Die interne kommunikasieplan as 'n instrument vir die implementering van Medi Clinic se MIV/VIGS-beleid in Potchefstroom

Abstract

This study addresses the internal communication problems that face Potchefstroom Medi Clinic. It includes the implementation of the HIV/AIDS-policy of the hospital within a diverse workforce. The specific objectives focus on determining how well nursing- and housekeeping staff at Potchefstroom Medi Clinic has been informed about the HIV/AIDS policy of the hospital. It aims at determining what suggestions these staff as well as the staff representatives of each department would make in connection with the communication of the policy in the hospital. Therefore, by integrating the relevant literature with the empirical findings, the main objective of the study is to make recommendations for the development of an internal communication plan for the implementation of the HIV/AIDS policy of Potchefstroom Medi Clinic. In order to achieve these objectives a questionnaire is completed by nursing- and housekeeping staff members identified by means of a stratified sampling method. The suggestions made by the staff-representatives are collected by means of conducting interviews. The results of the questionnaires indicate that the nursing- and housekeeping staffs of the hospital has poor knowledge of the content of the HIV/AIDS policy and that their communication needs are not met in the implementation of the existing HIV/AIDS policy. The results of the interviews also indicate that, with respect to the implementation of the policy, the language, as well as education diversity, of staff should be taken into account when developing the internal communication plan for the implementation of the HIV/AIDS policy of the hospital. Thus, the problem identified in this study is that the staff of Potchefstroom Medi Clinic is not informed about the HIV/AIDS-policy of the hospital on a regular basis, because no internal communication plan for the implementation of the policy exists. Recommendations (based on the study of literature and results of the empirical study) are made with respect to the development of an internal communication plan to improve the implementation of the HIV/AIDS policy of the hospital.