Managing Organisations and Change - Case Study Example

Management Project on Home Rehabilitation Management Project on Home Rehabilitation 1 Introduction: 1 Aims and objectives: 2 Settings: 2 Participants: 4 Sequence of events: 5 Outcomes: 6 Challenges to the system and solution: 6 Conclusion: 8 Reference: 9 3.Boudreaux, M 1984: Prepare for Your Future in Marketing, Your Interviews, and Something 'Extra', Student Edition Marketing News (2): 3–4 March 1984 9 Introduction: Management is an important criterion in the industrial sector today, given the face of competition in the globalised world. Earlier the concepts of management were confined to the industries, but have in the current scenario become an integral part of the functioning of all organizations including hospitals. In the following paper there shall be conducted a discussion on the various changes that were bought about at the Jhone Hospital when a new program was launched in the Nero wing of the hospital. I was a part of the program and therefore was able to see the progress of the strategic management change first hand. Through the following discussion I aim to ensure that the various management techniques that have been applied can be realised and I will in the end try and develop a solution for some of the problems that were faced by the managers while implementing the new system. Aims and objectives: At the beginning of every event the basic objectives and aims of the event need to be outlined so as to ensure that the focus of the event does not divert (Barab, S., Dodge, T. Thomas, M.K., Jackson, C. & Tuzun, and H. 2007; pp 263-305). The basic objectives that need to be fulfilled during the development of this project include the following: The main objective of the new program is to ensure that the rehabilitation program is made more goal-specific. In other words, instead of having the same program for the various patients the program aims to rehabilitate each patient in accordance to his or her need, in an environment where they will be able to sustain it in the long term. Another important goal of the program was to ensure that the whole process of rehabilitation is made more efficient and economic. This is important as the practise of medicine is becoming more and more costly, and there is a need felt for the elimination of any malpractices which are taxing on the resources of the patients as well as of the hospital. The paper will follow the set standards of the Australian Health Review (Online) in developing a case study so as to ensure that the discussion is developed in a progressive and efficient manner. Settings: When ever there is a change in the management of a program, there are specific changes that are bought about to the settings of the program. In this case there was developed a whole new setting as the program that was launched was a new one. Therefore at the time of launch there was felt that the settings of the program should be formulated in keeping with the objectives and aims of the program (Corden, R.E. 2001; pp 347-367). The program that was launched required a number of changes to be made to ensure that it could function in a successful manner. The first important setting that had to be provided was that of professionals who would be able to move out of the area of the hospital and go to the homes of the patients to ensure that the rehabilitation process was being carried out in order of the needs of the patients. Also this is important as there would be required aid and assistance of these professionals to rehabilitate the patients at their homes. Another important setting that was set up during the program was that of the equipment that is required in rehabilitation of the patients. There are times when the patient is still in the need of monitoring and may be on certain medications, etc. The equipment that is required to ensure that these are provided as per the need of the patient had to be provided by the hospital. The hospital followed the policy of supplying the equipment for a period of three weeks to each patient, and this is more than efficient as the process of rehabilitation for a neurological patient is no longer than four weeks (Porter and Van der Linde, 1995; pp 97-118). Another important strategic change that was had to be implemented was that there had to be provided by the hospital the means of transportation of the equipment as well as of the professionals, so as to ensure that they were able to be accessed by the patients as per their requirements and needs. This was an important change as these were not required earlier and had to be developed to ensure that the whole program was able to function effectively. The whole program required the employment of professionals and equipment so as to ensure that the supplies of the hospital are not impinged upon by the requirements of the program and that they were able to function efficiently at both levels. Participants: There are various participants that helped ensure that the program ran effectively. In fact the success of the program was impingent on the professionals that were required and without their input it would have been impossible to have carried out the program in an economic manner to fulfil the objectives of the program (Reznitskaya, A, Anderson, R.C, Kuo L, 2007; pp 449-472). The program, as already mentioned made use of a number of professionals who had to travel to the household of the patient to ensure that the rehabilitation process was conducted in an effective manner. The program included the services of the social worker who looked into the needs of the patients and gave them support and company when required, the physiotherapist and the occupational therapist who helped ensure that they assisted the patients over come any problems that he or she may be facing in the post surgery period and helped them adapt back into their daily routine. The participation of the exercise physiologist and an assistant health support is also required to help ensure that during the program the patient is able to develop a health lifestyle in keeping with his or her capabilities so that he or she can maintain a healthy lifestyle in the long run. Other than this the program also required the assistance of a physician and a nurse in case the patient requires medication or has wounds that need dressing. The participation of professionals who would transport the patients and the various professionals to various destinations is also important to ensure that the whole process of rehabilitation at home was run smoothly without facing any bottlenecks (Kaushik K.D., & Cooper, M 2000; pp 65-83). Sequence of events: The program that was launched looked at the needs of the various patients and in accordance to these needs individualistic programs were set up. The patients after the receiving the medical care at the Jhone hospital, retired to their homes for rehabilitation. This held true only in the cases of those patients who were mentally stable, had sufficient memory and could be motivated to rehabilitate at their homes (Burnett, J.J 1987, pp 475-488). They were usually accompanied by a professional to help ensure that the transition was conducted easily. In the following three weeks the patients have regular visits from the professionals that they required which included the physiotherapist to help ensure that they were able to adapt to their environment. In case of any assistance they were visited by social workers and had a daily session with the exercise physiologist and an assistant health support to ensure that during the program the patient can start functioning in a self efficient manner. In case the patient has wounds that require dressing or have to take medication, the program provides for the assistance of a nurse, and regular visits from a physician (Riordan JM 1998; pp 137-143). The rehabilitation process is a four week long process where the progresses of the patients are recorded on a periodic basis, and at the end of these four weeks the patients are able to resume their normal lives. Outcomes: The program that was launched was highly successful as it helped the patients rehabilitate in their familiar surroundings and was therefore more effective than them rehabilitating at the hospital. It was also very effectively managed by the managers who ensured that the schedules of the professionals were coordinated with regards to each other and the patients so that there was no over lapping. Thus, the program was able to fulfil the objectives that it aimed to achieve. Yet there were certain challenges that were faced, or that can come up in the future practise that have been addressed in the following section of the paper. Challenges to the system and solution: In the following section of the paper there shall be conducted a detailed discussion on the various problems and challenges that were faced after the program had been launched. One of the most important challenges that will have to be overcome is the problem of personnel functioning and the regulation of the patients in their homes. This is important as, there were observed that not all patients got the assistance that they required, and at times the professionals came in late. This challenge can be most easily over come through periodic check ups, where the functioning of the professionals is reviewed and according to these promotions or demotions can be handed out. This is an important role that has to be carried out by the management to ensure that there is maintenance of working standards while conducting the programs. These can be conducted by the senior managers of the Jhon hospital (O'Sullivan, E 2003; pp 326-330). Another important challenge that was faced by the managing staff was that of the supply of the equipment. The strategy that is followed by the program calls for the supply of the equipment for three weeks while the process of rehabilitation is a month long. Usually the need for the aid of equipment is done away with by the end of three weeks but in case that this problem persists, then the period of equipment provided will have to be extended. This can lead to shortages of supply, and therefore there has to be ensured that there is in place a system that allows for back up equipment and machinery that can be utilised in such cases. These also have to be maintained in case there are any problems with the equipment that is being utilised, and if they have to be replaced. The managers also have to regulate the functioning of the trainees, which can be done through periodic checking on their working habits where there can be visits to the homes of patients and they can be questioned on the behaviour of the employees. This is important as the program calls for the employment of new personnel as the demand for professionals in the program are high. If the trainees are not aware of their functioning and fail to adhere to the rules and regulations of Jhone Hospital, then there can be complains faced from the patients. The fact that all the patients are extremely sensitive to the changes around them have to be kept in mind. The effects of Nero surgery may also manifest itself with a little time, and due to this changes that have to be bought about in the lives of the patient will also have to be closely regulated, as at home the restrictions of clinical rehabilitation are missing (Hamilton A, 2004; pp 71-113). The programs are usually a month long and there can be problems of health also that may develop, and there may be required assistance. This challenge can be faced through the development of an emergency program where the services can be called upon in case of there are any medical emergencies experienced once the patients have been shifted to their homes. With time, there will also be technological changes that will come about, and thus there has to be ensured by the management team that the system that is developed is not highly rigid but can accommodate these changes. This will allow the system to become more flexible and thus better equipped to deal with any medical emergencies or needs of the patients in a more effective and economic manner. Thus, the management team has to be ready to deal with any challenges that may crop up with time, and these can be resolved through utilisation of various management practises, as have been illustrated in the section above, where some of such challenges have been enlisted and discussed. Conclusion: The paper looks at the new program that has been launched at the Jhone Hospital in the Nero wing, and traces the various strategic changes that have been bought about in the process to achieve the various aims of the program. The functioning and execution of the program is traced along with the various challenges that have been faced or which may be faced in the future while executing the program. Reference: 1. Australian Health Review, accessed at http://www.aushealthreview.com.au/publications/articles/authors.asp#casestudy on June 2010-06-29. 2. Barab, S., Dodge, T. Thomas, M.K., Jackson, C. & Tuzun, and H. 2007: Our designs and the social agendas they carry. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 16(2), 263-305 3. Boudreaux, M 1984: Prepare for Your Future in Marketing, Your Interviews, and Something 'Extra', Student Edition Marketing News (2): 3–4 March 1984 4. Burnett, J.J 1987: Strategic Approach to Managing Crises, Public Relations Review, 1998. 24(4): p. 475-488. 5. Corden, R.E. 2001: Group discussion and the importance of a shared perspective: Learning from collaborative research. Journal of Qualitative Research, 1(3), 347-367. 6. Hamilton A 2004: Handbook of project management procedures: Implementing Strategic Changes Economically, TLT Publishing, pp 71-113. 7. Kaushik K.D., & Cooper, M 2000: Industrial Marketing Management, Vol 29, No 1, pp 65-83. 8. O'Sullivan, E 2003: Bringing a perspective of transformative learning to globalised consumption, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27 (4), 326–330 9. Porter and Van der Linde, 1995: Toward a new conception of the environment-competitiveness relationship, Journal of Economic Perspective, Vol 9, No 4, pp 97-118 10. Reznitskaya, A, Anderson, R.C, Kuo L, 2007: Teaching and learning argumentation, The Elementary School Journal, 107(5), 449-472 11. Riordan JM 1998: An evaluation of an augmented domiciliary service to older people with dementia and their caters, Aging and Mental Health, Vol 2(2), pp 137-143 12. Wanda RE 1996: The Contributions of Social Constructivism in Political Studies, accessed at http://www.analyst network.com/articles/190/ThecontributionsofSocialConstructivisminPoliticalScience.pd on June 2010-06-29 Read More