The Relationship Between HR Capabilities and Quality of Patient Care: The Mediating Role of Proactive Work Behaviors

Abstract

Based on theoretical frameworks of resource-based theory, dynamic capabilities, and behavioral perspective on human resource management, we developed a multidimensional construct of human resource (HR) capabilities and tested its relationship with quality of patient care using a national sample of U.S. hospitals. The data on HR capabilities were collected from senior managers (421 individuals nested in 279 hospitals) representing both the administrative and clinical sides of the hospitals. The data on quality of patient care were gathered from two unique sources - patients of 207 hospitals who reported the data via the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey and 421 senior managers of 279 hospitals. Our analyses using structural equation modeling suggests that the positive relationship of HR capabilities with quality of patient care is mediated by proactive behaviors of health care workers. Implications of the study findings for research and practice are discussed.

Keywords: HR capabilities; dynamic capabilities; quality of patient care; resource-based theory.

FIGURE 1. Structural Model with Manager-Reported Quality of Patient Care

Note. Manager QPC = Manager-Reported Quality of Patient Care. All reported coefficients are standardized path coefficients. N = 279; **p < .01; * p < .05

FIGURE 2. Structural Model with the Patient-Reported Quality of Patient Care

Note. Patient QPC = Patient-Reported Quality of Patient Care (data collected from Hospital Compare Website). Control variables (Bed size, ownership, region of location) and common method latent factor are not shown for ease of presentation. All reported coefficients are standardized path coefficients. N = 207; **p < .01; * p < .05