Briefing Note

Briefing Note
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Institution
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An increase in the number of service pressure resulting from fiscal pressure, population growth and aging has been a great a challenge to the Unionville General Hospital (UGH). This has prompted its management to consider new strategies and options that will offer a lasting solution to these problems. There has been a shortage of facilities such as enough operating room time and clinic time for efficient service delivery by the physicians to their patients. Initial efforts by the UGH Board of Directors to establish a multi-year Hospital Accountability Agreement with the LHIN did not offer a worthwhile solution. It is always wise to come up with solutions that will impact any health organization in a way that benefits all the stakeholders, but more importantly the patients (Coddington et al., 2001).
The only promising solution to the problems facing the UGH is the adoption of the integrated health system. Besides, its proximity to the other health centers offering similar services seems to favor it adequately. Nevertheless, a mutual agreement and a deal have to be reached at, given the expected resistance from the neighboring hospitals. The success of achieving an integrated health system will depend entirely on the strategy and options chosen to run the entire program (Linenkugel, 2001). Various strategies and options are available for the management of an integrated health system; however, not all are applicable to all the circumstances. From the challenges at the UGH, the most suitable option would be the ideal health system.
The ideal health system focuses primarily on service delivery to the patients. While focusing on the individual and the community needs, all the resources, experiences and capabilities are directed to the population’s health needs and health objectives. The success of a health care organization is dependent on the considerations given to the patients by the organization (Coddington et al., 2001). All the activities that guide the scheduling and the organization of information, that are essential in restructuring the process of a health institution to achieve efficient health delivery and patient’s satisfaction, should be based on the population needs.
The population needs are ever dynamic and, therefore, there is a need for sensitivity as a response from the service providers (Roberts, 1996). The ideal health system also focuses on quality besides the integration that includes vertical, horizontal, clinical and functional integration. Additionally, this option also entails inclusion of the patient’s input in decision making, an appropriate move in offering prospect for patient’s participation (Hunter, 1999). This strategy further intends to reveal the knowledge of how patients utilize the services of all the existing health institutions (Rogers and Sheaff, 2000).
The location of the three hospitals and the similarity in the services they offer is enough reason for the success of their integration. Firstly, the patients would be able to access the services at their convenient health centre and at the right time. This in turn offers an easy way through which the population navigates the various heal...