Strategic management in healthcare organizations: Cooper Green Hospital case study

¶ … health care to an indigent population.

As illustrated by the case, there were many unique problems associates with delivering health care to the indigent population. First, communication was an issue plaguing all parties involved. Difficulty in regards to understanding overall objectives and health care plans made operations inefficient and costly. Massive errors resulted from communication issues that ultimately hindered the access and quality of health care to the indigent population. Communication is the foundation of delivering health care. Everyone, from owners to employees must be able to effectively communicate in order to offer the quality of health care needed to support the indigent population. Without simple and comprehensive forms of communication, the overall health care program will falter as stakeholders are unaware of the overall vision and plan for the health care system.

Education also is a very profound problem in delivering health care to the indigent population. The community itself significantly lacks ample candidates and school systems to sustain the delivery of health care. In addition, the means of attracting viable candidates is limited given the circumstances prevailing in the population to begin with. The population must first educate its population so that innovation and self sustaining activities can help further the delivery of the health care.

Gang Violence is also associated with hindering the delivery of health care. For one, violence helps to abate the growing positive nature that a health care system provides. The overall population however, is suffering economically. As such, a substantial portion of the population is not wealthy. Therefore, many of these individuals elect instead to resort to violence to obtain the materials in which they need to showcase power, status, or their ability to survive. This concept, combined with the overall lack of education in the community provides significant headwinds in regards to the establishment of health care systems in the indigent population. Violence is often associated with lack of economic development. If the overall community was thriving for example, the need for violence is mitigated, as the community itself is prosperous. The example opposite however is occurring in the indigent population. As such gangs, and in particular, groups associated with violent acts, tend to form.

Vandalism associates with both a lack of education and gang formation, further hinders the development of the health care system for the indigent population. Gangs, typically, vandalize areas to showcase pride, toughness, or instill a sense of fear. Such is the case with the health care services that are provided. Vandalism often hinders access or the desire to access health care. This ultimately leads to the problem of low enrollment within the health care system which is another problem that must be overcome. Low enrollment is particularly bothersome as the health care system exists for the sole purpose of creating a culture of high enrollment into programs. Health is vital for economic prosperity. The healthier an individuals is, the better quality of life for that individual (Swayne, 2009). However, with low enrollment, the community and the health care system it is faltering.

Finally, the six problem associated with delivering health care is the overall marketing associated with delivery. As the case illustrates, there was little to no marketing to make services known to the general population. This directly correlates to the low enrollment, which ultimately harms both the community at large and the overall population.

Discuss the five (5) ways that the community care plan will approve the healthcare status of the community.

For one the community care plan will provide ample health care screenings and services to the community. This ultimately will help the overall morale and quality of health within the community. This will be particularly true if the cost to provide these services is low relative to other alternatives. Furthermore, the community care plan indirectly effects the economic development within the community. The community care plan will undoubtedly require workers in order to deliver the serves to the community. Those individuals fortunate enough to become hired will contribute to the community through economic and social development. This development will compound itself as more businesses enter into the community to help facilitate growth in the community. The plan will also provide a means for lower income families to afford and take advantage of health care offerings that they might not have otherwise received. The plan also significantly reduces wait times and customer service which often contribute to the low overall enrollments.

Discuss five (5) factors that point to the need of change by Cooper Green Hospital.

First, the rapid change in the U.S. health care system was a factor that required the Cooper Green Hospital to change its approach to costs. Another factor was massive lay-offs that ultimately harmed the firm's image in the public arena. Cutting programs, lack of resources to invest in capital projects, poor customer service and long waiting times were are factors that pointing to the need for change within the firm.

Many indigent or low income individuals also face significant barriers to health from their environment including but not limited to the need to work long hours for low pay, the possibility of having a lower than average education level, and the fact that they often live in challenging environment. These environments often have a positive correlation with crime, poverty and access to services, and healthy food. These factors often contribute to the low overall service and moral at the hospital.

In addition, the staff that is committed to serving the poor are often overworked and underpaid. Furthermore, at the hospital there are often far more challenges than resources to meet patient needs appropriate. As such, many of the provisions needed for the poor are often funded through tax payer dollars. Though most people who choose such professions and positions are fundamentally aware that what their positions entails, the overall working environment, low pay, and some negative interactions with patients add to low morale and challenge anyone to do their job efficiently and effectively in regards to overall service (Velasco, 2007).

Discuss five (5) strengths and five (5) weaknesses of the Cooper Green Hospital.

The five weaknesses of the hospital as stated above were the long wait times, poor customer service, the overall quality of care, lack of legitimate funding, and the lack of resources to invest in capital projects are all weaknesses associated with the hospital. The strengths of the firm are driven primarily by management's passion to serve the community, the ability to attract similar individuals, tax revenue generation, its ability to provide low cost services, and its ability to innovate effectively.