Case Analysis
IHC
Question #5
IHC has effective systems for creating protocols, implementing them in clinical settings, monitoring protocols’ performances/outcomes, and rewarding clinicians for using protocols. Please discuss how these contribute and advance organizational learning and organizational competitiveness; e.g., in terms of service quality improvement and cost savings.
IHC’s development and use of protocols has been instrumental in their rise to the top of the health care market. Through the process of creating and improving them they have found ways that both help provide better quality of service and at the same time help with their own competitiveness when it comes to cost.
IHC has done many things that have led to this. By developing a team of members that implement protocols and at the same time giving them incentives such as reimbursing them for the time that they spent working on the protocols and providing staff support for them, they could give an honest and effective effort to find protocols that would really work. They also had specialist physicians that had salaried time to work on the protocols. Having these groups working on the development and implementation of the protocols led to several key things. After identifying three sources of ideas for developing and updating protocols they ended up finding things that they may be doing well already compared to other health providers, but could still improve upon in order to be more efficient. The development teams looked “for statistically significant patterns of variance in process and outcome, with the view that they presented opportunities to improve the protocols (pg. 9).”
The process of consistently looking for better and new protocols has also led to discoveries of weaknesses in already existing ones. One such example was when they found that they were violating the key principles of data management: “To obtain accurate data, collect data once, and collect it at its point of origin.” They estimated that 15% of their largest expense, salary for operational staff, was entering data for billing and financial tracking systems. By making this discovery they were able to look for more effective means of gathering data and not waste so much time and money on it.
A change in attitude with regards to finances has helped IHC with its approach as well. Bill Nelson, President of IHC, changed the attitude from being nearly all financially oriented to being 1/3 medical outcome goals, 1/3 service outcome, and 1/3 cost outcome.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how ihc's development and use of protocols has been instrumental in their rise to the top of the health care market.
- Explains that ihc developed a team of members that implement protocols and provided incentives for their time spent working on them. they also had specialist physicians that had salaried time to work on the protocols.
- Explains the process of constantly looking for better and new protocols has also led to discoveries of weaknesses in already existing ones. one example was when they found that they were violating the key principles of data management.
- Explains bill nelson's change in attitude with regards to finances has helped ihc with its approach as well.
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- In 1987, when I began working for The Emory Clinic, the physician group associated with Emory University, the name Emory seemed to be the only thing the clinic had in common with the hospitals also affiliated with Emory University. Each hospital operated as its own entity with little coordination between them other than a shared billing system. The Emory Clinic (TEC) was further removed due to the differences in providing care in an ambulatory setting versus a hospital environment. TEC’s organizational hierarchy at the time was an organization populated by silos based on clinical specialties. Further alienation within those clinical sections could be found between the front office staff and clinical staff. And on the outside trying to manage it all, and ensure financial stability, was TEC administration and the business office. Cowen, Halasyamani, McMurtrie, Hoffman, Polley, and Alexander (2008) cited Neuhauser (1972) as having described a similar organizational structure as “a generic health system schematic consisted of a matrix of vertical clinical and ancillary departments crossed by ad hoc ensembles of workers involved in patients' care” (p. 408). Fast forward to 2013 and Emory Healthcare is the largest integrated healthcare system in the state of Georgia with affiliates throughout the state. The organizational structure is very different and no longer contains lines of demarcation. Process improvements are designed by interdisciplinary teams that represent the key stakeholders in the process, which includes the patient, physician, clinical and administrative support staff. This change in culture is a result of the successful creation of those interdisciplinary teams which included the identification of common goals and va...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that emory healthcare is the largest integrated healthcare system in georgia with affiliates throughout the state.
- Explains that the need for interdisciplinary teams within emory healthcare was realized during the implementation of a system wide electronic medical record.
- Explains that middle managers are in the best position to serve as communicators. they can encourage employee acceptance of change, identify tasks required to implement change and interpret and share information.
- Analyzes how emory healthcare's new brand campaign, "we're all in this together," is an indicator of its organizational climate, which is a result of interdisciplinary teamwork.
- Explains the role of the healthcare administrator in interprofessional care teams.
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- Explains that the next step was to establish leaders across the professions, leaders that will turn and carry out the reform of health profession education.
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- Explains the value of the patient centered medical home model and why it has been the center of health care community for some time.
- Explains that holistic care is care that is focused on the whole person. it coordinates health care all elements of the person, not just preoccupied with the illness.
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- Concludes that the affordable care act includes key principles that align with the concepts of the pcmh model.
707 wordsRead More - Health Care Prioritiesopinion essayHospitals are always looking for ways to cut costs, improve quality and become more efficient. The Joint Commission implemented its Agenda for Change in 1986 to improve the systems, processes, and, ultimately, the outcomes of care. Andel, Davidow, Hollander and Moreno (2012) state there has not been widespread adoption of these principles, in part because the incentives were not substantial enough to overcome the inertia of many hospital cultures and the US payment system. Since 1986, those hospitals that fought through the initial uneasy struggles that coincided with the agenda have seen great growth in not only quality, but performance, patient safety and satisfaction as well. Moreover, proving that there is no progress without struggle.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that america spends more than any other country on health care, yet no one seems to know what to do about it. the american public has been reluctant to get on board with any radical change or reform.
- Explains that hospitals are always looking for ways to cut costs, improve quality and become more efficient. the joint commission implemented its agenda for change in 1986 to improve systems, processes, and outcomes of care.
- Opines that the goal of the aca is to cut back the amount of emergency room visits, although it is still too premature to see if that will hold true.
- Opines that america can break out of this limicolous state – cut costs, improve access and quality of care.
- Opines that andel, c, davidow, s. l., hollander, m. and moreno, d. a. (2012). the economics of health care.
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- Cites porter, m. e., & lee, t. h. the strategy that will fix health care.
- Explains sultz, h. a., and young, k. m. (2014). health care usa: understanding its organization and delivery.
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In this essay, the author
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- Explains that interdependence occurs when reliance with system components are placed on one another, creating interrelationships necessary to the system.
- Explains that amy trusts that the hospital knows how to communicate effectively to be able to get through the surgery and post op.
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- Explains that health professionals in health teams must interdepend on one another in order to perform any task.
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- Explains that team effectiveness increases when professionals are cross-trained and go into the team with their own goals.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains how sloans lake managed care (slmc) needed an implementation strategy to move from being a network provider to being an insured hmo.
- Explains how sloans lake health plan used good communication, employee participation, and feedback to implement its implementation strategy.
- Explains robbins, judge, and vohra's book, organizational behavior.
- Explains that sloans' mission, vision, and values statements were created with input from all employees. job analysis helped the company improve each employee's contribution to the goals of the organization.
- Explains that human resource development entails the creation of required knowledge and skill inside an organization to facilitate the effective implementation of changing strategies.
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1652 wordsRead More - The Mayo Clinic: A Performance Management Assessmentanalytical essayCompetitive advantage matters greatly to those responsible for the management of healthcare institutions. Together with rapidly escalating healthcare costs, increasingly complex medical technologies, and growing regulatory and legal pressures, healthcare organizations face a critical need to improve the quality of care at reduced costs (Cu...
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- Summarizes meyer, becker, and vandenberghe's work on employee commitment and motivation: a conceptual analysis and integrative model.
- Explains that quality improvement of healthcare services and resources requires disciplined attention to the measurement, monitoring, and reporting of system performance. the mayo clinic provides an instructive example of the critical role of performance measurement in managing performance behaviors.
- Explains how mayo implemented an integrated performance management and measurement system to improve the quality and value of healthcare services to its stakeholders.
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- Explains that mayo's hr function is a core component of its strategic planning and performance management process.
- Argues that mayo's focus on teamwork at the exclusion of individual appraisals raises the possibility of insufficient individual performance going undetected.
- Evaluates the mayo performance management system from four perspectives: leadership strategy, performance measurements, human resources management, and alignment of performance with strategy.
- Describes the mayo clinic's leadership culture, citing covin, slevin and schultz.
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2102 wordsRead More - Unit Implementationexplanatory essayOrganizational philosophy commits in establishing a high quality program that will be of distinct benefit to the community, as well as the medical staff. Mission consists of high patient satisfaction, compassion, reduction in medical errors, proper medical decisions, and patient education. For this reason, leadership is seeking the interest and commitment for expansion of a JRU to establish a program that is compatible with goals for quality, cost-effectiveness, and growth within the most efficient period.
In this essay, the author
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- Explains the direct care hour projection for the unit is 12-hour shifts, five days a week with staffing ratio of 4:1.
- Opines that nurse executives need to place emphasis on the operating budget for forecasting future revenue and salary expenses for the new unit. personnel represents the largest portion of the budge expenditures.
- Explains that directors need to achieve staff targets, control overtime, and identify an action plan for solutions in forecasting variances in census and staffing patterns for this new unit.
- Explains budget analysis for planning involves projecting the units budget cost concepts related to patient volume, additional equipment and supplies. the units total expenses for supplies, rent, utilities and other operational cost projection is $142,455 monthly for a yearly total of $1,709,460.
- Explains that the unit's revenue forecast entails the projection of patient services revenues, other operating and non-operating revenues within the facility.
- Explains the routine capital budget approved for the unit was $2,200,000 minus the capital renovation expenditure of $137,238, which included equipment installation, construction, and software upgrades.
- Explains the organization's philosophy of establishing a high quality program that will be of distinct benefit to the community, as well as the medical staff.
- Explains that the nurse executive and administrative team in preparing the operating budget is to plan the statistical budget.
- Explains that salaries are the largest expense for the cost centers budget, and the number of man-hours is included in the alliance of salaries.
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2025 wordsRead More - Healthcare Differentiationexplanatory essayThese enhancement strategies are typically designed to improve organizational processes and make healthcare more efficient (Ginter et al., 2013). In addition, enhancement strategies may also “direct towards innovative management processes, speeding up the delivery of products of services”(Ginter et al., 2013). One such enhancement strategy is to maintain a health patient-provider relationship through professionalism. Professionalism is defined as “the ability to align personal and organizational conduct with ethical and professional standards that include a responsibility to the patient and community, and a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement” (Garman, Evans, Krause, & Anfossi, 2006). Given that there is a constant change in the working environment, especially due to rising consumerism and competition, it is important for the healthcare leaders to maintain an awareness of current practices (Garman et al., 2006). Also, maintain healthy relations with their fellow colleagues and participate in professional associations such as the American Health Care Association (AMCA) to stay proactive in their organizations (Garman et al., 2006). Additionally, both the delivering and receiving of constructive feedback is another hallmark of professionalism (Garman et al., 2006). This is a great strategy that could help our organization in educating their leaders, which can further bring
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the dynamic healthcare environment is undergoing a tough competition due to various factors such as cost, quality care, production, efficiency, and safety care. it is important to formulate appropriate tools to execute these strategic plans effectively.
- Explains that enhancement strategies are designed to improve organizational processes and make healthcare more efficient. professionalism is the ability to align personal and organizational conduct with ethical and professional standards.
- Opines that product development is a useful strategy to develop in our organization as well as add variety and novelty to our current pipeline.
- Explains how product development is drifting the focus towards employee health and wellness programs due to the rapidly rising healthcare costs.
- Opines that in today's rapidly changing healthcare environment, many healthcare organizations infrastructure is also undergoing change and reconstruction, in order to be able to meet the demands for improved quality care.
- Explains that forming an alliance is a great alternative strategy to enhance the organization's overall healthcare provided as well as financial position.
- Explains differentiation as a strategy used to make the product or service different, which is attainable in various ways, such as portraying "high-tech" image.
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In this essay, the author
- Recommends a bundled payment system that rewards coordinated, and high-value care. shih reported that the fee-for-service creates division and prevents integration.
- Explains that it is vital for both hospitals and physicians to benefit from savings, and thus must collaborate efficiently. idss assist with this endeavor.
- Explains blended payment for primary care, which includes all services providers by health care providers such as care coordination, health information technology, communication and remote monitoring.
- Explains that episode-based payments are payments made for a continuous patient's problem. treating patients over time may provide better care and treatment for the patient.
- Explains the payment for chronic care episodes that include both outpatient and inpatient care (essential hospitals).
- States that bundled payments are believed to encourage doctors, hospitals and health care providers to work together and better coordinate care for patients throughout their experience.
- Explains that a capitation contract involves physicians receiving an exact amount of money per patient. they are not paid for additional or extraneous treatment services.
372 wordsRead More