Let It Pour Case Study

Running head: LET IT POUR CASE STUDY

Let it Pour Case Study

MGT 350

Vicki Van Horn

June 8, 2005

Let it Pour Case Study

Today is Chris' first day as Executive Assistant, at Faith Community Hospital. Although the sky is grey and it's pouring outside, it seems that his spirits can't be brought down. That is, until he gets called in to meet with his new boss. Then, the reality of his new profession begins to weigh down on his shoulders. His boss, Pat begins to explain to Chris how the hospital is facing many challenges. Pat would like to hold a board meeting within the next two weeks to address these issues and would like for Chris to come up with the direction that the meeting should take.

Frame the Right Problem

In this case study there are many issues that can be addressed. One would be that medical errors cause death. Medical errors causing death could lead to other problems. With rising costs and fewer patients to fill the beds, the hospital would have to close its doors. These are major problems and concerns that would affect patients and medical professionals alike.

Describe the End State and Goals

Ideally there would be no mishaps within the hospital however; the reality is that thousands of deaths each year are due to medical errors. The goal of Faith Community would be to get all employees in the same mind set. Regardless of their personal beliefs employees of Faith Community Hospital need to follow a standard code of conduct. If a patient refuses services, an employee should not be allowed to administer the treatment. Likewise, if a patient wants a particular service they should be able to receive it, if not from the treating physician (for whatever reason), then from someone else who is authorized to perform the service. For pharmacists who are filling prescriptions to uninsured patients, they should have a guidelines set, so that payment will be made in a timely and equal manner by all participating patients. For counselors treating patients through pro bono work, so as not to take away from other obligations that they may have within the hospital, they should try to promote this work to the media. Therefore the media can endorse the hospital for their good work within the community. Faith strives to care for each patient equally whether they have heath insurance or not, and to do everything in there power to follow the patients and families requests.

Identify Alternatives

One alternative would be, to not treat patients who do not have health insurance. Another alternative would be that the hospital staff would not follow the patient's wishes, and do whatever they though to be correct, depending on their personal values. Still another alternative could be that the hospitals employees would be authorized to do what they thought were best in critical medical situations regardless of the family's wishes.

Evaluate Alternatives

If these alternatives were put into effect the hospital could face a multitude of problems. First, by choosing to not deal with patients who do not have health insurance the hospital would be limiting their business. There are many patients who are not covered by insurance, but can still pay for their medical expenses. Then you have the patients who do not have insurance, do not have the money to pay in full for their expenses, but can however afford to make payments. It may be useful for the hospital to come up with some kind of program to allow for such patients. Second, by not following the patients or families wishes, the hospital could be faced with several lawsuits. Some could possibly result in the hospital paying out multiple of millions of dollars. With these settlements being paid out and the hospital gaining a horrible reputation in legal battles, it may even lead to the foreclosure of Faith Community Hospital.

Make the decision

Faith Community should create a standard policy that is to be utilized throughout hospital. All health care facilitators would be required to sign this policy in order to work with patients. This would then make the employees legally responsible for their actions whether they morally agreed with