Strategic Management Practices Help Hospitals Get the Most from Volunteers

Rogers, Sean

Strategic Management Practices Help Hospitals Get the Most from Volunteers

Abstract

Hospital administrators are facing twin challenges with regard to their volunteers—a generational change that may mean fewer volunteer hours in the future, and the need to set strategies to manage and recognize the value of current volunteers. This report, based on a survey conducted with a group of more than 100 hospital officials, identifies a specific set of 23 management practices to improve the volunteer experience, grouped into four categories: job design; recruitment and selection; orientation, training, and development; and performance management and supervision. The report also highlights the importance of making a complete accounting of the volunteer contribution, by calculating the equivalent financial value of volunteer services, as well as their contribution to patients’ health outcomes. The study findings indicate that the use of strategic volunteer management practices in hospitals leads to better performance by volunteer labor and, in turn, may improve the hospitals’ bottom line.

Date Issued

2017-02-14

Keywords

hospital administration; volunteers; management practices; Cornell University; hospital human resources

Rights

Types

article