Turnover in National Hospice Study Sites: A Reflection of Organizational Growth

SUMMARY

High turnover rates among health care staff are a chronic problem for administrators of health care institutions. This article explores the effect of organizational growth on turnover rates within a sample of hospices participating in the National Hospice Study (NHS). The literature on turnover is reviewed, and organizational theory is discussed in terms of the increased bureaucratization necessitated by organizational growth and the dilution of ideology which accompanies the growth of a social movement organization. Results indicate that staff size, a high rate of staff growth, and a high rate of growth in admissions account for 37% of the variance in paid staff turnover rates in this sample of hospice facilities.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Masterson-Allen

Ms. Susan Masterson-Allen is Project Coordinator at the Center for Health Care Research, Brown University and is a candidate for a doctoral degree in Brown’s Department of Sociology majoring in Medical Sociology. She has managed several research projects which have focused on evaluating alternative methods of patient care. Ms. Masterson-Allen is the author of a number of articles emanating from her analyses of National Hospice Study data.

Vincent Mor

Dr. Vincent Mor is Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health at Brown University and the Director of Brown’s Center for Health Care Research. As Project Director of the National Hospice Study, Dr. Mor has authored numerous publications related to hospice care and outcomes of terminal cancer patients. He has also served as Principal Investigator on other research projects and evaluation studies examining systems of care and a variety of issues germane to care of the elderly and/or cancer patients. He received his doctorate from the Florence Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare, Brandeis University in 1978.

Linda Laliberte

Ms. Linda Laliberte is Research Operations Manager at the Center for Health Care Research. She served as Project Coordinator for the National Hospice Study and has managed several research projects which examined care of the elderly and cancer patient. Ms. Laliberte has authored several articles based upon analyses of National Hospice Study data. She received her master’s degree from Tuft University in 1977 and her juris doctorate from New England School of Law in 1985.