Organizational Assessment and Development Planning

Regional Health is a small physician practice located in Williston, North Dakota, serving over twenty-five thousand people. The organization is based on health care systems goals and objectives, providing services to people from various cultures and age groups. The organization observes systems and divisions providing different forms of health care, in-patient, and out-patient. Based on a study on the social needs in health care, the organization realized the preference from patients and consumers on the patient-centered organization rather than health care centered organization.

Patient-centered organizations focus on providing health care services based on patients’ needs and preferences through empowering patients to have a role in the treatment and care they receive and interactions with health care providers. The patient-centered organization focuses on patient participation within the health care system. Patient-centered organizations prioritize patient needs and satisfaction through culture-sensitive care, community relationships, patient-healthcare provider connection, and continuous care. Based on the survey, the proposal focuses on applying organizational changes to accommodate a patient-centered organization. Therefore, the proposal focuses on the new products and services incorporated within the organization and critical change areas.

Plan for Strategic Change:

There is a need to perform changes in processes and healthcare systems to accommodate the consumer’s needs. The basics of a patient-centered organization require changes in leadership strategies and organizational systems.

The main elements of patient-centered care focus on ensuring patient needs are prioritized. Therefore, the aspects required to change are;

· The organization should focus the values, missions, and leadership processes within the organization on patient-centered goals.

· Cultural aspects and beliefs should be encouraged and supported to accommodate patients from a vast cultural diversity. Patients have a priority to select their culture and religion during treatment without bias. Therefore, the organization should change to accommodate cultural and religious diversity.

· The change calls for change in visitation hours and individuals. The current system allows strict numbers and time for patients receiving visitors. Thus, the change calls for the organization to allow the patient to say on the visitation.

· Within the health care organization, communications strategies and processes should focus on promoting trust and personal relationships between health care providers and patients. Therefore, the organization should change support systems, communication processes, and patient participation in selecting and scheduling appointments, requesting information and instructions.

· The organization will change to accommodate patients and relatives with ease throughout the hospital stay and when seeking assistance.

· A patient-centered organization is characterized by three main aspects apart from systematic changes. Patient-centered care in a hospital is focused on enhancing patients’ freedom and satisfaction. Thus the organization should focus main aspects involving the patients. Based on the significant population focus, patient-centered care within the organization should focus on education and specialized care as patients within the age group require personalized care.

The above changes will incorporate patient-centered care within the organization. The main benefits to patient-centered care and organization involve improving service delivery and satisfaction for patients and health care workers. The organization will have better-working systems and models as commitment and productivity will increase, ensuring that patients receive specialized care and support.