Performance Management, Engagement, and Succession Planning Top the List of Priorities for Healthcare Organizations

Top Performers Experience 21% Increase in Employee Performance and 26% Improvement in Retention


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - November 12, 2009) - "Talent Management in Healthcare," a recent study by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), reveals that although healthcare organizations are still struggling with the lack of qualified candidates in the talent market, the primary focus has been on developing and retaining talent. Performance management, engagement, and succession planning are the top strategic emphases for these organizations. Analysis showed that automation of talent management elements, specifically recruitment and learning management, leads the list of enablers that differentiate top performers from the rest of the sample. Utilizing assessments and defining competency profiles are earning organizations substantial gains in employee performance, retention and customer / patient satisfaction.

Aberdeen's report provides more detail about how top performing organizations carry out their talent management strategies in a way that produces operational results and increases employee engagement throughout the organization.

"Healthcare organizations must focus on developing and retaining their existing workforce while building frameworks for recruitment in growth periods," said Jayson Saba, Senior Research Associate with Aberdeen's Human Capital Management practice. "Aligning individual performance with company goals and increasing engagement will be critical to succeed in an industry that is faced with talent shortages and increasing demand."

By identifying the proven steps adopted by top organizations, "Talent Management in Healthcare" provides a guide for hospitals and medical suppliers seeking to improve recruitment, employee performance, succession planning, and engagement strategies.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=6147.

Visit Research.Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary Human Capital Management Research.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen provides fact-based research and market intelligence that delivers demonstrable results. Having queried more than 30,000 companies in the past two years, Aberdeen is positioned to educate users to action: driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen for insights that drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement - Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit Aberdeen or call (617) 854-5200, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call (800) 456-9748.

© 2009 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
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Contact Information: Media Contact: Jayson Saba Aberdeen Harte-Hanks (617) 854-5224 jayson.saba@aberdeen.com