Journal: External Forces
Huntington hospital faces various external forces that affect its operations. First, government regulations on aspects such as Medicaid and electronic health records management continue to evolve. For example, the hospital is implementing a new HER system, which will need to follow the recommended privacy guidelines. Secondly, technological changes both in administrative and disease management/treatment realms put the hospital under pressure to continuously adapt to the latest industry standards, as seen with the upgrading of the EHR system. Thirdly, vendors such as Cerner Corporation, which provides the hospital’s electronic health records system, affect multiple processes across the hospital. Other external forces include competition from new entrants as well as existing hospitals and complimentary.
On the hospital’s strengths, Jim Noble has hired Markley, who has been successful in similar positions. The employees are enthusiastic about her arrival and are willing to buy into her ideas, for example, the introduction of suggestion boxes and hiring consultants to assist in the implementation of the new system. The hospital is already known for providing quality care; hence, the got-to-market track record is favorable. Therefore, it is in a position to tackle both existing and new competition. The organization’s staff e.g., Kalanjian and Craft, have high levels of creativity and are willing to contribute ideas for the betterment of the business. The management can ride on this current pool to spearhead growth. Furthermore, the hospital has a fast mover advantage, for example, in adopting electronic health records management, which enhances its competitive position.
In formulating the organization’s strategic plan, the organization should anticipate changes in government regulations that may affect industry regulations. To tackle this problem, the hospital can utilize its fast mover advantage to ensure that it stays ahead of the government in adhering to rules. Huntington hospital should consider the impact of competitive forces on the survival of its business. The management should use the hospital’s strong go-to-market track record to cement relationships with new and old customers by selling its superior services.
Reference
Stanford Business School. (2015). Huntington Hospital (A): Empowering Staff- Case Study