STRATEGIES:Creatingahospitalstrategy:suggestionsandguidelineslnthehealthservicecontext,strategycanbedefinedasanintegratedsetofactionsaimedatincreasingthelongtermwellbeingandstrengthofhospitalsrelativetotheirenvironmentsandgoals(http://www.bcsnsg.org.uk/itin09/mumf1.htm)Hospitalstrategyputssharperfocusoncaremanagementinsteadofcostreductionneeds:Healthprovidersandmanagedcareorganisationsprefertoinvestmoreresourcesincasemanagement,inpatientprotocols,communityeducationandotherrelateditems,becausetheybelievealltheseelementsofcaremanagementprovideahigherpotentialforsavingcostswhileatthesametimeoptimisingthequalityofhealthcareTheyarepayingattentiontocaremanagement,informationsystemsandoutcomesimprovementHospitalclientsconsidertherelationshipbetweencostandqualityofservicestobehardlyrelevantasadifferentiatingfactoramonghealthcarefacilities(http://www.hoise.com/vmw/articles/LV-VM-05-98-11.html)Irishstrategy:Settinganewvision:oAhealthsystemthatsupportsandempowersyou,yourfamilyandcommunitytoachieveyourfullhealthpotentialoAhealthsystemthatistherewhenyouneedit,thatisfair,andthatyoucantrustoAhealthsystemthatencouragesyoutohaveyoursay,listenstoyou,andensuresthatyourviewsaretakenintoaccount.(http://www.doh.ie/hstrat/introd.html)2000-2001hospitalstrategy:backtotraditionalstrategies:-focusonstrategiesforsuccessinabroadprovidernetwork,moderateriskenvironment-resourcesfreed-upasintegrationisde-emphasizedandunprofitablebusinessshed-addinginpatientandoutpatientservicesattractivetospecialistsandpatients(http://www.hschange.org/CONTENT/394/Devers.pdf)DisseminationstrategywiththePublicHospitalPatientCharterprovidesanavenuetopromotethemessagestopatients,clinicians,medicalandotherhospitalstaffofpatients'rightsandresponsibilities.Disseminationmethods:ohospitalimplementation:promoteslocalownershipofthemessagesunderpinningtheCharter…odisseminationwithinthehospital:posters,tapes…ohospitalstaffinvolvement:awarenesstraining,educationsessions…oconsumerinvolvement:conveyingtheprinciplesoftheChartertoconsumers(http://patientcharter.health.vic.gov.au/dis.htm)EXAMPLES:BedfordHospitalNHSTrust:astrategyfor1999-20004:ContinuetodevelopBedfordHospitaltoprovidethehighestqualityofcaretothepeoplewhousethehospitalanditsservices.WorkactivelyinpartnershipwithotherNHSandnon-NHSorganisationsandthelocalcommunitytoreducetheinequalitiesinhealthandachieveequalityofaccesstohealthcareforlocalpeopleAchievecontinuousimprovementinemploymentpracticesandbeagoodemployerrecruitingandmaintainingawelltrainedandmotivatedworkforce.ProvideanenvironmentwithinandaroundthehospitalwhichispleasantaccessiblesafewellmaintainedcosteffectiveandsustainableMaintainstrongcorporategovernancewithintheHospitalandensurefinancialsecuritywithinthecontextofserviceagreementssecuredwithPrimaryCareGroups(http://www.bedhos.anglox.nhs.uk/aboutus/strategy.htm)Hospitalstrategyofferssomethingforeveryone(Australian):ThetwomostpopularaspectsofLabor’splan:oToslashsurgerywaitingtimesoTomoveelderlypeoplewhoarewaitingforanursinghomebedoutofhospitaloToboostpost-natalcareservicesfornewbornbabiesandtheirparents(http://www.theage.com.au/news/state/2001/10/22/FFXLIYPQ1TC.html)Anewbusinessofhealthcaredelivery:PittsburghRegionalHealthcareInitiativeisexperimentingwithoneofthemostsuccessfulbusinessimprovementmodelsintheworld—theToyotaProductionSystem(TPS).Teamsofworkerscreateanin-hospitalenvironmentwhereitissafetoexamine,learnfrom,andimprovetheprocessesofpatientcare.Theysharedataandlearnwaystocontinuallyimprovecare,onepatientatatime,usingspecified,scientificmethods(http://www.smc.org/Fpage/0107healt.htm)
