Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorMulti-disciplinary Studiesen_US
dc.creatorChung, Ming-kui-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/4980-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic University-
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleThe structural relationship between the physiotherapy profession and the clinical management team in the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong : the perspective of the physiotherapy department headsen_US
dcterms.abstract'Cultivating organisational transformation and development' is one of the corporate strategies of the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. Along this direction, New Management Initiatives implemented in the public hospitals have brought about fundamental reforms in hospital management. This includes the development of Clinical Management Teams (CMTs) at the basic operating level with devolution of management and budgetary responsibilities. CMTs aim at transforming the health care culture which has traditionally been divided into various disciplines into one which is more focused on the total needs of patients. Since its implementation in 1993/94, the greatest structural changes brought about by CMT have been concentrated on medical, nursing and supporting services. With the momentum of transformation, the needs and models of integrating allied health professions into the CMTs should deserve more attention. This research is an explorative study on the structural relationship between the physiotherapy profession and the CMT from the perspective of the Physiotherapy Department heads. Twelve Physiotherapy Department heads were invited for semi-structured interviews to collect information and opinions on their understanding of CMT, development of CMT, present organisational structure, preferred models of structural relationship with the CMT, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the three most common structural options: Functional Model, Collective Model and Dispersed Model. From the advantages and disadvantages of the different models, their decision criteria on choosing between options were determined and analysed along four domains of factors, namely Clinical, Managerial, Professional and Financial Factors. The Functional Model was preferred by eight subjects and the Collective Model by three subjects. One subject preferred a variation of the Functional Model with resources allocated from the CMTs. The Dispersed Model with abolition of the Physiotherapy Department and dispersal of physiotherapists to the CMTs was opposed by the subjects. Professional Factors were found to be important but not dominant decision criteria in their model preference. They were also concerned about the impacts on patient services and the resource implications associated with the structural options. It is recommended that physiotherapists should take a balanced view towards the challenge to evolve a structural model which preserves attributes valued by professionals, enhances management transformation, delivers quality patient services and makes the most effective use of scarce resources. It is recommended that the existing and dominant Functional Model with profession-management and department-based structure should be retained. It is nested with the service delivery model (the CMT) into a matrix arrangement. Integration at the interface has to be improved in the areas of collaboration, accountability and contractual relationships, so that the resulting structure would be compatible with the development of CMT. An 'internal customer-provider' relationship is argued to be an appropriate basis for these improvements. In particular, contractual ways between the Physiotherapy Department and the CMTs are recommended to be increased through service agreements which do not involve exchanging funding with services.en_US
dcterms.extentx, 104, [57] leaves : ill. ; 30 cmen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued1997en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Masteren_US
dcterms.educationalLevelM.Sc.en_US
dcterms.LCSHHealth services administration -- China -- Hong Kongen_US
dcterms.LCSHHospital Authority (Hong Kong, China)en_US
dcterms.LCSHPhysical therapists -- China -- Hong Kongen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
b14033586.pdfFor All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only)5.15 MBAdobe PDFView/Open


Copyright Undertaking

As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:

  1. I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
  2. I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
  3. I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.

By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.

Show simple item record

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/4980