Department of Hospital Administration

 

The Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS, is the pioneering department in India which started  the post graduate Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration, popularly known as MHA. It is the oldest Department providing teaching and training to the country’s Hospital managers in the “science and art” of Hospital Administration and Management. The department introduced the specialty of Hospital Administration in the country in the year 1962, and has since evolved into a “center of excellence” for teaching, training and research in the field of Hospital Administration and Management in the country. Alumni from the Department have held high positions in various Institutions of repute in both public and private sector Hospitals/Colleges and Defence organizations.

 

History and Inception :

In the year 1961, Dr. J.R. Mc Gibony, Consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the field of Hospital Administration, recommended the introduction of Hospital Administration as a separate specialty like any other broad specialty of medical sciences. With this initiative in 1961-62, a comprehensive programme and syllabus for Post Graduate course in Hospital Administration was drafted. One Post Graduate student, an Indian doctor from the University of New South Wales, Australia was admitted to serve his Administrative Residency at AIIMS. The Australian student completed his thesis and MD in Hospital Administration in 1962-63. The course in Hospital Administration was formally approved in 1963-64 and a full fledged Department of Hospital Administration was started in 1966 under the pioneership of Brig (Dr.) Gaind, the then Medical Superintendent, for the first time in India. The erstwhile MHA (Master in Hospital Administration) course was officially started in February, 1966 and was recognized as a distinct post-graduate discipline by the Medical Council of India, in consonance with the AIIMS Act 1956. It is the precursor to MD (Hospital Administration) course in the country which started in late 1970’s.  

 

Contribution to the Institute :

The Department of Hospital Administration occupies pride of place in managing Hospital operations in the Main Hospital and Centers of AIIMS, which has resulted in the “Kayakalp” award for tertiary care institutions being won by AIIMS, New Delhi every time, since it’s inception in 2015. Faculty members of the department are handling independent charge of hospital administration at the Medical Superintendent/Additional Medical Superintendent level in various ‘centers’ of the Institute. They are responsible for management of various ancillary and support services, medical records, human resource management, procurement and supply chain management, and handling legal and ethical issues at respective centers and main hospital. They are also co-ordinating new projects at AIIMS including the AIIMS Re-development Project, and looking after administrative areas of the Institute. The department also regularly organizes training programme for all categories of Hospital staff on various aspects of hospital administration and managerial development for better functioning. In addition, the department runs 24 hours Administrative Control Rooms at Main Hospital, J.P.N.A.T.C and NCI, Jhajjar, a unique concept which functions as an extension of the Medical Superintendent’s office after office hours.

National and International Contribution :

Hospital Management Education :

The department is actively involved and strongly committed to capacity building and human resources development in hospital administration at national and international stages.  Being the pioneer in starting a post-graduate teaching program in the speciality of Hospital Administration in the 1960s, the unique concepts started here have become the standard norm/template for setting up such Departments in Medical Colleges. The concept of “Administrative Control Room” has also been adopted by erstwhile Medical Council of India as a mandatory requirement for starting MD Hospital Administration courses in other Medical Colleges in India.

The Department also provides guidelines for developing courses and curricula for starting organization specific training courses in the field of hospital administration to various public sector and private institutions in the country. WHO fellows and Senior Doctors from various neighboring countries are imparted short and long term trainings on hospital management in the department.  A series of Healthcare Executive Management Development Programs have been conducted by the department for senior hospital administrators and top level hospital management personnel from India and abroad during last 2 decades.  The Department has organized more than 50 workshops, Seminars/Conferences during last few decades.

Consultancy Services :

The department provides consultancy on diverse areas like Newer Healthcare Facility Planning & Management, Healthcare Registries Planning and Innovation, Healthcare Human Resources Management, Disaster Management, Hospital Equipment Planning and Management and Healthcare Financing and Insurance Product Development as and when requested by Public sector organisations, State Governments, Ministries of Central Govt.  It is also involved in the development of standards for different categories of hospitals along with BIS, NQAS, NABH and acting as a Think-Tank for the preparation of National Healthcare Policy Guidelines.  

 

MD (Hospital Administration) Course : 

The department runs a 3 years post graduate (MD) course in hospital administration from Jan-2016 leading to award of degree of MD(HA) for both “sponsored” and “open” category candidates. Resident Administrators are posted in various areas of the Hospital and centers for a period of 3-4 months to observe and understand the functioning of the ward/service area. They are also posted in the Control Room “round the clock” as Duty Officers, and coordinate various hospital activities. They also assist the faculty in “hands-on” management of various hospital activities, and, in turn, gain valuable experience of hospital management. They have to complete one research study (thesis) on suitable topic related to hospital administration, after approval of Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), and four dissertations, at least one of which has to be published in a “peer reviewed” and indexed journal during this tenure. The MD program has formative and summative assessments for holistic assessment of candidates undertaking the course. The term end (final) Examination comprises of 4 Theory papers, and Practical Exams, usually held in the months of May and December respectively. Our alumni have held top administrative positions in various organizations of national and international importance.  Many of them are also serving as independent consultants in Hospital Administration in the corporate sector.

Admission to the MD(HA) programme is through a competitive exam (INI-SS) conducted twice a year by Exam Section, AIIMS.  An advertisement is placed in national dailies in the month of August and January for sessions beginning December and July respectively. Potential candidates are expected to have up to date knowledge of Medico-legal issues, Public Health, National Health Programs, and general awareness about issues pertaining to hospital and health sector.  For details of admission procedure, form etc. please visit www.aiimsexams.ac.in

Long and Short Term Training :

Various long and short term trainings are provided to Faculty members/Medical Officers from other Govt Medical Colleges/ Military and Paramilitary services/ State Govt Health services who are handling administrative responsibilities under following categories :

1. Short Term Trainings upto period of six months

2. Long Term Trainings : 6 months to 2 years

3. Training to Foreign Nationals and WHO fellows

4. Continuing Medical Education Programmes (Conference/Workshops/Seminars etc.)

 

Trainees are expected to attend lectures, interact/observe faculty members and Residents while working, taking area rounds, and carry out “under-study” duties in the Control Room. They are also sensitized about the functioning of the various centers at AIIMS for better understanding.

 

 Details of the training, fee, schedule etc. can be obtained from the academic section of the Institute or from the institute website  www.aiims.edu.

Pedagogy :

Unique and dynamic blends of experiential and didactic learning methods are utilized to impart, share, promote and preserve knowledge and skills.  The concept of Integrated Learning Methodology comprising Lectures, case analysis, simulation exercises, syndicates, group discussions and practical project work are used to develop conceptual, analytical and decision-making skills. Residents are encouraged to participate actively in the “operational decision making processes” of various activities of the Institute. They are also made Member secretary of various Medical Boards constituted on the orders of Courts, to gain insight into medico-legal issues. It prepares them for handling independently the real life management of hospitals and healthcare facilities.  Resident’s performance is continuously assessed through direct observations and faculty feedback system during bi-monthly assessments during which all Faculty members of the Department are present.

Continuous Quality improvement in training, teaching and research in the field of Hospital Administration through Thesis/Protocol presentations, Journal Clubs, Seminars etc are also carried out.

In the pursuit of excellence in the teaching and training of Hospital Administration, the department has started several initiatives to develop model syllabi, to meet the changing demands and skill set requirements in this field.  Efforts are underway to bring quality standards.

As a pioneering step in this direction the department has become the first of its kind in the country to have documented its teaching, training, research and patient care management process through ISO-9001:2000 Quality Management Systems Certification in 2011. Further, efforts are underway to provide inspiration and leadership in improving healthcare processes and imparting Hospital Administration Education for the nation as well as the South East Asia Region. The Faculty members from the Department have been actively involved in development of National Standards, Guidelines and policy making in the field of Hospital Administration.

Location and Infrastructure :

The department is located adjacent to the Medical Superintendent’ office on the ground floor of the Old Private ward block at AIIMS. It houses a Departmental library, a well equipped and state of art Conference-cum-Board room and provision for Tele-Education and Tele-Linkage, Senior and Junior Residents Rooms. Latest IT facilities are provided to all faculty and residents to facilitate teaching and learning.  The New Private ward-III and newer Blocks in Masjid Moth Campus also have some rooms/areas for Department faculty and residents posted there. These facilities are in addition to the central training infrastructure of AIIMS including central Boardrooms, 24 hours Library, Lecture theatres, Central IT and Computer facility and Centre for Medical Education and Technology.