Strategy, Policy, and Change in the Health Sector - Essay Example

Strategy, policy and change in the health sector Insert Name Course, Class, Semester Institution Instructor Date Introduction Each organization needs to inculcate competitive strategies, policies and change resolutions that will enhance the required results. The business fraternity exhibits dynamics that need to be combated by incorporating workable strategies in an organizational setting. Strategy formulation is a mandate of the top level management who undertake the responsibility to plan five or ten years in advance. It is from the strategic formulations that policies are derived since they cover a relatively short time span. It is worth noting that, organizations seek to reduce chances of sub - optimization where the long term goals and the short term are inconsistent. Change, on the other hand, is an inevitable endeavor (Norville, 2007). It is upon the management in the organization to implement workable mechanisms that will not arouse controversy when the changes are being incorporated. This issue revolving around changes has affected numerous organizations some of which thrive into industrial supremacy while others crumble into crisis and at times foreclosure. The healthcare industry is no exception and likewise has the dire need for adequate systems that work to deliver required results. The healthcare fraternity as an industry is extraordinarily fragile due to the nature of operations and hence any strategic formulation or change implementation call for outmost concentration and attention to detail (Twaddle, 2002). The intention of this discussion is to delineate the appropriate measures that would alleviate Care track’s results either in Australia or in any other nation. Additionally, the paper will seek to unravel the appropriate managerial approach that would conform to the current healthcare system. Australia just like any other nation around the world has a dire need of adequate healthcare facilities and structures. This is because; healthcare is a fundamental need that needs to be addressed across the globe. Recently, the medical journal of Australia published a case study commonly known as the care track study. The study mainly sought to establish the shortfalls prevalent in the Australian healthcare system as well as any discrepancies that might be prevalent in the country’s healthcare system (Willis, Reynolds & Keleher, 2009). It is evident that, in every endeavor, there is deemed to be strongholds well as pitfalls that would at times undermine the performance of the system. The care track results overwhelmingly indicated that close to 55% of the country’s populace obtain adequate healthcare. Generally, there was a poor percentage of compliance of the set guidelines as well failure of adopting the relevant risk assessment tools. The three prevalent conditions as analyzed by the care track involved a whooping twenty two conditions. Three of them found severe revolved around heart conditions which included; chronic heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension. It is arguable that, the routine use of explicit risk is at times unnecessary for the experienced practitioners. On the other hand, some hospitals exhibited reputable compliance to guidelines as well as commendable risk assessment practices. For instance, some hospitals undertake routine checks as well as risk assessment tools in line with the national guidelines recommendations. The researchers also concentrated on process measurement versus the outcome measurement. This is because; the healthcare system has keen concentration on the process measurement and at time leaves out the outcome measurement. In line with this sentiment, some scholars opine that, the process is immensely significant as the right structures, as well as strategic policies pave the way for desired outcomes. On the contrary, some researchers peg to differ relying on the notion that, the outcome justifies the means and systems in place (Shatoff, 2008). Additionally, the care track results illustrated that, the medical field is cumbered with recording problems. This is centrally because; the medical practitioners have since time immemorial cared less about record keeping. In Australia, this was evidenced in inconsistencies, inexpert hand writings that would be impossible to review in the future. The care track results highlighted eminent issues that call for urgent action to alleviate the medical care in Australia as well as other countries facing similar predicaments. It is worth noting that, the central issue revolves around managerial practices. This is because; on professionalism, the care track results did not highlight any formidable misdeed that would amount to worthy investigations. The care track results clearly depict that, the first misgiving emanates from the fact that, the medical fraternity in the country fails to comply with the national framework. It is notable that, rules are enacted to guide humanity into an acceptable form of living thus negating an instance that would transform human beings into savages. It is prudent to indicate that there should be a stern issue from management focusing on the creating awareness on the medical practitioners on the importance of national guidelines (Luft, 2008). The management team also needs to ensure that the medical practitioners and staff understand the magnitude that emanates from record keeping. It is apparent that, from records review, the care track results indicates that there is adverse mismatch in record keeping by a large number of medical practitioners or health centers. As earlier indicated, changes are not welcomed by the human capital. It is vital for the managerial personnel to devise workable mechanisms for the inculcation of the above changes in the Australian medicine fraternity. In the instance that these changes are effected efficiently, the healthcare sector in Australia will undoubtedly improve eliciting better results in the foreseeable future (South Australian Health Commission policy statement on primary health care in the health system, 2009). Over the years, scholars have depicted that, it is extremely vital for organizations to have a workable strategic approach. In essence, a strategic approach is solely bestowed upon management to formulate a mechanism that suits the prevalent circumstances. It is essential to note that, a strategic approach covers a long period more often than not five or more years. It goes without say that; a strategic approach is among the vital aspects that determine the performance of any corporation into the foreseeable future (Kennedy, 2006). The healthcare sector as an industry requires adequate strategic approach that will facilitate combating of the upcoming challenges facing the practicing medical officers. In Australia, as well as other regions around the world, the health sector faces an array of challenges emanating from the fact that, the world is evolving. This evolution has resonated to poor living habits hence the upsurge in the health related conditions. Evolution and development in some sectors of the economy for instance; in the technological or educational sector resonates to inherent changes in the health sector. For instance, in 2011, tuberculosis mutated to a drug resistant condition that claimed numerous lives all over the world. HIV has also claimed lives in the millions because of its incurable nature (Daniels, 2005). The main objective behind inculcation of a workable strategic approach is to ensure that the healthcare system observes an overall improvement. A strategic approach acts like a benchmark where the management measures the level of policy inculcation into the sector or organization. This implies that, the strategic approach will resonate to numerous advantages in the Australian health sector if incorporated appropriately. The inalienable fact is that, a strategic approach will resonate to vehement changes in the current policies seeking to conform to the care track’s results. The care truck results clearly illumine the problems ailing the healthcare system in Australia and recent tentative research results around the world depict similar results. For instance; in the United States of America, recent studies conclusively indicated that, 55 percent of medical practitioners in the county are non complaint to the national framework regulating the profession. However, unlike Australia’s results which indicate prevalence in heart conditions, the US indicated diabetes to be rampant. This implies that, the services offered by practitioners in the healthcare sector fall short of the stipulated standard. It is immensely vital that countries inculcate the strategic approach in the healthcare industry to alleviate compliance to regulations and overhaul changes in the sector (Duckett, 2007). The health care system has an elaborate ministerial position that has the mandate to oversee the country’s healthcare needs. The minister in charge of the healthcare docket in any country is bestowed an enormous role to formulate, enact implement and monitor strategies in the health sector that will resonate to the desired changes. This is because; the minister is the pivotal stakeholder in the entire healthcare system. Secondly, the minister has the powers to table a bill in parliament that will enhance the achievement of the strategic plans. This implies that the minister has a remarkable influence on the legislation affecting the healthcare sector. Additionally, the minister in the healthcare docket has an immense ability to lobby for funds from various sources. The funds would come in the form of donations or grants from developed nations alleviating detrimental health deterioration in the instance that the country is not in a position to combat a health menace (Brock, 2006). In the medical fraternity, as well as other sectors of the economy, changes more often than not resonate to bureaucratic tendencies. Although this is an indicator of growth and development, procedures take longer time causing unwarranted delays. It is prudent for the stakeholders to implement changes that will negate delays in the process as well as encourage expeditious process given the fragile nature of the profession. Since the healthcare system intertwines all other sectors of the economy, the political sector has a significant role in ensuring that the care track results are corrected (Weiss, 2010). For instance, the political class needs to approve any piece of legislation that seeks to alleviate the problems in the health care sector as illustrated by the care track study. In addition, policy changes need to follow the strategic formulations to mitigate instances of sub - optimization. It is apparent that, the care track results are of prime significance as they depict factors undermining optimality in the healthcare sector. It is vital for the stakeholders in the healthcare sector in Australia and other affected nations to develop solutions that will combat these limitations. In essence, once these resolutions take effect, the healthcare sector will improve leading to better livelihood and performance across the board. Recommendations The Australian healthcare fraternity as any other in the world is faced with grueling challenges as indicated by the care track results. It is notable that, the heart conditions indicated in this discussion are rampant given the day to day living habits. To qualm the upsurge in mortality rate emanating from heart related conditions, the medical fraternity not only needs a change in strategic approach as indicated but also needs to create awareness to the populace advising on healthy living. This will ensure that the Australia’s healthcare is more proficient as the cure to this menace lies with the patients. References Brock, F. (2006). Health care on less than you think: the New York Times guide to getting affordable coverage. New York: Times Books. Daniels, N. (2005). Seeking fair treatment: from the AIDS epidemic to national health care reform. New York: Oxford University Press. Duckett, S. J. (2007). The Australian health care system (3rd ed.). South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press. Kennedy, E. M. (2006). America back on track. New York: Viking. Luft, H. S. (2008). Total cure: the antidote to the health care crisis. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Norville, D. (2007). Back on track: how to straighten out your life when it throws you a curve. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. Shatoff, D. K. (2008). In-home child care: a step-by-step guide to quality, affordable care. St. Louis, Mo.: Family CareWare. South Australian Health Commission policy statement on primary health care in the health system. (2009). Adelaide: South Australian Health Commission. Twaddle, A. C. (2002). Health care reform around the world. Westport, Conn.: Auburn House. Weiss, P. J. (2010). More health, less care how to take charge of your medical care and write your own personal prescription for lifelong health. Brooklyn, N.Y.: LaChance ;. Willis, E., Reynolds, L., & Keleher, H. (2009). Understanding the Australian health care system. Sydney: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. Read More