Introduction
St Jude Children's Research Hospital is a non-profit institution that offers medical attention to children suffering from catastrophic diseases. The facility also offers research programs for doctors to undertake medical experiments. This implies that the hospital should operate in an environment that supports its objectives. This helps in enabling the hospital attain its goals of serving local communities, children and staffs using the facilities. The hospital serves a population of about 7000 active patients, mostly on an outpatient basis. Clinical research and treatment of cancer diseases requires sound management and a strategic plan that will ensure continuity of operation. Establishment of a strategic plan will help in promoting researches of other deadly diseases that kill young children.
Core competencies
An organization should be capable of performing its functions to the satisfaction of all concerned parties. This means that there should be continuous and steady transition of activities at the hospital. As a result, nurses at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital perform various tasks depending on their areas of specialization (Steen, et al 2000, p. 21). The organization employs core competencies that expose desirable skills for the broad practice of public health. Core competencies promote health care in the society since staffs are qualified to handle their patients. They are relevant for the improvement of medical research practices at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Therefore, managers must set standards that will enable the institution to offer its services and achieve values in the mission statement. A nurse should understand the responsibilities to offer to her patients, customers or other stakeholders. For instance, a nurse in the theatre should understand how to use surgical equipment in the operating room (Hernandez & O'Connor 2010, p.68). The organization conducts competencies related to the job that a nurse performs. This enables nurses have a better impression of expectations and improve on their abilities and skills. The organization has set up competency protocols that guide nurses in their actions to monitor their skill performance. The core competencies give the organization a unique difference in providing customer benefits because it stipulates the required standards of services at the hospital. Consequently, the expectations and needs of the health care customers in the population are to receive quality health care (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 2013, p. 1).
Vision statement
The facility strives to be the world’s frontrunner in administering the treatment and avoidance of catastrophic diseases in children. Achieving this vision entails the provision of quality patient care through various strategies (Jones & ALSAC 2006, 7). The first strategy is undertaking basic, translational and clinical investigation planned to reveal organic mechanisms. Another strategy involves improvement of diagnosis that will facilitate treatment results and prevent diseases. This ensures reduced side effects of treatments administered by training nurses and scientific research professionals (Steen, et al 2000, p. 21). As a result, the hospital aims to cure and enhance the quality of life for the rising proportion of children who attend the facility. The organization addresses customer service within the vision statement by ensuring that all clients receive ethical and responsible attention from the nurses. In addition, the organization also addresses the commitment to quality and value by offering standardized services. The vision statement incorporates the nurses and other employees by supporting sharing and expansion of knowledge, and accepting opinions from them. The vision guides the organization in making long-term decisions and reducing risks in operations. This is essential since it gives a sense of direction in the leadership positions through ensuring that the vision is realizable. Visions should incorporate all stakeholders to make it a common responsibility of the entire community (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 2013, p. 1).
Mission
The mission of the facility is to offer treatments for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. This entails inventing appropriate methods of prevention that will help in containing the disease. The hospital offers treatment to all young patients irrespective of their race, religion or family’s economic status. The nurses ensure that referred patients receive free medical attention based on the suitability of advancing the treatment. The organization aims to expand the lives of children suffering from cancer by advancing treatments for the purposes of preventing the disease (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 2013, p. 1). The organization addresses customer service in the mission statement through showing a commitment to a culture of distinction, improvement and creativity in all services offered. This is crucial because of the diverse population that the hospital serves with respect to decency, integrity and responsibility in actions and decisions. The staffs show a culture of trust and teamwork through respect for other employees and supervisors (Steen, et al, 2000, p. 21).
Lastly, the organization addresses the commitment to value and quality a number of ways. Values are the standards of performance that the organization uses to direct their daily operations. For instance, the organization strives to provide patients with high quality of health and supportive care and their relatives with the level of information required. Health facilities need to show high moral behavior to the public by respecting the ethnic, cultural and lifestyle variations of patients, their relatives and donors. It is also crucial to ensure that research facilities are well equipped with advanced instruments that will discover new methods of preventing catastrophic diseases (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 2013, p. 1).
References
Hernandez, S. R., & O'Connor, S. J. (2010). Strategic human resources management in
health services organizations. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Jones, P. T., American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities., & St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital. (2006). From His promise: A history of ALSAC and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memphis, Tenn: Guild Bindery Press.
Steen, R. G., Mirro, J., & St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (2000). Childhood cancer: A
handbook from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with contributions from St. Jude clinicians and scientists. Cambridge, Mass: Perseus Pub.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (2013). St. Jude Mission Statement. ALSAC: Finding
cures, saving children. Retrieved from;
<https://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=9dc4b8ca05604210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD&vgnextchannel=f67c1e3d40419210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD >
