Die hospitaal as ’n burokrasie

Abstract

The bureaucratic structure of the hospital is a factor the exerts great influence on the daily activities of various categories of workers in the hospital. How aware are these workers of bureaucratic influence and to what extent does bureaucratic influence strain the activities of hospital workers? The historical development of hospital bureaucratisation is reviewed in this article, and then several dimensions of the hospital as a bureaucracy are taken into account, for instance hospital goals, rationality and the division of labour in the hospital. authority in the hospital, the bureaucratic structure of the hospital, communication in the hospital, the human being in the hospital, as well as the development of the informal organisation out of the bureaucratic structure of the hospital. These various aspects of the bureaucratic structure of the hospital can have a negative influence on human beings in the hospital, including patients and personnel. Various negative influences as a direct result of the bureaucratic structure of the hospital are discussed. There is nothing we can do about the bureaucratic system. It has come to stay and, to a certain extent, promotes efficiency. There is, however, a lot that can be done to alleviate strains brought about by bureaucracy.