Creating a Successful Clinic

New Horizons Healthcare

Practical experience is very important when trying to understand how one's education can assist them in their career. Within the nursing profession, much is discussed in the classroom about theory and ideas that may lead to more effective and efficient healing methods. Creative imagination in developing an idea is also very important in learning how to incorporate ideas into material manifestations that can be actually experienced. The purpose of this paper is to create a fictional medical clinical site and describe its fundamental components. The details of this organization will include the financial operations, the patient care methods, communication and technology implementations and how the role of the nursing profession can best be used in this type of environment.

Organizational Basics

The name of this clinical site is New Horizons Healthcare. This name is chosen due to its uplifting message. New Horizons Healthcare is a not for profit organization that is designated for a local communities general health care needs. The non-profit model was chosen for several reasons. Hill (2011) wrote "The verdict is in, and it's clear that nonprofit health care is superior to for-profit health care. It costs less and it delivers better results. The results speak for themselves, showing the difference between health care run mostly as a nonprofit venture with the goal of keeping families and workers healthy and productive, or running it as a for-profit commercial enterprise."

The clinic itself looks to serve a community of 100 people. The site is located in an neighborhood setting and can see up to 25 patients a day. 2 staff doctors, 2 Nurse practitioners, 3 RNs, and 4 administrative assistants are employed at New Horizons Healthcare. General medical services are offered at this clinic serving anyone that is seeking medical care.

Finances

Private funding is the main source for the New Horizons Healthcare clinic. The fundraising aspects of this non-profit organization have been met with great success and there is much financial backing to help make this organization a long lasting outlet for healing within their community. Foster et al. (2009) wrote "Although a nonprofit that needs a few million dollars annually may convince a handful of foundations or wealthy individuals to support an issue that they had not previously prioritized, a nonprofit trying to raise tens of millions of dollars per year can rarely do so." Due to this fact other financing sources are accepted to help keep the clinic up and running at a high level of standard. Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance policies are accepted in this clinic and will take cash, credit cards, debit cards and personal checks and money orders in exchange for medical services.

Patient Care

The most important aspect of any medical clinic is the quality of care that goes in to serving the patients of the community. The demographic of the community is mixed and all major races, religions and ethnicities are in a balanced proportion that seek the services of New Horizons Healthcare. Horowitz (2005) explained the importance of patient care and its impact on the performance of the organization. She wrote "Medical service offerings vary markedly by ownership, likely because hospital types adopt or prioritize goals differently. Although all hospitals must earn sufficient profits to operate, the evidence here suggests that for-profits are more likely to respond to profitability than the other types are when making supply decisions."

At New Horizons Healthcare quality care is defined as effective and efficient treatment of illness in accordance with the patient's beliefs attitudes and will. Both clinical and inter-personal interactions are of high importance and each treated with dignity and reverence. Quality of care is an idea that is most important when applied to the individual patients and in the proper context of equality and efficiency ( Campbell, 2000). There are no individual or organizational awards given for those working at the clinic, for a job well done is viewed as a reward in itself. This ideal also aligns with the Hippocratic oath that is mostly ignored in many medical establishments in these trying times.

Communication

Communication and technology at New Horizons Healthcare attempts to be as simple and as practical as possible. Open door policies are enforced at the clinic and any and all suggestions are welcomed. Too often hospital hierarchies look to serve individual egos and this attitude is not something New Horizons Healthcare is interested in promoting. Rather the environment facilitates smooth, open and frank communication where the patient is considered the number one priority in the equation.

Most human resources management is directed by one of the administrative assistants, proficient in HR management software. The current system that is being used also allows for scheduling, billing and record keeping services to be performed by the small administrative staff.

Role of Nursing