Human Resource Planning in Faith Based Hospitals in Kenya

Abstract

Human resource planning is an important aspect of human resources management that combines three important activities: identifying and acquiring the right number of people with the proper skills, motivating them to achieve high performance and creating interactive links between business objectives and people planning activities (Mills, 2003). A cross sectional survey research design was employed to determine human resource planning practices in faith based hospitals in Kenya.

The findings indicated that in order to address the staffing gaps and ongoing workforce shortages in the health sector and faith based hospitals, there was need to deliberately focus on sound human resource practices as health workers are a key human resource required to save lives. Without proper planning of this key resource, our health care systems will deteriote and this may cause great losses to the Kenyan economy as quality health care is a key goal in the Kenya Vision 2030, Millennium development Goals and other national priorities. Faith based hospitals therefore need to continue to enhance human resource planning practices.

Keywords: Human Resource Planning, Kenya vision 2030, Millennium development goals, staffing, retention, faith based hospitals, succession planning, exit interviews, staffing gaps and alternative staffing methods