Skills, Capabilities, and Requirements of Hospital Managers: A Qualitative Study

The hospital, as the most important organization in the delivery of health care services, requires effective and efficient management more than other organizations. Therefore, the skills and capabilities of hospital managers are important issues. The aim of this study was to determine the skills, capabilities, and requirements of hospital managers.
This qualitative study was conducted in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, in 2015. The study population was composed of teaching hospital managers, senior managers, faculty members, and postgraduate students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was conducted through purposive sampling method and continued until data saturation. In this study, interview and focus group discussion were used for data collection, and data analysis was performed using content analysis method.
The skills and capabilities of hospital manager were classified into 7 themes (communication, work experience, managerial knowledge, knowledge of the hospital, motivation and interest, systemic thinking and problem solving, individual characteristics and integrity) and 24 sub-themes. For the enhancement of these skills and capabilities, 2 themes (empowerment before and after obtaining the managerial post) and 8 sub-themes were identified.
Hospital management requires specific skills and capabilities. Decision makers and policy makers in the health sector should select hospital manager based on these skills.