Authors: Andreas Koutoupis, Paraskevi Koufopoulou, Athanassios Vozikis, Stamatios Papadakis, Dimitrios Antonoglou

Title: RISK MANAGEMENT IN GREEK HOSPITALS: INTERNAL AUDIT CONTRIBUTION IN CRISIS ERA

Abstract

Abstract

Public hospitals function in Greece, is characterized by numerous risks, especially in time of fiscal crisis. Although occasionally adopted various preventive practices, reduction or elimination of these phenomena, however, the most effective practice is to apply credible internal audit systems in hospitals (art. 25, Law 4025/2011) to avoid or to manage any kind of risk.

Purpose of our study is to reflect the internal audit in Greek hospitals regarding the identification, management and to tackle all sorts of risks. Our study focuses on Chief Executive Officers and Departments’ Directors from fourteen hospitals throughout Greece (two per Health Region) using a structured questionnaire for the period September 1, 2016 until February 28, 2017 and ends at meaningful conclusions which may be used for further development concerning the improvement of public hospitals’ functions.

Keywords: risk management, hospitals, Best Practices, internal audit.

JEL: D73, G32, I18.