Question

Strategic planning is a lot of work, but it is so important for hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Why is it so crucial that hospitals conduct regular strategic planning sessions? Why must they develop a multiyear strategic plan document and update it annually? What would likely happen if a healthcare facility decided to discontinue strategic planning?

Answer 1

Ans) Strategic planning is an organization's process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.

It is crucial that hospitals conduct regular strategic planning sessions because:

• It is a process to understand where we are now--> what we want to be --> how do we get there.
• It is a mission to achieve health care facility vision.
• Allows identification, prioritization, and exploitation of opportunities.
• Framework for improved coordination and decision making.
• Guides operational decision making and performance management.
• It is a health care road map to achieve competitive advantage.
• Helps in improving the financial performance.
• It helps to become more successful comparatively than those who don't have strategic planning.
• Encourages new ideas of innovation.

- It is necessary to update strategic plan document annually:

• So that we understand the vision, mission, values of health care facility clearly.
• Establishes the healthcare facility goals and objectives.
• Helps to know the strategic planning process goals.
• Keeps us updated on track for achieving the goals.
• Time factor in achieving the target vision of health care facility for progress.
• Keeps us moving forward to fix the mission gaps and chasing the vision.
• Continuous monitoring for improvement.

If decided to discontinue the strategic planning:

• There will be no improvements for progressing.
• No clear defined healthcare vision, mission and values.
• No strategic planning means no direction.
• No planning -no Implementation
• Level of performance will be decreased.
• There will be no coordinate or decision making efforts.
• Health care success will be hampered.