Clinical Leadership in Jordanian Hospitals: The Clinicians' Perspective

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to explore the nature of leadership in Jordanian hospitals. This study consists of four objectives; the first objective is to identify the extent to which clinicians perform their role of managing and leading Jordanian hospitals .The second objective for this study is to explore the source of power and authority being adopted in Jordanian hospitals. Then the third objective is to differentiate between doctors and other clinicians from nurses and AHPS in practicing leadership. While the fourth objective to explore the obstacles in developing CL in Jordanian hospitals.

The methodology of a qualitative approach was adopted through analyzing the contents, thus, semi-structured interview was conducted with 38 participants from managers who have a clinical mission besides managerial and supervising ones. The study has found out that there is a lack of administrative qualifications for clinicians, and seems difficult to apply the transformational style in Jordanian hospitals due the fear of responsibility and bad distribution of power and authority among clinicians and doctors in particular. Furthermore, there is a lack cultural diversity and this weakens the provided medical services in matching globalization and international criteria. Communication channels in Jordanian hospitals are acceptable; because both technical and personal settings among clinicians are emerged. Unfortunately, there was no specific and clear agenda for both quality and ethical considerations .Doctors are dominated by the concept of bureaucracy and centralism. Accordingly, some obstacles have been revealed in Jordanian hospitals; doctors are the biggest obstacle because they are holding the whole power. Also, communication channels with other departments and among colleagues are weak. Furthermore, the clinical culture did not reach the creation of cultural system .This is due to the weak coordination among academic faculties and governmental departments to shape the meaningful concept of health care management and leadership.

The researcher recommends that both quality and ethical considerations should be involved in more practical sense and doctors need to be trained to carry out the administrative responsibilities by involving nurses and AHPS to ensure the distribution of power and diversity. This study has added the academic contribution by presenting a new mass of knowledge, and considering clinical team members in Jordanian hospitals as a uniform by creating the comprehensiveness of work culture. Finally, the study proved that both experience and knowledge are additional authorities beside position, law and work that may enrich performance.