Question

You will be lunching with the newly appointed clinical staff members.

How will you explain to them why and how the HCO plans its clinical staff supply and what the advantages are to them? There are THREE questions to address here.

Answer 1

HCO plans its clinical staff supply for the following reasons:

• It allows the hospitals to identify the community needs and meet them in timely manner.
• To ensure that enough staffs are available for all the patients.
• Sufficient people are available to meet any emergency situations.
• It protects the hospital against competition. Because it can decline applicants if it exceeds the planned numbers as staffs will be allocated according to number of patients that they will care.

How the HCO plans:

The HCO plans by having a governing board for the purpose of monitoring the over and under supply of staffs. The board has the responsibility to meet the obligation of effective and equitable supply of staff members. The supply plan is first recommended by the physician and later approved by the board.

Advantages:

• Restricted entry of competing staffs as HCO benefits from staff’s commitment to effective care.
• HCO benefits by keeping the cost and quality competitive.
• Better management of supply. This is done by meeting the demands and also reducing the pressure of inappropriate treatment.
• It can forecast the ability to plan for the future and react accordingly.
• The HCO can benefit from safety, return and attractiveness of investments.