Abstract Background: Healthcare is a complex and dynamic area requiring flexible and adaptive administrative professionals. Healthcare administrators should not just have a robust training, but they should also possess required interpersonal skills and business savvy skills for managing healthcare organizations. Today’s healthcare executives and leaders should have management talent adequate to match the increased complexity of the healthcare environment. Executives are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes and to practice evidence-based management. Objectives: This study focuses on assessing the level of perceived and observed managerial competencies among postgraduate trainees at this University town, to predict the probability of their success in future job positions. Methods: Prospective questionnaire-based study was done on a sample of 85 participants across four health care management programs. The questionnaire was developed based on the ACHSM (Australasian College of Health care Service Management) tool to assess perceived managerial competency score in the first phase. During the second phase, a management ability test was given to assess the observed actual competency score. Results: Comparative analysis was made between the perceived and observed scores. There was mismatch in the two scores. This triggered a need for developing a comprehensive training program for the trainees to enhance their competencies in specific skills of management. Conclusion: The study concluded recommending a short comprehensive management training program called elective for 2 months period to boost up the morale in trainees for enhancing their competencies.
Bhaskar et al. (Wed,) studied this question.