A case study is a depiction of an actual organizational work situation that would facilitate decision making or a problem to be solved (Yin, 2009). The process of carrying out a case-study analysis is majorly used in social sciences and is based on an in-depth investigation of a single individual, a group, or an event. In any workplace setting the process is mainly used as a research strategy that contains a pragmatic study within a real life process. “The procedure is similar to qualitative studies and but the difference is that case study analysis can be both used as an actual data-taking method and as a methodologic paradigm (Yin, 2009, p. 12).”
In the case of health work environment, case study analysis is a very important tool in caring of patients and in diagnosing new infections. In the hospital the process becomes a very vital part in evaluation research. In the context of evaluation, case studies are used in record keeping and analysing execution processes (Yin, 2009). Furthermore, it is also an integral part in analysing outcomes where public or privately supported evidences in patient care and interventions are considered for judgments on their effectiveness. The procedure is also very crucial in educating students who come to hospitals and other health facilities for attachment. In attachments, they can be used as a frame-work for preparing attachés before the actual scenario takes place. Finally, the process can also be used by health care practitioners in simplifying complex issues that were previously hard to deal with such as Cancer care which is a complex disease.
Apart from case study analysis application in a work setting, the process is important in understanding patient-health care relationships and also in improving services to the community. In analysing data from previous researches, then a health institute could be able to plan ahead in the future and even budget for future expenses. Therefore, it can be concluded that case study process in a health work environment is very important acting as a tool in diagnosis and making decisions.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is a higher level of intelligence usage where one rationalises on assumptions (Moore, 2007). Thinking critically entails being creative, disciplined, non-biased, and have awareness based on data present. The process is very important in case study analysis as it entails using skills in critical thinking to come out with justified conclusions (Moore, 2007). Before any case study analysis is began there are certain hypothesises and values which are hidden and therefore critical thinking will be very important in recognising them through the skill of awareness.
Critical thinking calls for the ability to recognise problems and finding suitable methods to solve them, therefore it would be very important when analysing a case study so as to come out with facts that were not easily seen by the naked eye. In also reviewing a case study, critical thinking plays a crucial role in prioritizing the problems that might result, and also in forecasting actions that might result in the future.
References
Moore, D.T. (2007). Critical Thinking and Intelligent Analysis. Washington DC: Diane Publishing Company. Pp. 46-54
Yin, R. K. (2009). Case Study Research: design and methods. California: Sage Publications. Pp. 2-67