Showing 54 results for Arab
Alimohammad Mosadeghrad, Mohammad Arab, Arezo Mojbafan,
Volume 15, Issue 4 (1-2017)
Abstract
Introduction: In the hospital’s environment, conflict is unavoidable due to differences in gender, educations, and Career goals, frequent and complex interactions between their personnels. Both of two extremely level of conflict (minimum & maximum) are preventing desired performance. Appropriate level of conflict should avoid recession, encourage creativity and reduce stress. The present research aims to determine the amount of conflict in Tehran University of Medical Science’s hospitals. (TUMS).
Method: This study is descriptive - analytic. The study population consists of 706 managers (senior, intermediate, basic) from 14 hospitals affiliated with TUMS. Data was collected by a self-made questionnaire and was analyzed with SPSS software.
Results: The level of conflict in Tehran University of Medical Science’s hospitals was average. 84% of total conflict was caused by organizational factors. There were a significant association between conflict and level of management, educations, work experience, type of unit, bed numbers, the number of employee under supervision, conflict management training course
Conclusion: Hospital managers should change their organizational cultures and revise some structural variables such as goals, procedures… In order to maintain the optimal level of conflict.
Keywords: Conflict, a mount of Conflict, Managers, Hospital.
Dr Mohammad Arab, Seyed Masood Mousavi, Dr Aidin Arian Khesal, Dr Ali Akbarisari,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (4-2017)
Abstract
Background: in order to quality improvement, accreditation standards implemented with focus on the clinical and non clinical services. A nationwide intervention such as hospital accreditation can affect on measures related to the provision of high quality services. Indeed, such devices can be considered as effective tools in macroeconomic health sector policymaking. The main objective of current study was to investigate the effect of accreditation system on the key performance indicators of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: The study was a semi-experimental and descriptive-analytical one which conducted longitudinal using an Interrupted Time Series Analysis approach. Data related to the key performance indicators including average long of stay, Caesarean percent, turnover rate, patient satisfaction percent, bed occupancy rate, self-ordered discharge from emergency room and net death rate) was accumulated through multiple visits to the hospitals during 2012-2014. STATA software was used for data analysis.
Results: The study results revealed that based on implementation of accreditation model, the average stay of patients in the hospitals cesarean section rate and turn-over intervals decreased, while the percentage of patient satisfaction and bed occupancy average increased. Moreover, self-ordered discharge from emergency room and average of net death rate indicator showed no change.
Conclusion In general, it can be concluded that the health system partially has achieved a part of their objectives means key performance indicators promotion as a result of hospital accreditation implementation in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In order to assess more accurate investigation and understanding the nature of the system effectiveness, analysis of different aspects of hospitals performance indicators and the nature of their changes in longer period seems to be helpful.
Mahnaz Afshari , Dr. Alimohammad Mosadeghrad , Dr. Mohammad Arab ,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (4-2017)
Abstract
Background: The health system of Iran is suffering from resources shortage. The health insurance companies (payers) do not confirm all hospitals’ claims (bills) and as a result do not reimburse them completely. Decreasing the amount of these deductions helps healthcare managers to use their resources efficiently. This study aimed to examine the impact of a quality management model on reducing the amount of healthcare insurance deductions at operating theatre department of Valiasr hospital in 2014-2015.
Materials and Methods: A participatory action research was used for the intervention. A quality improvement team was established and using the ten-step quality management model improved operational processes at operating theatre department. Related data were collected before and after the intervention to determine the effect of quality management system on deductions.
Results: The average deduction per patient at the beginning of the study was 339572 Rials. Illegible and uncompleted patient’s medical records, using wrong codes of surgery and anesthetics in documents and miscalculation were the main reasons of deductions. The reasons for deductions were identified and appropriate solutions were applied to decrease the amount of deductions at operating theatre department. The average deduction per patient at the end of study was 262818 Rials. The amount of deductions has decreased from 6.9 % to 3.8 %. The quality management system helped reduce the amount of deductions by 44.9%.
Conclusion: Implementing an appropriate quality management model appropriately helps reduce deductions in hospitals effectively
Yeganeh Hayati , Dr Elham Movahed , Dr Mohammad Arab ,
Volume 16, Issue 1 (4-2017)
Abstract
Background: Hospital managers inevitably have a major impact on their employees' health and because professional cohesion acheives in the shadow of psychological balance; possessing mental health is important among hospital staff. Therefore, current study aimed to determine the status of managers' leadership style and its relationship with mental health staff of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2014.
Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical one and sample size consisted of 91 executives, intermediate managers and 320 employees of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Fiedler leadership style instrument and general health questionnaire were used. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS software version 22 using descriptive and inferential statistics tests.
Results: Responsive rate was85% (272/320). Most of managers adopted task-oriented leadership style. There was a statistically significant relationship between leadership style and mental health, physical problems, anxiety, social function and depression among staff (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Managers can be effective on mental health staff using relationship-oriented leadership style adoption and it seems necessary to train managers in adopting appropriate leadership models and styles in order to prevent and reduce mental health disorders among employees in different situations.
Elham Haghshenas, Dr Mohammad Arab, Dr Abass Rahimi, Dr Elham Movahed,
Volume 16, Issue 2 (7-2017)
Abstract
Background: The quality of services is a comparison of the customer´s perspective (expectations) with what it has received. If the expectations are more than perceptions, the quality of received services is not sufficient based on customer´s view which resulted in his/her dissatisfaction. The present study performed with the purpose of determining the quality of provided and excepted services to outpatients among hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Material and Methods: The present study is a descriptive- analytics and cross sectional one which has been done in 2015. The study population included all outpatients attending hospital clinics affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.The sample size was calculated 225 participants based on formula. In order to data gathering in quality of provided and expected services, a 22-items standard questionnaire of Servqual was utilized. Data analysis performed by SPSS using paired t-test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The study findings represented that there was a negative gap in the quality of services provided. The highest gap was related to accountability (-0.97) and the lowest gap related to tangibles factors (-0.69) .Moreover, regarding to relationship between demographic variables with perceived service quality, there were significant relationship between insurance type with reliability and empathy dimensions and supplementary insurance with tangibles factors and reliability.
Conclusion: Negative gap (higher expectations than perception) in all aspects of quality improvement is required in all dimensions. Especially, it is necessary to adopt some strategies in the accountability dimension. Reforming management processes, reducing waiting times and increasing employees' motivation in order to achieve appropriate accountability are in this kind of strategies.
Yeganeh Hayati , Dr Hojjat Rahmani , Dr Mohammad Arab,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (11-2017)
Abstract
Background: Health of hospital staff has a determinant role in increased productivity and since the main mission of hospitals is community health promotion, in order to achieve this important issue, monitoring, maintaining and improving general health is essential; this study developed to assess general health of staff affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences and identify its related factors.
Materials and Methods: This Cross-Sectional, Descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 320 staff members of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences who selected using random sampling. In order to data collection, the General Health questionnaire was used. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS software through t-test and ANOVA tests.
Results: Study findings revealed that 47.5% of participants had psychological disorders suspiciously; prevalence of physical symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction and depression were 53.9%, 49.3%, 79.5% and 14.6% respectively. There was a significant relation between general health and demographic features such as gender, marital status, major, job department, housing situation and type of employment (p<0.05). Also, the personal characteristics of managers influenced on the general health staff.
Conclusion: General Health of staff in hospitals Tehran University of Medical Sciences in comparison with similar studies at inside and abroad is not in good condition, therefore, it is recommended that policy makers and managers concerned the programs and solutions towards priorities in order to promote health personnel.
Dr Mohammad Arab, Serajadin Gray, Pejman Hamouzadeh, Farhad Habibi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (11-2017)
Abstract
Background: This study was conducted to validate the "staff attitude toward the use of coercion in the treatment of mentally ill patients" questionnaire and assessed their attitude in selected public psychiatric hospitals in Tehran city.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical study which was carried out on three hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences and social welfare and Rehabilitation University in 2015. The questionnaires were distributed to the participants and finally 273 questionnaires were used. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis test. Moreover, ANOVA and independent t-test were applied to evaluate the participants' attitude on using coercion for treatment of mentally ill patients.
Results: Study findings revealed that 61% of participants were nurse and 11% were physicians. According to the study results, three final obtained factors explained 61.93% of the total variance; this variance reflects the proper and appropriate selection of the questions. In addition, there were statistically significant differences between marital status and offending attitude domain; between job and education and offending attitude; and security and treatment domains.
Conclusion: The current questionnaire has a high validity and reliability and is also appropriate for the context of Iran. The attitude of the studied participants was a bit towards using coercion in treatment of mentally ill patients. Therefore, it is recommended that authorities take some steps toward changing health services providers' attitude of using coercion.
Yousef Pashaei Asl, Dr Ali Janati, Dr Masoumeh Ghliadeh, Dr Ebrahim Jaafaripooyan , Mohammad Taghi Khodayari, Dr Mohammad Arab,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (2-2018)
Abstract
Background: Necessity of development, quantity and quality improvement needs of medical tourists had been unavoidable based on medical tourism growth with its competitive function. This study aimed to determine satisfaction rate of medical tourists referee to Tabriz hospitals to get treatment services.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted on 82 medical tourists referee to all wards of selected hospitals using convenient sampling method in Tabriz city. Data was collected using a-28 items valid and reliable researcher made questionnaire. Cronbach’s Alpha was calculated 0.708. In order to data analysis, SPSS Software version 23 was utilized. Also, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between different aspects of patients’ satisfaction.
Results: Satisfaction rate was obtained in five main aspects including cultural problems (51.88%), structural issue (57.50%), insurance payment system (16.04%), information system and communication channels (41.34%) the economic challenges (50.35%). The information system and communication channels had high effect on economic aspects (p<0.001).
Conclusion: It seems necessary that health policy makers and managers pay more attention to foreign medical tourists and faced challenges correction in order to change Tabriz city to a medical tourism center of excellence and improving regional economic development.
Saeide Alidoost, Dr Aziz Rezapour, Rahim Sohrabi, Roghayeh Mohammadibakhsh, Dr Ali Sarabi-Asiabar, Narges Rafiei,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Abstract
Background: The hospitals' reliance on insurer organizations' resources is increasing due to the growing number of insured persons. However, a relatively large share of these revenues cannot be collected for various reasons and is considered as hospital deductions from revenue. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the causes of hospital deductions from revenue and strategies to reduce them in hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted based on the phenomenological approach in 2017. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews consisting 17 finance experts in hospitals. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA version10 and analytical framework of Gale et al. (2013).
Results: Based on the framework analysis, two themes were identified as the underlying causes of hospital revenue deduction including direct causes and root causes of revenue deduction. Also, in order to reduce revenue deduction strategies, eight themes were recognized including interaction with insurance organizations; analysis, assessment, and feedback on revenue deficit; coordination and empowerment of employees; proper organization of human resources; strengthening regulatory system, motivational strategies; good planning and creating an organizational structure.
Conclusion: The revenue deductions occur in all stages of converting services into income and the most important factor is lack of staff awareness and incentive to control deductions. Contributions of all process owners in the hospital and insurers and in particular the commitment of hospital’s senior managers are necessary to control the deductions.
Zahra Tahmasebi, Dr Maryam Tajvar, Dr Mohammad Arab,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Abstract
Background: Due to the presence of valuable and expensive equipments in hospitals’ warehouses, scientific management and continuous evaluation plays an important role to improve the performance of warehouses and whereby the performance of hospitals’ wards. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the central stores of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).
Materials and Methods: In order to conduct this cross-sectional study, a checklist was designed and validated to examine the warehouses’ status considering structural, process and outcome dimensions of 39 depots in 14 hospitals. The status of hospitals’ warehouses were assessed using descriptive analysis and in order to assess association between performance evaluation score and charchetristics of warehouses and its staff Pearson Correlation Coefficient was utilized.
Results: Although, warehouses’ performance of studied hospitals in general was satisfactory, there were some items in unsuitable condition particularly in structural and process dimensions which should be addressed quickly. Also, performance of warehouses revealed a positive and significant correlation with number of beds, area and size of warehouse and number of staff (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Given that fair warehouses status, some items particularly in structural and process dimensions were in inappropriate condition which needed rapid consideration. Furthermore, hospitals with more beds have more and bigger warehouses achieved better evaluation score, but some of warehouses without these condition should be addressed in priority.
Sara Bigdeli, Dr Maryam Tajvar, Dr Mohammad Arab,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Abstract
Background: Visual disorders in old age is one of the most important factors in decreasing quality of life of older people. This study aimed to access the vision-related quality of life of older people in Tehran and to examine some of the underlying factors.
Materials and Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study among 566 older people aged 60 years and over, living in Tehran. A multistage cluster randomized sampling method was used to select study population, data was gathered using interviewing them at their home. NEI-25 VFQ (Visual-Functioning Questionnaire) was used to measure the vision-related quality of life of the participants. Multi-level linear regression analysis was used to data analysis.
Results: The average score of the vision-related quality of life was 80 out of 100. Among 12 dimensions of Visual-Functioning Questionnaire, the dimensions of color vision (CV), vision specificsocial functioning (VSSF) and peripheral vision with the scores of 96.8, 96.7 and 95 gained the highest and the dimensions of driving and vision specific dependency (VSD) with the scores of 42.6 and 50.3 had the lowest scores, respectively. Significant associations were observed between being a women, older, and having a lower education with poorer vision-related quality of life.
Conclusion: This study results provides an evidence for policymakers in prioritizing visual health services based on more impaired visual function and also at risk older people.
Dr Mehdi Jafari Sirizi, Dr Anvar Esmaili, Dr Rahim Khodayari Zarnaq, Dr Jalal Arabloo, Dr Obeidollah Faraji,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (8-2019)
Abstract
Background: One of the main concerns of managers is work deviant behaviors of employees. Workplace deviance is voluntary behavior that violates significant norms and in so doing threatens the well-being of an organization, its members or both. The study aimed to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence and organizational citizenship behavior with work deviant behaviors.
Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive analytical one. This study was conducted on 290 employees (administrative workers and nurses) working in four selected hospitals in Tehran city including Shahid Motahati, Shahid Rajaii, Hazrat-E-Rasol, and Dr. Shariati. Sampling method was stratified random sampling method. Data collection instruments were three questionnaires including Schutte’s emotional intelligence, Padsakof organizational citizenship behavior, Bennett and Robinson’s work deviant behavior. Validity and reliability of the questionnaires has already been verified in studies before. Data analysis was performed using independent T-test, ANOVA, Tukey and parametric Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.
Results: Among demographic and organizational variables, There was a significant relationship between age and work deviant behavior (P=0.012). Reverse significant statistical relationship between emotional intelligence, organizational citizenship behavior and courtesy with work deviant behavior was observed (P=0.0001).
Conclusion: The study results revealed that personnel with higher emotional intelligence will have a more positive attitude and more allegiance and commitment toward the organization; therefore they will show more organizational citizenship behavior and less inclined to abuse in the workplace.
Niloufar Amiri Ghale Rashidi, Dr Alireza Namazi Shabestari, Alireza Arab Yarmohammadi, Maryam Mazinani, Sepideh Masoud Sinaki,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (10-2019)
Abstract
Background & Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current organizational culture in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which is to be considered in order to strengthen organizational culture.
Material & Method: The present study is a descriptive cross-sectional study and an applied research-based survey that was conducted in Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The sample size was calculated and analyzed using Cochran's formula for 306 people. In this study, Denison's Organizational Culture Questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistical methods, one-sample mean and Pearson Correlation Tests.
Results: The average of organizational culture in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in each component, culture of Involvement (2.29), culture of consistency (2.63), culture of adaptability (2.66) and culture of mission (2.58), Which represented a higher-than-average culture in all aspects of Denison's view.
Conclusion: The organization should do some corrective actions with respect to the components of adaptability (subculture of organizational learning) and Involvement (Capability Development), which has earned a lower score.
Ali Akbari Sari, Mahboubeh Bayat, Mohammad Arab, Mehdi Yaseri, Seyedeh Fatemeh Hosseini,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (4-2020)
Abstract
Background: equality in access of health care services is one of the most important goals of Health system .In this study, we provided a description of the distribution of Otorhinolaryngology Head & neck surgery specialists in the Provinces of Iran in 2017.
Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2017 to describe the distribution of Otorhinolaryngology Head & neck surgery specialists in the Provinces of Iran in 2017. Data were gathered through Ministry of Health and Statistical Center of Iran. Gini Coefficient, Concentration Curve ,Multiple Regression and Geographic Maps used by Microsoft R Version 3-6-0 for data analysis.
Results: The highest and lowest ratio of Otorhinolaryngology Head & neck surgery specialists per population in the year 2017 was reported in Tehran (2.31 per 100,000 populations) and Hormozgan (0.39 per 100,000 populations).
Conclusion: There was a considerable disparity between different regions of the country in terms of access to Otorhinolaryngology specialists.
Leila Hosseini Ghavam Abad, Abbas Vosoogh Moghadam, Rouhollah Zaboli, Mohsen Aarabi,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (12-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Clinical governance is one of the important frameworks for continuous quality improvement and safety in health care systems. Identifying the axes of this approach according to local conditions is one of the important priorities of the health system. The aim of this study was to identify the views of stakeholders on the axes of clinical governance in primary health care based on family physicians in Mazandaran province.
Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using the conceptual framework analysis method in 2018-2019. The study population were key policy makers of Ministry of Health, Health deputy of the University, the county health network, family physicians association, family physicians, and the parliament research center. Participants were selected using purposeful and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed and coded using MAXQDA 11 software.
Findings: According to the interviewees' views, the research findings were classified into 4 main dimensions: dimensions of clinical governance, requirements and structures, decision-makers and dimensions of quality and safety assessment. 17 sub-themes including community participation, clinical audit, clinical effectiveness, personnel management, training, information use, risk management, guidelines and procedures, promotion of health indicators, equipment and facilities, referral system, financing, policy makers, effectiveness, efficiency, human aspects of services and justice were identified and extracted.
Conclusion: According to the research findings, to facilitate the implementation of clinical governance, solutions such as the existence of appropriate infrastructure, commitment of managers, supportive culture, sufficient knowledge, monitoring and evaluation, appropriate culture building, facilities and equipment and sufficient financial resources are suggested.
Hiwa Mirzaii, Hojjat Rahmani, Mohammad Arab, Jalal Saeidpour,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (5-2021)
Abstract
Background: Medical tourism has been considered in our country for many years. The arrival of international patients in the country will boost the medical tourism sector; however, the necessary infrastructure must be created for this. The guidelines for the establishment of the International Hospital Unit are one of the legal infrastructures for standardization in this field. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of strategic analysis of the establishment of an international patient unit in hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Materials & Methods: This combined study was performed in 2019 in three hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences that had a license to operate this unit. In-depth interviews were conducted in each hospital with experts in this field. The data were then categorized into four categories of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and according to the results of the SWOT technique, the necessary strategies were presented.
Results: There are opportunities including low cost of medical services in Iran, low value of Iranian Rial and political and religious ties with countries in the region. Significant threats also included the existence of professional competitors, the widespread activity of brokers, and the large number of trustees for the industry within the country. Finally, appropriate strategies were presented for each hospital.
Conclusion: This market in our country faces many threats and needs policies appropriate to the current situation with an immediate action. The results also showed that two hospitals are in a competitive state and one hospital is in a defensive state.
Fatemeh Mohammadkhani Ghiasvand, Masoumeh Abbasabadi Arab, Habibollah Taherpour Kalantari, Hossein Alipour,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background: The occurrence of all kinds of errors and mistakes imposes many costs on the hospital and society. Whistleblowing and error reporting plays an essential role in preventing and reducing errors, but the rate of error reporting in hospitals is low. This research was conducted in order to investigate the effect of selected individual factors on whistleblowing of hospital employees.
Materials: The research was conducted as a descriptive correlational study. 229 nursing and para clinic staff of a hospital in Tehran were selected by random sampling. A standard questionnaire with 69 items from valid questionnaires of selected factors, including organizational commitment, source of control, moral judgment, altruism, individual's attitude towards whistleblowing and intention to whistleblowing was collected and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The method of data analysis was confirmatory factor analysis and SPSS and Amos software were used as well.
Results: The variables of organizational commitment, altruism and individual's attitude towards whistleblowing have an effect on the intention of whistleblowing, and moral judgment and source of control have no effect on the intention of whistleblowing. Also, individual variables such as age, gender, and work experience did not have a significant effect on the intention to blow the whistle.
Conclusion: Strengthening organizational commitment, altruism of employees and the positive attitude of the individual toward whistle-blowing play an important role in improving error reporting. Hospital management methods can strengthen or weaken these factors. Participatory management style, job empowerment, supporting and creating a safe environment for reporting, promoting employees' ethical and professional principles, and learning and sharing medical errors are effective measures in promoting whistle-blowing.
Ahmad Arabkhani, Hossein Dargahi, Raheb Ghorbani, Israfil Rushdi,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background: The development of the health system increases the health level of the society. The present study was carried out with the aim of development of "Health System Development Scale".
Methods: The study was qualitative-quantitative. For qualitative part, a semi-structured interview with 11 experts was conducted in a targeted manner with maximum diversity and the results were analyzed by open, central and selective coding method. For quantitative part, first the validity of the questionnaire was carried out through interviews with 10 experts. Finally, the construct validity was conducted according to the opinion of 220 experts by exploratory factor analysis (with the Kaiser-Meyer-Elkin scale) and confirmatory factor analysis (in the form of divergent, convergent validity and fit indices) using SPSS and Lisrel software. Reliability was also measured by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability.
Results: The scale was designed with 40 statements obtained from the findings of the qualitative study. In the quantitative part, the appearance and content validity ratio of the dimensions of the questionnaire was qualitatively confirmed (for all statements between 0.80 and 0.1). Construct validity was done by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity was between 0.53 and 0.75 and divergent validity was between 0.54 and 1. The internal consistency of the tool was approved with Cronbach's alpha coefficient between 0.75 and 0.86 and composite reliability coefficient was between 0.72 and 0.80.
Conclusion: The validity and reliability of the scale was confirmed. It is suggested to use it to measure the level of development in the health system by experts in this field.
Milad Mehri, Mohammad Efatpanah, Ebrahim Jaafaripooyan, Mohammad Arab,
Volume 23, Issue 3 (11-2024)
Abstract
Background and purpose: Abuse within health insurance systems represents a significant challenge for health systems globally, leading to substantial negative repercussions. This study investigates instances of abuse in the Iranian Health Insurance Organization and proposes strategies to mitigate such abuses within its primary insurance processes.
Methods: This applied study employs a qualitative methodology, with data collected via semi-structured interviews. Experts from the Iranian Health Insurance Organization were interviewed to gather their insights. Data analysis was performed using conventional content analysis, and MAXQDA 20 software was used for coding and categorizing the findings.
Results: Instances of abuse within Iran’s health insurance system were classified into two main categories: "providers" and "service recipients," which were further divided into 18 subcategories. The underlying causes of these abuses were analyzed on two levels: macro-level factors (economic, cultural-social, legal, and technological) and micro-level factors (implementation processes, oversight, and service delivery). Based on these findings, strategies for reducing abuse were proposed in three primary areas: "planning," "execution," and "control." These strategies included revising and amending relevant laws and regulations, enhancing technological infrastructure, and improving information systems in the planning phase; verifying the identities of service recipients and providers during service delivery; and strengthening oversight personnel, alongside continuous inspections, in the control phase.
Conclusion: This study indicates that revising laws and regulations within the insurance sector, upgrading technological infrastructures, providing continuous training for claims assessors, enhancing inter-organizational communication, and strengthening oversight of service providers are essential strategies for preventing abuse in the Iranian Health Insurance Organization.
Niloufar Amiri Ghale Rashidi, Farin Razaghi Kashani, Ramin Rahimnia, Ebrahim Jaafari Pooyan, Alireza Arab Yarmohammadi, Hadi Mokhtare, Masoud Rafati, Zohreh Jabari Moghadam,
Volume 23, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Background and purpose: In Iran’s health system, the lack of a systematic process for selecting managers based on the specific competencies required in medical universities and the health sector has long been a challenge. To address this gap, Tehran University of Medical Sciences took the lead as the first institution to design a competency mapping framework for frontline and middle managers, aiming to align managerial selection with the strategic goals of the health system.
Methods: Firstly, a succession planning committee was formed in the university’s Vice-Chancellor for Management Development and Resource Planning. Following an extensive review of relevant models and strategies by several expert panels, this committee proposed guidelines for selecting selecting managers based on merit and developed a competency mapping process.
Results: The competency mapping process was structured into eight steps, including: candidate eligibility screening, assessment of general and technical competencies, 360-degree performance evaluation, review of prior experience, and participation in a mentoring-based empowerment program.
Conclusion: Using this merit-based selection model, top-performing candidates could be successfully appointed to managerial roles. A key achievement of this process is fostering a culture of meritocracy and advancing the organizational maturity of the university. Competency and talent mapping can serve as a robust framework for succession planning and managerial development in medical universities and the broader health system. This approach might significantly contribute to optimizing the selection and development of future leaders for critical positions via identifying skill gaps, assessing development needs, evaluating performance, and enhancing talent identification.