Introduction
Organizations operations are usually subject to varying factors including both internal and external. In that respect, factors like the nature of service, organizational structure as well as external influences such as government policies demands leadership approaches that are suited to the issues at hand. In that view, there are various leadership theories advocating different approaches in addressing the issues. In that consideration, this discussion seeks to demonstrate the application of leadership theories in addressing an issue facing a healthcare organization in South Florida. To achieve the objective, the discussion uses that case of Memorial Regional South hospital and identifies a current even within the organization making recommendation of the suitable leadership theory that can be applied. Finally, the discussion justifies the theory’s selection in line with the desired outcome.
Discussion
Memorial Regional South offers services to communities in South Florida and is located in Washington Street in Hollywood. The hospital is part of the Memorial Healthcare System that provides healthcare service across South Florida region. It offers vital services including surgical and medical services as well as offering outpatient programs. Further, the hospital has an emergency department that operates 24 hours every day. The hospital has a mission to improve the wellbeing and health and quality of life for the people it serves. (Memorial Regional South, 2014)
- Current event that requires leadership attention
The hospital faces a challenge with possible penalties that are imposed by the 2010 health law that imposes penalties for high rates of patients’ readmission. Currently, a high number of hospitals in South Florida have been faced with high penalties hence a need for the organization to increase treatment efficiency and reduce patients admission time to avoid future penalties. The law is an example of ACA provision that seeks to promote improvement in health care hence lowering costs to patients and increasing the best outcomes. That coupled by the challenging nature of cases that are held by Memorial Regional South Hospital that could require readmission and long time treatment; the hospital faces challenges that need to be addressed. In that respect, must leade4rship top address the issue by planning and guiding the hospital staff on the best way to achieve low patients readmission and enhance treatments outcome. (News Press, 2014)
- Applying a leadership theory
Contemporary theories entail the transformational leadership that should be applied. That is because it will address the issue through three key aspects; the leader making the followers understand the importance of enhancing efficacy and patients’ admission time reduction. It would also induce the staff and all followers to transcend their personal interest for the purpose of the overall organizational goal that entails enhancing patients care. Finally, the leadership will be crucial in moving the follower to higher levels of expectations in terms of service efficiency. (Porter-O'Grady & Malloch, 2015) In that respect, the issue of time reduction and outcomes improvement can be effectively addressed through the approach. In addition, various aspects of the approach makes it most effective in addressing the issue including the following.
- Leadership as a group process hence will involve all the personnel
- Leader is just a facilitator hence will just act as a guided and leave the personnel to be responsible in their operation areas.
- Necessary change can initiate from anywhere hence possibility of addressing issued more effectively for each department.
- It involves sharing core values and vision hence all those involved will have a sense of responsibility to achieve the outcomes.
- Followers are empowered to be leaders themselves the hence better chance of improving service delivery in all areas. (Porter-O'Grady & Malloch, 2015)
- Rationale for the selection that accommodates a desirable outcome
Desired outcome in addressing the issue is enhancing patients care efficiency and lowering cost. However, achieving that requires participation of all personnel at all levels. In that respect, the selection of contemporary leadership theory with transformational leadership approach in addressing the issue is appropriate. That is because, the hospital’s approach of seeking to connect physical and mental health worlds as a means of improving safety, care and efficiency requires a leadership approach that is inclusive. It also requires an approach that empowers all those involved for them to address their responsibilities efficiently in the spirit of a shared vision. (Borkowski, 2011)
Partnering with other facilities that specifically care for mental cases is a crucial strategy that seeks to share information with the facilities as a way of enhancing timely and efficient treatment. That seeks to address the current level of undesired services with an example of the average time for mental emergencies being 21 hours. In that respect, involving al people in the process of integrating mental and physical care through partnership with other institutions is crucial for achieving the desired outcomes and is better handled through an inclusive leadership approach. (Business Wire, 2014)
Conclusion
In view of the nature of services that the hospital provides and the current event, the suitable leadership theory has been identified as the contemporary theory with a focus on transformational leadership. That is because its entails leadership that is a group focused and inclusive for all the followers. Thus, empowering all the hospital staff will be crucial in achieving the outcome of enhanced efficiency and reduced patients time and readmission. That will be key to addressing the possible penalty issue.
References
Business wire. (2014). Major Hospital System Sharing Clinical Data with Behavioral
Health Leader to Integrate Care Delivery. Retrieved from,
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141118006542/en/Major-Hospital-System-Begins-Sharing-Clinical-Data
Borkowski, N. (2011). Organizational Behavior in Health Care. 2nd Ed. Boston, MA: Jones
Moreover, Bartlett.
Memorial Regional Hospital South. (2014). About Memorial Regional Hospital South.
Retreived from, http://www.memorialregionalsouth.com/
News Press. (2014). Florida hospitals face Medicare penalties for readmissions.
Retrieved from, http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2014/10/19/florida-hospitals-face-medicare-penalties-readmissions/17591175/
Porter-O'Grady, T. & Malloch, K. (2015). Quantum Leadership: Building Better
Partnerships for Sustainable Health. 4th Ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
