Curtin Hospital Health Information Service - Case Study Example

Running head: strategic plan for curtin hospital 18th October strategic plan for curtin hospital health information service Literature review According to the studies done by John 2010 strategic plan is a tool that is used by the management to help and benefit the organization to focus on the energy which will ensure that all the members of the organization are dedicating their effort on attainment of goals. The reason for the dedicated management and members of the staff is a response on the changing issues either environmentally, socially among others. Curtin Hospital has a strategic plan with an effort to make sure those actions and decisions that are going to guide the hospital in its daily routines are made. Since the hospital is not entirely a profit generating project they are working diligently to make sure that individuals will access healthy facility at affordable price. Curtin Hospital is focused on increasing the number of beds which will help the future generations and able to handle many patients with different conditions. Importance of strategic planning Strategic plan is being used by Curtin Hospital so that it is able to respond to different circumstances that occur in specialties which are offered at Curtin Hospital. These include maternity, pediatric surgery, orthopedics, oncology, plastic surgery, general surgery and other outpatient services that are provided. Due to these different departments which need strategic plan, then the management has to work on the attainment of goals which has to be met within 2015/2016 financial year. Since Curtin Hospital must be faced with other profit making hospitals then the management must respond to hostile environments and work towards dynamics. By being strategic means that Curtin Hospital must be clear on the goals which are set, Curtin Hospital resources being budgeted appropriately without being mismanaged and finally incorporating the hospital to dynamic environment. Planning is the key agenda of Curtin. To attain the goals which are set in the next financial a plan is needed so that the hospital can have a desired future. This means an approach to attain the goal must be set and it can only be done through strategic planning. These processes thus need discipline on how the management is using fund and an order which will keep the hospital focused so that it becomes productive. The process thus requires individual who has an experience on planning for long and short term planning and who can gather and then use information on the past and present so that in long run the hospital will get the desired outcome. Fundamental decisions must be made and actions which will make strategic plan to be achievable within the specified period. Since the hospital has a lot of actions which need to be done while still on the set goals then priority lies on the most important decisions which are going to be achieved fast. Strategic issues affecting Health Information Management Services/department Since many hospitals have adopted decentralized system of management, then implementation of health information systems has been acquired where emphasize on information usage is compulsory to all health cares. This means responsibilities and freedom to the managers has been granted concerning data and information of the health care. So as to get to a healthcare which is going to provide maximum care to individual, a comprehensive and functional system healthcare must be set so that patients’ needs are fulfilled. Like in the case of Curtin Hospital where various departments will handle different patients then all the departmental system must be comprehensive, complete and functional. Strategic issues affecting Health Information Management Services are. Advanced scientific knowledge and innovation Scientific discovery must be considered to make sure that improved healthcare is achieved this will make a difference on matters of life and death. Health human services must be considered where scientific discoveries can be made which will make sure that best prevention and treatment is available to the patients. This can only be achieved through knowledge-based approaches which will involve the use of technology to discover epidemics and improve healthcare facilities. Scientific understanding will be beneficial to healthcare and the general public since all sorts of diseases will have a cure and have strong awareness to the public. Biomedical research using the modern technology is a strategic issue; a concern which has been affecting health information management since many hospitals has limited machines to carry biometric research so that safe medical and food products will be available to the patients. Technologically surveillance machines should be available so that risk factors can be controlled Strengthen healthcare On their studies on Health Information Management Services Pointer and Orlikoff (2002), indicates that lack Health Information Management Services weakens healthcare. This means that coverage to the patients must be secure, those individuals who have insurance coverage will need to extend to affordable coverage. Again it is the role of healthcare providers to provide quality care to individuals and also guarantee patient safety. This strategic issue requires reduced healthcare cost so that a high value care will be effective to the patients. Again for the issue to be curbed, then the management of healthcare must make sure that long term services to the patients and support is going to be provided. Ensuring efficiency, transparency, accountability and effectiveness According to Noe (2012), the issue of efficiency, transparency, accountability and effectiveness to many Health Information Management Services is a challenge. This is due to the fact that many individual who are employed do not have integrity and thus not responsible with healthcare fund. Improper payments get access to the hospital and thus fighting fraud is a challenge to the management. Technology must be improved and used where data recording and information concerning patients in healthcare must be improved through the use of Electronic Health Recording (EHR). In this way, fraud can be reduced since it is a major strategic issue in Health Information Management Services. Advance the health, safety and well –being of individuals The well being of children, youth, and adults must be promoted so that strategic challenges are minimized and this shows that safety must be considered so that economic and social activities can be improved. This can only be improved as long as health safety and well-being of individuals will be the key goal of Curtin Hospital or any other health centre. Another way of ensuring that safety and well-being of individuals is attained is making healthcare to be accessible and provision of quality and other support services to those who have disabilities and the aged. Lastly, if infectious diseases can be reduced in when they are prone to individuals as quickly as possible then safety and well-being of individual will not be at risk. Importance of strategic planning Since Curtin Hospital has measurable goals and sense of direction, then strategic planning as a tool of management will help the hospital in daily routines which require decision making. The tool will also help Curtin Hospital to be able to evaluate the progress. Through strategic planning Curtin Hospital will be able to change approaches where some goals will be given priorities than the others so that it can move forward. For example, Curtin Hospital is planning to expand to 550 beds by 2016 which is a concern to the safety and well-being of individuals. This means the hospital has given a priority to this decision leaving others which are important too. To develop a mental health unit that include both inpatient and outpatient services is a decision that requires strategic planning which need careful thought so that it can be implemented. Strategic planning helps any organization to give overall direction thus the planners have to come up with financial strategies, marketing, human resource strategies among others. Another importance of strategic planning is that the management will be able to predict the future since planning leads to attainment of goals. Drezner (2009) indicates that failure to plan means that the organization or individual is planning to fail and thus one is not able to predict how the future will be. Identifying issues for inclusion in a strategic plan One key aspect that can be included in a strategic plan is training all the members of staff in the department of Health Information Management so that data recording can be done in manner that will be transparent. This implies that all the information concerning the patient in Curtin Hospital is supposed to be arranged in a systematic manner that the top management will be able to check and analyze it. Acquiring modern information technology equipments is another issue. The equipment would play a major role in the department of Health Information Management since data recording would not be prone to error and thus efficient, transparent and accountable data recording in Curtin Hospital. Another important issue that can be included in the strategic plan is to make it possible for the patients to view their records online. This would allow them to verify the information they have provided. To the hospital, it would make it possible to attend more patients. Stakeholder importance and involvement in strategic planning According to Billlie (2000) stakeholder’s involvement in strategic planning is a vital process since the stakeholders can affect any project outcome. Stakeholder’s involvement in strategic planning shapes the entire projects that have been targeted in early stages. This means that they are going to fund the project, make adjustments where they are required, provide insight on the basis of project outcome among others. This implies that stakeholder’s willingness to contribute to the project when planning will lead to the success or if they do not cooperate will lead to failure. It is the role of stakeholders to participate in the strategic planning process so that the entire projects that are targeted can be finalized within the estimated period. The value of a strategic plan for the Health Information Management Service To have a strategic plan in Health Information Management, Curtin must start by stating clearly what Curtin Hospital aspires for (vision). Along with the vision, it must come up with a plan to achieve its desires which can be termed as the mission. For the progress to get that vision then values to follow are set. Curtin Hospital values Respect – dignity to individuals is its core value Caring- Curtin Hospital care for its clients and thus expanding and improving our health information management Discovery- through technology advancement equipments Curtin Hospital can specialize in different departments Professionalism- due to expert knowledge Curtin Hospital provide high quality ethical services Studies by Pointer and Orlikoff (2002) recommend improvement of health information management in all hospitals through the use of Electronic Health Recording so that issues of fraud in the entire department can be curbed and dealt with accordingly. Improvement of information that is generated by department of information management need to be online accessed so that they can be open to each and every individual. Pointer and Orlikoff (2002) also recommend strengthening of healthcare which can only be strengthened through affordable coverage. This means insurance coverage should be included in the care act together with affordable care act which will improve the lively hood of individuals. Drezner (2009) recommends ensuring efficiency, transparency, accountability and effectiveness in Health Information Management Services through the use of modern technology. Lastly Drezner (2009) recommends advancement of health, safety and well –being of individuals through cooperation of health workers and patients. In conclusion different authors indicate that for a strategic plan such as improving the Health Information Management Services to succeed, then all the stakeholders are supposed to work together. This is due to the fact that if they are separated then failure would always result in the projects that have been planned. Additionally, technology advancement in the field of health sector is a key to achieve long term goals since without innovation then traditional methods of treatment will be the one to be used in the 21st century. Executive summary Curtin Hospital, metropolitan hospital with a bed capacity of 330 beds has come up with a strategic plan that will make it competitive. The hospital is focused at improving its Health Information Service. The hospital strategic plan starts with identification of the Curtin vision and mission statements. The vision statement is to be a world class hospital in the provision of specialized and innovative healthcare while the mission statement is to provide accessible quality healthcare, facilitate medical training, emulate research and development, and to participate in local and national health planning and policies. Curtin SWOT analysis is also part of the plan. Strengths include well equipped medical facility in all units, reconstructive team of managers in the Health Information Service and significant number of specialty services among others. Weaknesses are lack of retention in staffing by some departments and loss of workers due to poor communication. Opportunities include emerging technology in the Health Information Management Service and use of extensive marketing among others. Threats are hospitals in the neighborhood, emerging effective private laboratories, and stiff competition from established hospitals. The hospital goals are to expand the number of beds from 330 to 550 beds by 2016, to improve the Health Information Management Service in the next 2 years, to increase the number of patients admissions from 50,000 to 70,000 in the next financial year, to attain a growth rate of 10% in new patient in the subsequent years, and to introduce 3 more specialties in the next 2 years. Through the action plan such as donations from local communities Curtin will achieve the goals. The hospital which targets all individuals regardless of their age and gender will need to look for the impact of improved Health Information Service such as increased customers to evaluate the strategic plan. Additionally, this strategic plan indicates the industry analysis that portrays American Society of Health Informatics Managers, Institute of Health Records and Information Management, and American Health Information Management Association among others are key players. To curb rising competition, the plan support extensive marketing notably through social sites. The strategic plan The success of any organization in the health sector or in any other field significantly depends on the strategic plan that covers all the aspects that supports it growth. Strategic planning entails the process of defining the goals of a firm or direction. Additionally, it involves optimum allocation of resources in order to attain the goals stipulated by the management. Curtin Hospital strategic plan aims at discussing the various aspects that will make the hospital to attain its future goals. Additionally, the plan will cover the weaknesses, opportunities as well as threats that may hinder its expansion. Other areas of the Curtin Hospital strategic plan includes identification of strategies and how specific goals will be developed to achieve these strategies. The plan will also indicate the vision and mission statement for the health information service as well as identification and management of risks. Brief description of Curtin Hospital Curtin Hospital is a metropolitan hospital which has 330 beds. The hospital aim is to expand by 2016 with a total of 550 beds. During the financial 2013/2014 the hospital admitted 50,000 patients. The annual growth rate is expected to be 10% in subsequent years. The hospital has different departments which are managed well so as to attain their goals in the next financial year. Being a hospital that aims at increasing its patient admission by 20,000 in the next financial year, Curtin offers wide range of specialties. These include Maternity, Paediatric Surgery, Orthopaedics, Oncology, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and a range of Outpatient services including Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The hospital also has an emergency department and is focused at developing a mental health unit that includes both inpatient and community outreach services. Curtin Hospital vision and mission statement In order to ensure that all the parties in the organization including the employees and mangers have similar idea as far as the expansion of the hospital is concerned; Curtin will emulate a vision as well as a mission statement. The firm’s vision is to be a world class hospital in the provision of specialized and innovative healthcare (Stansfield, 2005). This will not only make the employees to be focused at achieving high level of innovation, but also it will create a strong positive patient-Curtin relationship. On the other hand, Curtin Hospital mission is to provide accessible quality healthcare, facilitate medical training, emulate research and development, and to participate in local and national health planning and policies. Just like any other organization, Curtin Hospital has strengths that make it successful, weaknesses that it aims at eliminating, opportunities that aims at pursuing and threats that hinders its expansion Strengths Well equipped medical facility in all units Reconstructive team of managers in the Health Information Service Significant number of specialty services Patient centered healthcare Multiple contracts with private, federals, state and local agencies High standard services which are cost effective Weaknesses Lack of retention in staffing by some departments Loss of workers due to poor communication Opportunities Emerging technology in the Health Information Management Service Undertaking extensive marketing New technology in the filed of healthcare Threats Hospitals in the neighborhood Emerging effective private laboratories Stiff competition from established hospitals Goals Setting goals is the hallmark of companies that effectively face off their competitors in the market. Thus, this part is critical element in the Curtin Hospital strategic plan. The goals of the firm include: To expand the number of beds from 330 to 550 beds by 2016 To improve the Health Information Management Service in the next 2 years To increase the number of patients admissions from 50,000 to 70,000 in the next financial year To attain a growth rate of 10% in new patient in the subsequent years To introduce 3 more specialties in the next 2 years Strategies to achieve the goals In order to achieve the outlined goals, the hospital through the support of donors, government, local community and business fraternity, will come up with a sustainable plan. The table below indicates the specific strategies that will be directed towards the firm’s goals. Goals Action plan Attaining 550 beds by 2016 Requesting for loans from the bank and allocating more funds for purchasing beds, requesting for donations and bank loans Improving Health Information Management Service in 2 years time Through acquisition of more computers and liaising with the local companies dealing with medical technology Attaining 70,000 in the next financial year Extensive traditional and online marketing, reducing the cost of services, and improving medical services Attaining a growth rate of 10% Continuous marketing Continuous expansion of specialties Introducing3 more specialties in the next 2 years Once the Health Information Management Service, Curtin will hire more HIM professionals Key Performance Indicators During the performance of its activities, Curtin Hospital managers noted that due to the poor methods of data storage and unsustainable storage of medical records. Nurses and doctors were taking a lot of time to get the information of their patient. For example, a nurse was taking 20-30 minutes to retrieve a file from the offsite storage facility. This implies that the hospital must emulate effective policies to reduce the retrieval time to less than 1 minute. Through the computerization of health records, the hospital will improve its data storage methods. The paper based records will now be replaced with electronic health records. In addition, Curtin Hospital will expand its financial allocation for new tools to purchase software that will ensure health informatics and health information technology are adopted in the organization. Once the managers notice that complaints from patients due to delays are no longer there and that the retrieval time is significantly reduced, then it will come to the conclusion that the new Health Information Service has attained a success (Kathleen and Shirley, 2010). Additionally, if the number of patients increases to 70,000 in the next financial year as outlined in its goals, then the managers will realize that the department is essential for the hospital. Targets customers As the need for health services increases due to the increase in the level of global population, many firms have now turned to extensive marketing of their services. By improving its Health Information Service, Curtin Hospital targets all the patients regardless of their gender or age. It is vital to note that healthcare is fundamental in the development of any country. This implies that each age group play a key role in nation building and therefore everyone should be health at any given time. Curtin will thus ensure that it has required drugs as well as the best services for its patient. The hospital will have an effective data storage process for its existing and new patients. Industry Analysis One of the modern developments in the health industry is the evolvement of health-record keeping. Within the public realm, record keeping in hospitals has been a point of discussion, an aspect that has made many hospitals to initiate plans to have their records appropriately stored. Back in 2008, more than 50% of Chief Information Officers in US indicated that they wanted electronic health records so as to have more information relating to the patients during the stages of health care provision. This is an indication that Health Information Service has continued to be demanded by many hospitals. With the emerging technology in healthcare, Release of Information Officer and Health Information Manager among other players in the department must remain competent with the application of databases that is imperative for providing patient reports to physicians (Mervat et al. 2011). Some of the notable organization that advocate for the use of Health Information Service include American Society of Health Informatics Managers, Institute of Health Records and Information Management, and American Health Information Management Association among others. Risk identification and management In its effort to achieve its goals as stipulated by the company policies, Curtin Hospital managers realize that they may be faced with some risks. For example, the organization may lack adequate resources to acquire extra quality beds in the next 2 years. To address this risk, the company will invite donors and self wishers who are still the potential customers to provide their assistance. Similarly, the hospital will form links with the local beverage and food products companies to seek their financial assistance as part of their corporate social responsibilities. To deal with the risk of reduced number of patients and fail to achieve the third goal, Curtin will ensure that it has in store all kind of drugs that are needed by the patients regardless of their ages and gender. In this way, it will enjoy repeated purchases while word of mouth marketing by the existing customers will result to more new patients in the next financial year. The risks of not improving the Health Information Management Service will be addressed by allocating more funds in the purchasing of computers among other modern technologies. Other measures will include extra training of the staff in the Curtin Health Information Management Service and hiring of more HIM professionals. Competitive analysis and advantage Once the hospital engages in the implementation of the strategic plan, there is a possibility that competitors will emerge and come up with ways of counter attacking Curtin. As indicated earlier, one of the major threats facing Curtin is stiff competition in the neighborhood. In this regard, the organization will initiate an extensive marketing strategy that entails use of social media including face book and tweeter. Similarly, the company will use You Tube where it will indicate the services it offers. In order to attract more patients, the company aims at providing personalized services by the use of local doctors who are aware of the challenges faced by local residents. As a result, the customers’ needs will effectively be met. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that strategic plan is a key tool that can generate changes within an organization. Once an organization notes where it is and then comes up with goals, it is now the role of top managers to form a team and identify ways of attaining the goals. Curtin strategic plan indicates key aspects that make an organization achieve the goals. These includes vision and mission statements, undertaking SWOT analysis, undertaking specific strategies to attain the goals, identifying the key performance indicators, identifying the target customers, analyzing the industry, identifying risks and come up with ways to manage them, and coming up strategies to deal with the competition. References Billie, N. (2000). The Roles of Stakeholders in the Planning Process. New York: New York Pres. Drezner, W. (2009). Avoiding trivia the role of strategic planning in American foreign policy. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Flew, T. (2008). New Media: an introduction. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. John, K. (2010). Strategic plan. Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse. Bethesda: U.S. Dept. Kathleen M and Shirley E. (2010). Health information management concepts, principles, and practice. Chicago, Illinois: American Health Information Management Association. Mervat A et al. 2011. 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