Topp, Stephanie M. (2017) Health worker performance, practice and improvement. In: George, Asha, Scott, Kerry, and Govender, Veloshnee, (eds.) A Health Policy and Systems Research Reader on Human Resources for Health. World Health Organisation (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 73-87.

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Abstract

Health worker performance is a complex and contested concept. The World Health Report defines health worker performance as a composite function of health worker availability, competence, productivity and responsiveness (World Health Organization (WHO), 2006). A well-performing health workforce is thus one that “works in ways that are responsive, fair and efficient to achieve the best health outcomes possible, given the available resources and circumstances” (WHO, 2006, p. 67). This inclusive definition factors in both technical and relational aspects of health worker performance and forms a touchstone for this chapter’s examination of different approaches to performance measurement and evaluation. Nonetheless, this chapter clearly distinguishes health worker performance from the related concept of quality, viewing quality of care as the product of concurrent and synergistic actions to ensure effective, efficient, equitable, patient-centred and timely care (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Health worker performance is thus a critical and necessary – but not sufficient or always dominant – component of overall quality of care.

Item ID:	51694
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Reference)
ISBN:	978-92-4-151335-7
Date Deposited:	29 Nov 2017 23:14
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 60% 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1605 Policy and Administration > 160508 Health Policy @ 40%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920207 Health Policy Evaluation @ 40% 91 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 9105 Measurement Standards and Calibration Services > 910599 Measurement Standards and Calibration Services not elsewhere classified @ 30% 91 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 9104 Management and Productivity > 910499 Management and Productivity not elsewhere classified @ 30%
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