Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Swot Analysis

Strengths. Pocahontas Memorial Hospital is the only healthcare facility located within Pocahontas County. Having no competition allows them to be the single provider for the community, which allows them flexibility when deciding the future of their facilities. With every service located within one location it allows for the expansion of a free standing satellite health clinic, located away from the main medical facility. This is a common practice with healthcare organizations throughout the U.S. As a small rural facility, government benefits can be utilized for projects that increase access to care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is creating new requirements for facilities, such as increased technology and access to

The biggest weaknesses for this satellite clinic is the rural status of the community and the lack of finances to support a new facility. The rural state of the community also creates issues with physician recruiting and retention. There is about 10% of the physicians located in a rural setting, while 90% are in the urbanized setting (NRHA, n.d). This statistic is working against being able to open a new facility because the question arises as to who will provide the care of those that visit. A strategy will need to be put in place to recruit and retain the physician, as well as nursing staff, which will be providing care within the clinic. Opportunities. The PPACA is creating opportunities for both the healthcare system, and the consumers of health care. There is an increase in patients that have access to healthcare, due to the affordability and access to healthcare insurance. This access will help the rural community of Pocahontas County. The poverty stricken individuals who once were not able to afford healthcare now can. This increases the likelihood they will utilize the new satellite clinic for preventative and acute care needs. Increasing the potential profits and success of the new

Directional strategies are ones such as the mission and vision. These strategies show the direction in which the organization is going for the future. The mission statement for Pocahontas Memorial Hospital is to be the “first choice for integrated healthcare” (Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, 2014b, p. 2). At this time this statement is not true, many of the community members are utilizing other healthcare facilities due to the increase services, technology, and possibly customer service. The Satellite health clinic will increase the services that are being provided, increasing the likelihood that community members will choose Pocahontas Memorial Hospital and their satellite clinic for their health care