Issues Hospitals Face

Issues Hospitals Face

Hospitals deal with a vast array of issues and challenges every day. Among the many issues BHCA can help hospital management teams deal with are the following:

·     Does the Hospital have a mission?  A reason to exist?

·       Does the Hospital have an organizational structure?

·       Are all the key positions filled?

·        Do key staff members know their jobs? Are they qualified?

·        Is there a clear management philosophy in place?

·        Are there managerial systems in place?

·        Are managerial systems reviewed on a regular basis?

·        Is there a management information system in place?

·        Does the Hospital know who its primary customers are?

·        Does the Hospital know what these customers want?

·        Are the Customers happy?

·        Is there a customer satisfaction program in place?

·        Is the customer satisfaction program effective?

·        Does the Hospital know its competition?

·         Does the Hospital know its competitive advantages/disadvantages?

·        Does the Hospital have a planning process?

·        Is the planning process effective?

·        Does the Hospital have enough Doctors?

·        Are the Doctors qualified?

·        Are the Doctors organized?

·        Do the Doctors cover all needed services?

·        Are the Doctors happy?

·        Is there a peer review system in place?

·        Is there a credentials and qualifications function in place?

·        Does the Hospital have enough nurses?

·        Are they qualified? Are they content?

·        Are they organized to deliver effective care?

·        Is their orientation sufficient?

·        Are review systems in place for nursing care?

·        Does the Hospital have enough other staff?

·        Are they qualified? Are they content?

·        Are there systems in place to recruit new staff?

·        Is staff turnover too high? Too low?

·        Is there a staff education program in place?

·        Is there an employee handbook?

·        Are personnel policies clear and fair?

·        Is there a staff welfare committee?

·        Is there a staff recognition system?

·        Are there ways to deal with employee grievances?

·        Is staff compensation fair and equitable?

·        Is the Hospital clean?

·        Is the food hot when served?

·        Is the Hospital cool enough but not too cold?

·        Is the Hospital warm enough but not too hot?

·        Is the Hospital safe?

·        Does the fire alarm system work?

·        Is it tested on a regular basis?

·        Do staff members know what to do when it rings?

·        Is there a disaster response program in place?

·        Are patient valuables secured?

·        Is there an infection control program?

·        Are there adequate supplies on the nursing units?

·        Are stocks replenished on a regular basis?

·        Are incidents reports used?

·        Are medication error reports used?

·        Are medications administered only by qualified staff?

·        Is there enough equipment?

·        Is equipment maintained in good working order?

·        Is there an effective purchasing system?

·        Is there a preferred vendor program?

·        Does the Hospital get the best value in its purchases?

·        Is there a product evaluation system?

·        Does the Hospital have a budget?

·        Is it produced through an orderly process?

·        Is it based on operational assessments and objectives?

·        Does it generate a fair return to the owners?

·        Does it provide for adequate capital equipment purchases?

·        Does it contain fair and competitive pricing?

·        Are fiscal controls in place at all levels?

·        Are patient bills created on a timely basis?

·        Are receivables not excessive?

·        Are vendor invoices paid on a timely basis?

·        Are audit checks in place for all financial systems?

·        Is the Hospital audited by outside auditors regularly?

·        Does the Hospital have retained legal counsel?

·        Does legal counsel regularly review all contracts?

·        Is retained legal counsel familiar with healthcare legal issues?

·         Are potentially damaging legal questions identified early?

·        Are they handled aggressively?

·        Is the Hospital kept informed of legal updates and developments?

·        Does the Hospital have adequate insurance?

·        Is it reviewed on a regular basis?

·        Are the underwriters familiar with healthcare coverage?

·        Do they provide adequate responses to claims?

·        Does the Hospital have a marketing program?

·        Does it have specific objectives?

·        Is it meeting those objectives?

·        Is it evaluated and updated on a regular basis?

·        Does the Hospital have a quality assurance program?

·        Does it apply to all departments?

·        Is there an Infection Control function?

·        Is there a Pharmacy and Therapeutic function?

·        Are all surgical tissue reviewed by a pathologist?

·        Is there a Risk Management function?

·        Are patient Medical Records available in a timely fashion?

·        Are medical records organized in an effective manner?

·        Are medical records legible?

·        Are medical records completed in a timely manner?

·        Are the Hospital’s operating theaters utilized effectively?

·        Are all diagnostic services provided in a timely manner?

·        Are patient transport systems effective?

·        Etc., Etc,

An extremely long list; Actually, it only highlights some of the more prominent issues hospital management teams should be dealing with constantly.

BHCA has dealt with all of these issues and more and can help a hospital team take a measure of how they are coping with any of these issues. We also advise Hospital Boards how their management teams can best organize to deal with such issues.