Assignment

1) Discuss at least two implications of health care reform on the health care organization's goals and strategic plan. How will processes and operations need to be adjusted to meet the requirements of health care reform legislation?

2) Evaluate the "Comprehensive Organizational Plan" presented by Oetjen and Rotarius. Is this model suitable for any type of health care organization? Discuss the implications of the model on the ability of health care managers to contain cost, preserve quality, and promote universal access.

3) Compare and contrast at least two methods of assessing health care organizations' operational needs and explain how they differ based upon a particular health care setting.

4) What is the purpose of a balanced scorecard? How is the balanced scorecard used to lead and manage an organization? How can the balanced scorecard be linked to organizational effectiveness as well as individual performance evaluation?

5) Describe the effect of higher levels of medical spending, profitability, and fiscal margins on process quality for health care organizations. Indicate the role of financial stability in health care organizations on their ability to adequately resource the staffing, equipment, and infrastructure that support care delivery. Specifically, what is the effect of financial flexibility in increased use of preventative and wellness measures and lower length of stay?

6) Discuss Pettigrew's theory on the contextual dependency of strategic change. Explain the concept of the disciplining context and why medical professionals accepted and used it. Also, explain why the internal market system, which was implemented to solve financial problems, was abandoned.