ABSTRACT
Improvement in health service delivery has become an issue in recent times all over the
world with Ghana not being an exception. In Ghana, Public Hospitals have come under
severe media and public criticism for poor service delivery.
To be able to meet the expectation of the public, these hospitals must possess certain
resources and competences. Not only should public hospital improve on their
performance but should also do their best to excel in the health care industry.
This requires that the resources and competencies, which are necessary for health
services delivery, must be distinct from that of others in the health service industry.
The study therefore sought to find out whether Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
(KATH) possessed any distinct resources and competencies and how they could be
exploited for superior performance.
The study employed a multi method approach of data collection. Structured
questionnaires, documents and archives were used to get information on the hospital’s
past performance and also identify the resources and competences that Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital possessed.
The study showed that Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital had almost all the resources
central to health service delivery as well as distinctive resources. KATH, compared
with its competitors, was found to be endowed with physical resources like facilities for
special cases. For example, Neonatal unit, Radiotherapy Centre, state-of-the-art X-ray and Family planning facilities. However, the facilities at the hospital were over utilized
and some of its equipment needed to be changed as they were old.
KATH had a strong human resource position as it had staff with vast expertise
especially in the clinical areas. The hospital’s relationship with the School of Medical
Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah contributed greatly to this advantage. The lecturers
provided services through their teaching.
However, the performance of activities (competencies) was not encouraging. The
resources had not been fully deployed to create competences in the performance of
critical activities. From the overall assessment of KATH’s competencies no unique
competencies were found. In the area of Service Delivery/Operations the performance
was ordinary. It would have been expected that with the good human resources position
of the hospital, it would have a unique competence in this area.
As a teaching hospital which has research as part of its mission, KATH’s performance
in research and development was poor. It even had the personnel to undertake research.
It could use research to improve on its services.
Managements of Public Hospital should not think that due to the resource constraints
that they face improving performance or excelling in performance cannot be attained.
They should know their organizations by doing an internal assessment to identify
strengths, which could be exploited and the weaknesses which ought to be strengthened
and improved for superior performance.
CDR, C (2021). Towards Superior Performance In Public Hospitals: An Assessment Of Strategic Capabilities - The Case Of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 10, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/towards-superior-performance-in-public-hospitals-an-assessment-of-strategic-capabilities-the-case-of-komfo-anokye-teaching-hospital
Coalition, CDR. "Towards Superior Performance In Public Hospitals: An Assessment Of Strategic Capabilities - The Case Of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 06 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/towards-superior-performance-in-public-hospitals-an-assessment-of-strategic-capabilities-the-case-of-komfo-anokye-teaching-hospital . Accessed 10 Apr. 2021.
Coalition, CDR. "Towards Superior Performance In Public Hospitals: An Assessment Of Strategic Capabilities - The Case Of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 06 Apr. 2021. Web. 10 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/towards-superior-performance-in-public-hospitals-an-assessment-of-strategic-capabilities-the-case-of-komfo-anokye-teaching-hospital >.
Coalition, CDR. "Towards Superior Performance In Public Hospitals: An Assessment Of Strategic Capabilities - The Case Of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 10, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/towards-superior-performance-in-public-hospitals-an-assessment-of-strategic-capabilities-the-case-of-komfo-anokye-teaching-hospital