Question: 1. The surrounding community of Hospital A has just experienced a debilitating ice storm, with loss of power expected for the next five to seven days. Employees at Hospital A are showing up for work, but they are not alone: Some single parents have brought their children and some have carried along their pets. Still others have come in or have stayed after their shift to have a warm place to be. How could Hospital A accommodate these groups? If the hospital does not accommodate them, how will it handle or make up for the resulting staff shortage? What steps can Hospital A take in the future to plan for this type of expectation? Look for "winwin" solutions to this challenge.
2. Many of the maintenance staff (who are mostly male) at Hospital B are experiencing back injuries that have caused a shortage of technicians on any given shift. Hospital B recently began staff cutbacks, scheduling no male aids who are trained to assist with patient transfers. What correlations are there between the back injuries and staff cutbacks? What steps can Hospital B take to resolve both issues?
3. Hospital C has made the decision to create a facility emergency plan. Management is considering three options to pursue this decision:
(1) have the hospital's safety officer write the plan,
(2) form a planning committee to develop the plan, or
(3) bring in an experienced contractor to create the plan. Discuss the pros and cons of each option.
4. Hospital D has added a new process to its operations. The hospital has an excellent health and safety record, but its safety officer has just retired. Three weeks after the new process is implemented, employees began complaining of stiff joints, headaches, and tiredness. The timing of such complaints is coinciding with the active flu season. How does Hospital D differentiate between the two possible causes of the symptoms? Is the hospital obligated to pay medical costs associated with any testing? What questions should management ask, and how would management measure the results of its analysis?