4 Key Principles to Follow with Hospital Management

Not every hospital is perfectly managed. Just like any organization, the larger they are, the greater the challenge it is to run them both efficiently and well. Managers should be guided by sound principles that indicate the right decision many times and avoid obvious managerial errors in judgment.

Here are 4 of the key principles to follow with hospital management.

1.      Focus on Quality Equipment

When doctors, nurses, support and administrative staff are not provided with high-quality equipment, it creates an increased chance of failure in execution. That could refer to an economy hospital bed that isn’t as sturdy as it needs to be or cannot be adjusted in support position because of its instability. It might also refer to inferior water filters instead of using better Pentek filters to deliver drinkable water for admin staff in the office upstairs.

2.      Keep a Good Eye on Budgets

Budgets must be managed carefully to avoid spending more than the healthcare facility brings in. If the hospital is oriented towards profit as a private facility, then spending should be measured against earnings targets.

An understanding of the difference in cost between purchasing a cheap inferior product vs negotiating for a preferential rate on volume orders for quality medical supplies is important. The price must be paired with value to ensure the staff have reliable equipment and other supplies as needed.

3.      Operate with a Strategic Outlook

Given the fast-paced nature of the healthcare industry, it’s necessary for the management team to establish the goals of the organization and develop a strategy to deliver them.

While every healthcare institution is focused on quality healthcare for patients with as few medical errors as possible, a broader strategy is necessary to achieve long-term goals. When looking only to near-term concerns, no one is steering the ship to avoid the iceberg in the distance.

Making the priorities of the organization clearer, so employees are not confused about what matters most. For instance, when the people responsible for ordering medical supplies or new equipment are clear about the need to provide quality care and to stay on budget with expenditures, then they can make astute decisions and stay in alignment with both goals.

4.      Don’t Fall Behind Healthcare Trends

Healthcare trends, especially in the technology realm, are developing quickly. To be seen as the hospital of choice in the region, it’s necessary to stay abreast of healthcare trends to avoid being seen as offering an inferior, dated service.

Clearly, digital patient healthcare records and data protection of the same is a major change in recent times. However, astute hospital management must pick and choose between the healthcare fad of the minute vs sensible upgrades and changes to implement hospital-wide which benefit either the patients or the hospital, or both. When hospitals are managed better, healthcare employees and patients alike benefit from excellence. It takes time to adjust procedures to overhaul a hospital which hasn’t enjoyed its own TLC in years or just improve one that’s running reasonably well. But it’s worth striving to elevate it to become a world-class healthcare facility.