Given the incredible downsizing and rightsizing now facing healthcare organizations, how would you decide where to “cut and become more lean” (if necessary) to compete?
he Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 has imposed significant change on healthcare in the United States by mandating the three underlying factors of the act—access, quality and cost. These mandates are already impacting reimbursement methodologies through bundled payments and payforperformance. Also, new delivery models are evolving through this act, e.g., accountable care organizations (ACOs), which are forcing mergers, acquisitions, and closing of healthcare organizations. You are the CEO of the Downtown Medical Center, which is a 350bed notforprofit community inner city facility with associated outpatient clinics. The facility and clinics employ 1,196 professional, clerical, and other support staff. The community served is mixed, including indigents and young professionals moving back to the urban lifestyle. The facility is currently experiencing financial difficulties and must quickly make some strategic decisions. Given the incredible downsizing and rightsizing now facing healthcare organizations, how would you decide where to “cut and become more lean” (if necessary) to compete? Is it ethical to make these decisions without engaging stakeholders and communicating senior management’s intentions to them? You are to write an executive brief (two to three pages) supporting an ethical position either pro or anti related to the scenario posed above. ● Format paper and cite references according to APA Style. ● Include a minimum of four credible reference sources.
