Question

Discuss the purpose of strategic planning in a health care environment. Explain what factors affect future planning in an organization and what tools can be used for future planning.

Answer 1

Strategic planning according to the changes made is more appropriate, both go hand in hand. For example, the increased number of population and demands of health care need the strategic implementation of new technology such as using electronic systems for saving the data.

Similarly, the emergence of new infectious diseases needs the strategic implementation of preventive measures such as vaccination. Though the changes and strategic plans in the health care system are expensive, they must be included according to the need. Appropriate implementation and organization are needed for successful results, otherwise, the changes may lead to system failure. Making changes without planning always leads to failure of the system.

Tools for strategic planning;

One example of strategic planning failure is, revising the previous year's policies when starting a fresh year. This occurs because, revising the previous policies ultimately results in implementing the same policies with changes, which hinders the chances of implementing the new policies according to the customer's requirement. In this case, the failure is not a result of poor implementation, but it is due to poor planning.

Along with identifying and changing the previous year's policies, implementing the new policies is also important. All employees must be encouraged to present new ideas. The following are helpful tools for strategic planning:

• Work culture in the company
• Setting the appropriate goals and objectives
• Operating Budgeting and capital planning
• Service line decisions
• Long Range Forecasting and risk management