Managing Doctors

In spite of the prominent profile of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, it is not easy for them to retain staff.

The HA is in an enviable position when it comes to attracting people to join them. “We are the 7th largest employer in Hong Kong and holding 95% of the market for health care services,” says Anthony Wu, HA Chairman. “Although we are successful in recruiting, we are conscious that our staff attrition has to be controlled.”

“We cannot allow short-term cyclical changes to affect our long-term plans and good training programmes are our key factors of success. We invest heavily in training to ensure that our services are not affected by staff movements”.

Wu says HR management has changed dramatically over the past 10 to 15 years. Employers no longer dictate the job market – they have to go out and find ways to attract people (talents) to join and stay in their organisations.

“Money is less of a motivator in the HA than in the private sector” Wu said. “For example, our financial directors are paid much less than their friends working for private businesses, but, given our funding constraints, HA can only retain staff by recognising and respecting their work.” Mutual respect is a very important element in developing human relationship.

Training as a Strategy

About 320 to 350 new medical graduates join the HA each year, and there has to be good management plans to retain them, offer them a career path and make them feel proud about working in the HA.

HA conducts most of its training in-house. Apart from on-job training, soft-skills and management training is also very high on the HA agenda. Many doctors enjoy seeing patients and working in the theatres, but they should realise that having a well managed hierarchy of professionals, they could cure more people every day. To cultivate a desire for management jobs, the HA runs many executive leadership programmes for the professional staff.

“We may be short of people, but we are not short of talents. My challenge is to find the talent, motivate them and offer them a career”, said Anthony.

Adapted from: A-performers.com October 1, 2008