefs; philosophy and ethics; respect; self-assessment report analysis of healthcare organization; interpersonal relationships; teamwork; and adaptability 2) three management competencies: planning and organization; time management; and conflict management , and 3) sixteen functional competencies, which were classified into four sub-groups: necessary knowledge; appreciative inquiry; communication skills; and learning facilitation skills. Competency models application guidelines development for surveyor development system, involved two significant steps: 1) Competency dictionary development, which composed of definitions and desired behaviors regarding each level of proficiency, which were divided into three levels: surveyor, survey team leader, and senior surveyor 2) Competency models application guidelines development in the surveyor development system, which found suggestions that surveyors need to apply core competencies in the candidate surveyor recruitment and selection stage. At the surveyor training and development stage, functional competencies are necessarily applied, because this stage enhances surveyors' capabilities to perform the surveys. In the surveyor registration stage, it was found that surveyors should apply all twenty-six competencies. Besides the abovementioned results, the study also found that applying competency models in the surveyor development system, required conducting learning activities with the adult learning concept. This study convinced competency models development, which was derived by experts. Each competency was extracted from tacit knowledge of experts who possess a high level of survey experience in Thai societal contexts. Significantly, these competency models, particularly beliefs and respect concerning people with friendly and humble manners are also reflected in Thai identities. Additionally, this study also found learning facilitation, and appreciative inquiry competency models, which initially and positively empowered. Hence, developed surveyor competency models in this study are sufficient to change or improve Thai healthcare accreditation, and empower surveyors to practically and tangibly apply them in their survey sessions. Surveyors in Thai societal contexts will assertively, be both evaluators and learning developers in order to bring about positive changes for Thai healthcare accreditation.
Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center