ABSTRACT
I think that it is worthwhile to engage in a more general discussion of human resources (HR) before delving into specific healthcare HR structures and processes. As a result, I start out this chapter by defining what I mean by the term “human resources (HR).” I note that, in some ways, every employee of a company-and especially the leadership-is a part of the HR process. I move on from that topic to touch on hiring-related issues and note why it is important for healthcare HR systems to keep bad hires to a minimum. I discuss why healthcare organizations, which have an inherent interest in maintaining well-functioning HR processes (such as those involved in hiring), sometimes perform below par. Finally, I end the chapter by briefly touching on some subjects related to information technology (IT), data management, and culture. In these sections, I lay the groundwork for future chapters, as I will revisit each of these topics in more depth later in the book.
