Complexity in healthcare management: Why does Drucker describe healthcare organizations as a double-headed monster?

ÇINAROĞLU S.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, vol.9, no.1, pp.11-17, 2016 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1179/2047971915y.0000000016
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.11-17
  • Keywords: Complexity management, Healthcare organizations, Double-headed monster
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The sector of healthcare management is different from other sectors because of its complexity. The reason of this complexity is that there are two different professional aspects of this sector i.e. medical and non-medical. Medical professionals are more familiar with biomedical terms and knowledge than non-medical professionals. On the other hand, non-medical professionals are as qualified as medical professionals and are educated in managing different functions of organization and work with a broader perspective. Due to this two-sided nature, Drucker describes difficulties in healthcare management as a 'two-headed monster'. This study discusses the complexity in healthcare management, particularly in terms of this two-sided nature.