Healthcare leadership and applied philosophy: An essential resource. Issue 4 (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fistein, Elizabeth; Malloy, David Cruise
• Is Part Of: Healthcare management forum. Volume 30:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 218
• Page End: 220
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Health services administration -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Canada -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1177/0840470417703236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0840-4704

Abstract

As healthcare professionals we are committed to the efficient and effective operation of our institutions. Bureaucratic structures, rules, regulations, policies, and of course, measurements, are the tools-at-hand. While there is nothing inherently pernicious about efficient, effective, and measured institutions, we argue what is critically missing in this environment is humanity and authenticity at the cost of meaningful work. The solutions we offer are found in the realm of philosophy and in particular that branch of philosophy that deals with first principles - what is a nurse; what is a patient; what is a hospital?