Unveiling the Heartbeat of Healing: Exploring Organizational Culture in a Tertiary Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Department and Its Influence on Employee Behavior and Well-Being

Abstract

This study examined the organizational culture of an emergency medicine department (EMD) in a tertiary hospital in Karnataka, India, using a prospective cross-sectional design from January to February 2024. It aimed to identify the predominant and supporting organizational cultures within the EMD and their influence on employee behavior and well-being, including job satisfaction, burnout, stress levels, and coping strategies. A total of 82 participants, including physicians, emergency medical technicians, and nurses, completed the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) and a self-designed questionnaire. Ethical clearance was obtained (IEC2-656). Clan culture emerged as the dominant culture (73.17%), emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, correlated with lower stress levels and high job satisfaction (90.78%). Emotional exhaustion was the most common burnout symptom (53.66%). The coping strategies varied, with employees in Clan cultures seeking social support, while those in Hierarchy cultures sought guidance from superiors. This study highlighted the significant role of organization culture in employee well-being and EMD effectiveness, influenced by social values like respect for authority. The limitations included single-setting analysis, an uneven subgroup representation, and a lack of qualitative insights. Future research should involve multiple hospitals and qualitative methods for a comprehensive understanding.