Question

, a 200 bed acute care facility in a community of less than 300,000 people, has taken the first steps in applying for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award for health care. It has gone through much of the self-assessment process but the hospital’s board members are split on whether to continue to commit resources to the effort. One board member feels strongly that the hospital not pursue the Baldrige Award and commit its resources elsewhere. Another board member believes the self-assessment should be completed to determine if the hospital reaps any short run benefits from the process. A third board member thinks the hospital should submit an application to see what can be learned from an examiner's visit. The hospital is the sole provider for the community; reports quality measures to CMS; and has been slow to adopt any sophisticated health information technology. what would be a response to Board members and administrators whose three points of view are noted in the scenario. What information could use in responding to at least two points made by board members (i.e., Baldrige related information related to at least two of the Board's concerns)? What further information is needed to help you advise? In other words, what questions do you want to ask her about attitude towards pursuing the Baldrige award? Given the information provided, for each of the three options what is the recommendation (withdrawing from Baldrige, pursuing a self-assessment, pursuing an examiner's visit), what are positive features and negative features of the option in terms of its potential impact on the organization (i.e., what is potentially good about the option and what is potentially bad about the option). Finally, based on what you know at the moment, offer your opinion about what her next step should be. You may offer disclaimers in this latter advice since more information might change your mind.

Answer 1

Answer:

This is a 200 bed acute care facility in a community of less than 300,000 people, has taken the first steps in applying for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award for health care.

• One board member feels strongly that the hospital not pursue the Baldrige Award and commit its resources elsewhere.
• Another board member believes the self-assessment should be completed to determine if the hospital reaps any short run benefits from the process.
• A third board member thinks the hospital should submit an application to see what can be learned from an examiner's visit.

The response to Board members and administrators whose three points of view are noted in the scenario is that they need to see the option which is bet suit for the hospital and the key benefits it is going to provide to the hospital. We need to review from the invest vs benefit for the hospital business.

We need the informations on potential benefits expected for the hospital from these two options, so that we can make the meaningful decision for the same. We need the costing associated with these options and lead time needed for implementing these options at the hospital.

We want to ask questions about attitude towards pursuing the Baldrige award as

• Why we need the award?
• What is the cost investment associated with this award activity?
• What is the lead time for this activity?
• Is this applicable for hospital lines?

Good about the options as

• Withdrawing from Baldrige – The hospital will not be engaged in a non preferred activity/project and saves resources and cost.
• Pursuing a self-assessment –Self assessment will help to ralize the current status of the hospital.
• Pursuing an examiner's visit – This will help to understand the key things of the hospital to improve.

Positive features/Good about the options as

• Withdrawing from Baldrige – The hospital will not be engaged in a non preferred activity/project and saves resources and cost.
• Pursuing a self-assessment –Self assessment will help to ralize the current status of the hospital.
• Pursuing an examiner's visit – This will help to understand the key things of the hospital to improve.

Negative features for the options as

• Withdrawing from Baldrige – The improper usage of resources.
• Pursuing a self-assessment –Self assessment will not provide market credibility.
• Pursuing an examiner's visit – This will not help for branding /marketing.

Finally, based on what you know at the moment, we offer opinion about option two i.e. pursuing a self-assessment is the right step for the hospital. This step will help them to understand their current status and how much energy and resources are needed from moving from here to expected level.