Having a strategic vision for a hospital is of no use unless it is supported by a focused plan and a management ready to make it work. But, there are generic factors that impede the success of strategic change, barriers that can be lessened, if not eliminated, with structure. In ...

When an employee goes over the manager's head to the manager's superior, a high degree of anxiety is often created for all three persons involved. The manager's ability carefully to assess the situation, to evaluate the dynamics present, and to respond deliberatively will be crucial to his or her effectiveness ...

Financial managers faced with the task of recommending whether diversified services should be dissolved or continued need a logical means of analysis. Their evaluations should consider not only the venture's financial results but concerns specific to the hospital and its market, as well as related social and legal issues. Failure ...

All managers plan, but many managers of small organizations limit their planning activities to developing and guiding discrete projects. This decision stems from two erroneous assumptions: strategic planning is useful only in large organizations, and it is too complex for a small organization. As a result, these managers deprive their ...

Most industries, including hospitals, understand that recognizing employees for doing a good job helps increase their productivity and job satisfaction. And that is no doubt why they do it. But is it ethical? Is it all right to give someone a deserving pat on the back if the pat on ...

This paper provides a framework for evaluating healthcare software from a usability perspective. The framework is based on a review of both the healthcare software literature and the general literature on software usability and evaluation. The need for such a framework arises from the proliferation of software packages in the ...

"Just in time," a Japanese management philosophy that has been applied successfully in manufacturing operations, also can be used to improve management of patient accounts departments. Under its principles, healthcare organizations would develop standardized procedures; involve workers in decision making; set up training and education programs aimed at creating a ...

Organizations that encourage individual abilities and hold employees accountable for achieving goals are more likely to succeed. Groups that take an empowerment approach to management prefer action in place of further study; decisions made by subordinates rather than managers; personal responsibility instead of strict rules; and specific rewards for achievement, ...

Planning for the development, implementation, or redirection of new or existing clinical pharmacy services necessitates that several key issues be addressed. Managers must submit to critical subjective and objective evaluation of their departmental practices as a first step to the development of a strategic plan to meet goals for pharmacy ...

The satisfaction derived from one's job has implications for both employee and organization. This study examined the effect of five facets of the job on the overall job satisfaction of radiology department managers. Results indicated that work (tasks) performed and supervision received significantly contributed to managers' perception of their overall ...

This case reports a major shift in growth orientation pursued by a multi-institutional system--systemwide product line management. Competitive response to one environmental disruption led to the initiation of a year-long study to re-evaluate the corporation's mission, goals, strategies, growth and action orientations and organizational structure in light of the dramatic ...

A case-mix management system relies on the skills of physicians, nurses, and financial managers to devise cost effective treatment plans and product line initiatives. By merging financial and clinical data, one hospital used the approach to identify practice patterns that were inflating expenses. Its case-mix management program--which consists of presenting ...

This discussion has focused on a number of areas where organizations may find opportunities for more effectively managing employee retention. Given the multitude of causes and consequences, there is no one quick fix. Effective management of employee retention requires assessment of the entire human resources process, that is, recruitment, selection, ...

HFMA's professional certification process offers members a way to demonstrate their expertise in patient accounts management or healthcare financial management. Marsha L. Morien, FHFMA, CMPA, is chairman of HFMA's Board of Examiners, the group that oversees the certification activities. In the following interview, Morien explains the steps in the process ...

The thrift institution deposit insurance mess is rooted in defects in political and bureaucratic accountability. Under existing incentives, covering up evidence of poor regulatory performance and relaxing binding capital requirements are rational governmental responses to widespread industry insolvency. Similarly, aggressive industry risk taking is a rational response by thrift managers ...

Despite lingering challenges of the 1980s, healthcare financial managers will face a future largely of their own making in the new decade. Coming to terms with dwindling resources and other industry problems will require financial vision and expanded leadership skills, according to a panel of HFMA leaders. They considered the ...

The effectiveness of the material management department and of the hospital depends upon the effective utilization of human resources. As a manager of people, as well as dollars and space, it is important to realize that significant results cannot be accomplished solely by power, prestige and authority. Real power is ...

In effect, OR managers are teachers. We have an important responsibility to create climates where employees can reach their potentials. We must talk with our employees, encouraging them and recognizing their accomplishments and good work. Don't be afraid to set high expectations. Imagine that all of your employees are "high-potential" ...

A crisis can hit any business. It can hurt cash flow, productivity, the public's faith, and the company's image. The adverse effects come in two major areas: public image and cash flow, both of which can be devastating. Lack of planning ensures maximum pain and the greatest chance of future ...

Healthcare managers have devoted increasing attention to product line management in the face of growing competition. The general belief has been that although product line management and the contribution approach (internal financial reporting and analysis that distinguish between variable and fixed expenses and include the contribution margin) help enhance profitability ...

If physician executives are to cope with the environmental turbulence and uncertainty facing their organizations, they must effectively manage their "stakeholders." The stakeholder approach helps integrate managerial concerns that are frequently treated separately, such as strategic management, marketing, human resource management, "organizational politics," and social responsibility. The stakeholder perspective enables ...

In summary, to hold absenteeism to the lowest practical level: Watch attendance closely, and let your employees know you are watching; keep accurate attendance records, and again let your employees know you do so; talk with and otherwise counsel individual offenders; and apply your organization's policy faithfully, fairly, and consistently.

Healthcare organizations must actively manage tax-exempt bond proceeds after they are initially invested at the time of financing or refinancing. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes serious penalties on issuers who fail to comply with its complex requirements. An active program of bond proceeds management enables organizations to avoid ...

Innovative, consumer-oriented pricing strategies have contributed to the impressive growth of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). In a national study of HMO marketing directors, the relationships between strategic management style and (1) the relative importance of pricing in competitive marketing strategy, (2) the effectiveness of price strategy planning, and (3) financial ...

In order to run a small business effectively you must be in financial control and this means that you have to be aware how the business is performing. If you wait until your accountant has got out the annual accounts valuable time has been wasted in making necessary decisions and ...

With today's technologist shortage, it is crucial that managers use every tool at their disposal to keep experienced employees. In this article, Ms. Rowe and Mr. McGraner cite a strategy for improving technologists' productivity, providing specific examples from their organization, Methodist Hospitals of Memphis. Better people skills can make a ...

A manager who has interpersonal warmth is not simply gullible or naive, but instead possesses a valuable skill in reaching others. In most manager-employee relationships, some degree of limit-setting and judgment are necessary; however, warmth integrated with limit-setting is more satisfying for both employee and manager. Although warmth as an ...

Without financial planning, healthcare administrators have no way of knowing if their strategies are realistic. Strategic and financial planning must work together at every level of healthcare management, from organization-wide efforts to individual programs. Administrators can use such techniques as product line management, flexible budgeting, and portfolio management to incorporate ...

A well-used concept in business, the Critical Success Factor (CSF) is just beginning to be applied to healthcare organizations. This article discusses the utility of the CSF approach to the management of health services, explains how senior healthcare executives can use it to consider, define and direct the planning needs ...

To prevent the accumulation of accounts in the "greater than 120 days" category, receivable management strategies must be revised. The keys to managing receivables in the current healthcare environment have been presented. With the healthcare industry likely to remain credit-oriented, those organizations that effectively manage receivables and minimize their cost ...

While many aspects of bookkeeping may seem tiresome and time consuming it is the essential key to running an efficient business through proper financial management. The secret to good bookkeeping is to keep it up to date on a daily basis. A further article will look at how these figures ...

Nurse managers who confront employees in an appropriate manner leave no doubt about their expectations. They demand excellent and consistent performance and do not settle for less. A manager who uses confrontation shows that he or she cares enough about the employee to challenge poor performance. When the manager confronts ...

This paper focuses on the creation of the IAIMS workstation in the context of the outcomes of a year-long IAIMS strategic planning process at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (JHMI). These outcomes include a long-term institutional vision for a functional knowledge management environment, a JHMI IAIMS model, a strategic plan, ...

Financial managers can substantially improve their hospital's return on investment. But to ensure an increased return, a disciplined, step-by-step approach to making investment decisions should be used. By understanding liabilities, setting objectives and strategies, and monitoring results, financial managers can be assured that they are making sound business decisions.

Skill in managing immature employees is seldom learned in nursing management classes and is usually developed as a result of difficult experiences. A technique in which limits are set is most effective. As with other difficult management situations, the manager cannot expect immediate rewards. The immature employee who has trouble ...

The strategic plan of most healthcare organizations provides for monitoring of effectiveness on the departmental level. This effectiveness is based upon increased profitability, increased workload and consumer satisfaction. By monitoring workload volumes and seasonal variations of volumes; understanding the demand for services; understanding of physician perceptions and attitudes; and the ...

More competition for finite resources and increasing regulation have led many hospitals to consider a strategic reorganization. Recently, one common reorganization strategy has been"product line management." Product line management can be broadly defined in terms of centralized program management, planning, and marketing strategies. In Canada, while strategic driving forces may ...

Financial managers are constantly faced with the pressures of running a cost efficient organization, and must look for new and innovative ways to reduce costs and generate revenue. Telecommunications can provide the financial manager with opportunities to save money and produce income. Ideas such as disposable or dispensible telephones, call ...

Financial managers are playing an increasingly important role in the negotiation of hospital service contracts with vendors. However, many legal issues and provisions should be considered when negotiating these contracts. Financial managers will find that they will be able to negotiate much more effectively when they have a better understanding ...

As financial managers run healthcare institutions like a business, the idea of investing excess or reserved funds as a method of increasing cash flow is becoming more accepted. Often times, though, a review of the basics of investment management is needed. By reviewing various methods such as yield curve analysis, ...

The acquisition and divestiture of organizational business units demonstrate management's strategy in response to an evolving marketplace. From a strategic perspective, the most significant danger to a corporation is not having the "right" portfolio of businesses or products to respond to the marketplace. This article describes a conceptual model that ...

In today's complicated financial world, sophisticated cash management is becoming the norm for most larger healthcare facilities. But what is relegated to the back burner is sound investment of endowment, corporate surplus, pension, or deferred compensation funds. For help with this, facilities need a financial specialist, the money manager. A ...

Have you ever wondered why some colleagues or subordinates are outstanding in their work while others are less so? Training and experience are extremely important factors but, by themselves, they will not ensure outstanding performance. The pivotal factor that activates all others is motivation. And underlying motivation is the fact ...

Health care executives and planners struggling to improve their organizations' ability to cope with the pace of change in today's hospital environment are advised to consider the concepts and practices of strategic management. This approach has been prescribed in other industries as a remedy to the failure of the strategic ...

Incentive compensation, which has become commonplace in highly competitive industries, is gradually being introduced in health care settings. Although it has not been used extensively in not-for-profit hospitals, its advantages make it a natural tool for administrators who want to retain their best managers and to achieve important special objectives. ...

Three dominant models of product line management are emerging in the healthcare industry today--market management, distribution management, and strategic business unit management. These models offer unique benefits for the healthcare organization. It is important to use the model that best fits the needs of the institution. Therefore, an analytical framework ...

The objectives of this survey were to determine which texts were used to teach financial management to pharmacy students, to gather instructors' evaluations of the texts, and to determine which financial management topics were most often covered in pharmacy courses. Data for the study were collected via a mail questionnaire ...

The changing nature of funding for mental health services has necessitated an increased command of financial management by providers of those services. When services were largely funded by government units, financial management could focus mainly on stewardship concerns. However, in the current environment of competition and mixed governmental and nongovernmental ...

Increased competition, changes in reimbursement methodologies, regulation, and tightening of the capital markets have changed the way managers think about healthcare management. Healthcare organizations can no longer survive by taking a passive or reactive approach to the delivery of health care. Managers are feeling increasing pressure to run their organizations ...

The role of the healthcare employee in the decision-making process is greatly influenced by our industry's human resource departments. At the Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, in Memphis, Tennessee, the shift is toward participative decision-making. This article discusses the implementation of this new philosophy and discusses why this style of management ...