Pediatric Healthcare Organizations in Dallas - Essay Example

? Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, Texas A not for profit Health Organization Introduction Non profit organizations are broadly formed for the purpose of serving the community in myriad ways. Their main objective is public good and not accumulation of wealth or profit. In the contemporary environment of fast changing social dynamics and advancing technology, adapting to change becomes major challenge for the organizations. For non profit organizations, the critical assessment of changes and timely initiative to address them become vital ingredients of success. The strategic planning and effective decision making helps maintain trust and credibility of the non profit organization. The paper would therefore be discussing the various imperatives of changes that impact Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, a non profit organization working in the field of pediatrics. Background Children’s Medical Center is one of the largest pediatric healthcare organizations in Dallas, Texas that exclusively serves healthcare needs of children from birth to 18 years of age (children.com). It is committed to provide high class medical services to the children ranging from simple examination to specialty services like heart surgery, organ transplantation and other life threatening cases. As a multi specialty unit, it works towards innovative health schemes designed to improve the quality of lives of the children. Its main mission is to make available the best healthcare services to children in need and provide access to medical care to those who are not able to pay for them or are unable to access them. It therefore, works on the vision of becoming the best healthcare provider for children. It is mainly funded by donations from individuals, corporations and foundations. Strategic plan The organization believes in the proactive participation of all stakeholders like administrators, nurses, specialists, pharmacists, parents, community, local leadership, carer and other healthcare providers. The relationship building amongst all its stakeholders therefore becomes integral part of its strategic plans in healthcare deliverables. The collective action helps to address the emotional, physical and psychological needs of the children. It has the support of the community to fulfill its aims and objectives of providing and delivering an outstanding quality of medical care and services to children under constrained financial budget. It thrives on taking initiatives and promoting innovation in the field of medical care, management to provide cost effective good quality of service. It is made possible with the support of good leadership and modern infrastructure. The various change factors that affect the performance of organizations are as detailed as below. Organizational Factors The Center is run by governing body comprising of Board of Directors which has the overall responsibilities of the Children’s Medical Center (children,com). The hierarchal structure is well defined with roles, responsibilities and relationship at all levels of organization. The CEO is supported by Directors of various departments like finance, children’s affairs, administration, community projects etc. While middle level managers of different departments supervise the daily operations, CEO ensures that policy decisions made by Board of directors are in accordance with running situation at ground level and effectively communicated to the workforce. Most importantly, the Advisory Committee of the Center coordinates the activities and situation on the ground level as per suggestions made by managers and board of directors. This is hugely important because it helps to mitigate the emerging problems and seeks to implement early solution. Transparency and accountability are the hallmark of the organization. It distinctly allocates tasks and responsibilities and ensures smooth flow of information for achieving its goals and objectives. Organizational culture highlights the unique elements of code of behavior amongst the workforce that is developed over a period of time and provides them with sense of stability and desired motivation for improved outcome (De Wit & Mayer, 2005). In current times, while teamwork is encouraged to optimize outcome, diversity remains key issue in conflict resolution. Indeed, efforts and excellence need to be awarded to motivate the workforce which the Center tries to enforce through organizational culture. Organizational leadership initiatives are vital ingredients that promote mutual respect, effective communication and shared goals to achieve their goals and objectives. It works towards effectively managing the work place related conflicts and interests so as to facilitate better understanding, prediction and improvisation in work place. In the highly diverse society, various factors like conflicts of interests, lack of awareness regarding cultural beliefs, macro environmental changes and competitive environment become key elements that adversely impact performance. The leadership initiative therefore becomes major enabling element that inculcates a sense of stability and security amongst the workforce to implement necessary changes vis-a-vis technology, policy reforms etc. (Nutt, 1990). Service Delivery factor The 24 hours Children’s Medical Center has advanced and sophisticated medical equipments with 559 beds with more than 50 programs for specialty cases and provides round the clock specialists’ service to the patients with devotion and expertise (children.com). Its main and largest campus is at Dallas and the second one has been established at Plano, Texas. It has smaller healthcare units spread across the interior of the state so as to offer access to child medical needs to every household across wider geographical area. Its various healthcare pediatric Centers collectively serve around 528,000 patients annually (ibid, 2010). It plans to identify and address the requirements of areas that are designed to integrate central elements of health system reforms. This is crucial factor that would help create an environment of clinical improvement and safety within the given supporting infrastructure for improved performance initiatives. Its major focus is on creating awareness of the preventive measures to reduce overall cost of services, both for public as well as for the patients. The hospital is equipped with latest technology and is served by 59 surgeons, 50 anesthesiologists, 171 surgery nurses and 31 surgical technicians. 25853 surgeries were performed in 2010, many of which were life saving (annual report, 2010). The renowned surgeons help to carry out complex surgery in the area of heart transplant in babies, cancer, repairing heart, lungs and kidneys of even new born. Parents, especially mothers are encouraged to be part of infants’ program as infants in the critical conditions need to be handled with care and caution. The Center acknowledges that the role of family, especially mother, becomes significant in the recovery of the child. At all level of service delivery, best practices have emerged as distinct attribute of the Center. Its affiliation UT Southwestern Medical Center ensures that best medical care is accessible to vulnerable segment of society at low cost. It has maintained its high standard which includes better customer service and best practices. Its emphasis on research and development is important aspect that continuously encourages creative input and innovation in the delivery of medical care. The use of latest medical discoveries and inventions provide hospital with unique quality that lends credibility to it. Technology factor Advancing technology is important factor that significantly impacts performance of organization. It is especially relevant to the effective healthcare delivery. The flexibility of approach and initiative in making decisions are hugely supported by the use of technology. The information technology within the healthcare system helps to streamline information flow that contributes to timely and efficient decision making based on informed choices. Drucker (1998) asserts that access to information is one of the most important elements of success of an organization and its improved performance. This is true at all levels of healthcare system starting from admission of patients to his care and recovery. It ensures coordination within the departments for optimal results. The various stakeholders like nurses, physicians, administrators, clinicians, dieticians and pharmacists etc. are motivated towards the use of technology and information system. The timely entry of details of patients and his care equips them with information that can be utilized for the optimal performance. The technology not only facilitates continuous improvement but it also helps to meet the needs of the patients with more efficiency. The Center is therefore, equipped with highly sophisticated gadgets and life saving instruments which require delicate handling. It has skilled employees who are well versed in the use of technology based medical instruments and knowledgeable surgeons who have expertise in the use of latest technology in complex surgeries. The use of monitors and computerized vigilance has improved the overall care. At the same time, it has greatly facilitated a much needed healing touch of mothers that considerably accelerates the recovery of the infants. Research and training are also critical aspect of the efficient use of technology. The need to evolve new mechanism of control for the wider welfare of patients is key motivating factor. Research provides organization with new avenues of growth and higher level of medical care. Indeed, it greatly promotes equity, accessibility, affordability and quality which are highly desirable factors in effective healthcare, especially for non profit organizations like Children’s Medical Center. Conclusion The macro environmental changes like technology, globalization, socio-economic and political environment etc. are important factors that considerably impact the performance of organization. The managerial leadership therefore becomes critical element that helps the organizations to identify change develop competencies to meet the challenges of time. Various activities and programs of Children’s Medical Center are carried out for the sole purpose of improving health status and quality of life of children. It therefore constantly strives to provide the best medical care to all children irrespective of their financial status, culture or race. (words: 1525) Reference Annual Report. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.childrens.com/about-us/reports-and-publications/annual-report/ Children’s Medical Center. Retrieved February 5, 2012, from http://www.childrens.com/about-us/ Drucker, P.F. (August, 1998). Next Information Revolution. Forbes. Database: Academic Search Elite. De Wit, B. and Meyer, R. (2005). Strategy Synthesis: resolving strategy paradoxes to create competitive advantage. Thomson Learning, London. Nutt,P. C. (1999). Surprising but true: half the deciisions in organizations fail. Academic of Management Executive, 13(4), 75-90. Read More