Introduction
Synopsis: This is a complex situation in an organization that has had a difficult history (e.g., mismanagement, nurses’ strike, low patient satisfaction, problems in the ED-lifeline to the hospital).
Newcastle lacks well-defined organizational and IT strategies. The ED has a unique set of challenges, and it serves as the lifeline to hospital admissions, with over half of all admissions entering through the ED.
Patient satisfaction in the ED is low, patients complain of long waits, physicians have been resistant to change, and the data available within the ED to track performance measures has been either unreliable or non-existent. (Pages 512 through 515, Wager, Lee, and Glaser text)
This case study illustrates a real challenge faced by many hospitals. There are a number of underlying factors that contribute to the perception of poor quality. Some of these issues are captured within the case and will need to be carefully examined.
Unit Learning Outcomes
ULO #1. Differentiate between a centralized and decentralized IT departmental structure as it pertains to customer responsiveness, innovation, functionality, staffing, management of resources, supervisor oversight, and strategic planning. (CLO 1, 3)
ULO #2: Identify and discuss the core IT competencies and capabilities in a typical healthcare organization (based support and service, care improvement, and technical infrastructure).
ULO #3: Evaluate the effectiveness of an IT department with a special emphasis on governance, budget development and resources allocation, systems acquisition, system implementation, IT service level.
ULO #4: Formulate IT strategic and tactical plans that align with the organization’s strategies, plans, and initiatives to ensure congruency.
Directions
The students are expected to carefully read the assigned case study, then thoroughly and explicitly address each component of the corresponding case study questions, which are located on located in the Wager, Lee, and Glaser text.
The submission should reflect higher-level cognitive processing (analysis, synthesis, and evaluation), which is essential for someone being prepared to serve in an operational capacity within the healthcare and related industry. To earn the maximum number of points, the submission should reflect graduate-level execution with clear evidence of critical thinking, synthesis of relevant information from credible sources, and clear mastery of the concepts necessary to successfully execute each component of the assignment.
The submission should not exceed four (4) pages in length, excluding the title and reference list pages, and explicitly address all required components of this assignment. The document must be double-spaced, adhere to the APA writing style (7th ed.), and include at least three (3) references of credible or peer-reviewed sources to support any suppositions and recommendations. Finally, the document should be prepared as a Microsoft Word document and uploaded to Submit Assignment.