The Impact of Change Management in the Greek National Health System: A Quantitative Study.

Abstract

Serious changes took place in Greece due to the economic crisis of 2008, which led to significant changes in Greece's health sector. The reforms and changes that were made to the National Health System (NHS) aimed to improve it, provide quality services to its users, and adapt it to Greece's new external environment. The aim of this study was to assess the management of these changes by the leadership of the NHS and to examine their effectiveness. The survey was based on quantitative research methods, using a questionnaire as a research tool. The sample population comprised employees of a tertiary-care public hospital in northern Greece. We recruited a sample size of 100 participants for the survey. The questionnaire's Cronbach's alpha was equal to 0.724. The overall change management was moderate, and Greece's NHS did not follow a specific change-management model that provided principles facilitating the success of the effort. The most serious problems identified by using the questionnaire were the following: the changes were not structured and clear, the management set unrealistic goals and objectives, the changes to the NHS were made without the appropriate financial support, and there is uncertainty about the future of health care in Greece. The present study showed that changes cannot be made randomly; rather, they require careful planning and organization. Further changes, continuous feedback, and development are required to improve the status of Greece's healthcare system.