The Effects of External Factors on Corporate Social Responsibility Behaviors in Healthcare Organizations: Responses and Outcomes

To understand corporate social responsibility behaviors and their management in healthcare organizations, the evidence-based research approach was utilized to identify the external factors that influence such behaviors to determine which behaviors are needed to respond most effectively to those factors and to analyze the outcomes of those behaviors. Review and analysis of the literature showed that external factors influencing healthcare organizations' corporate social responsibility behaviors include government and industry regulation, community expectations, economic crisis, and media awareness. Research also showed that necessary responses by healthcare organizations to these influences include regulatory compliance, responsiveness to stakeholders, ethical practices, and effective communications. Finally, the findings showed that corporate social responsibility behaviors lead to success by healthcare organizations in establishing and maintaining needed partnerships, access to capital, positive recognition, and improved community relations. These benefits indicate that, for stakeholders in healthcare organizations, corporate social responsibility is both the "right thing" as well as the "smart thing" to do. Individual healthcare organizations can use the proposed research model, "Influence = Behaviors = Benefits", to understand and manage their corporate social responsibility activities, build appropriate supporting programs, and achieve similarly successful outcomes.