A healthcare center is a crucial pillar in any society or community because of the relief it avails to members of society suffering from bodily pain and suffering. Any community thriving on economic activities, and hence increasing numbers of the population, calls for an expansion of the associated health facilities so as to adequately offer health services, including orthopedic services, to all members of that society that may require it. Minimal delay is a crucial factor that is factored in considering any expansion plans for such a facility. This is important because of the fact that human life is very sensitive, and as such there exist a thin line between life and death (Cannon, 2007).
The makeup of the community is another factor of consideration. Makeup mainly pertains to the age, gender, financial capabilities and literacy of the community under consideration. Age may be a very important factor since the elderly may require more specialized treatment and well trained personnel to cater to their needs. In some instances staff may have to undergo sufficient training to ensure that they are considerate and sensitive to the needs of the patients. Literacy levels must also be taken into consideration. This is especially to ensure that there is adequate communication and comprehension between staff and the patients. For a community that is largely illiterate, it may be necessary to accompany any expansions with some form of education to equip them with basic understanding as may relate to prescription drugs and common healthcare symbols. On the other hand, for a literate community more investment may be directed towards incorporation of advanced technological methods and techniques into the healthcare system. This may include the use of an online database system for each patient to facilitate easy follow up on an individual patient (Greenberg and Unite States, 2002).
Any form of expansion is largely constrained or determined by the financial constraints of funding such a project. In some communities, the population may be financially stable to the point of being able to organize for fund raisers among themselves instead of relying on government support. This can allow for quick and smooth implementation of planned projects so long as the funds are well managed and accounted for at the end of the project. The effect of gender on expansion plans is rather small. However, one may observe that a community with a young and healthy population, who are fertile, may have to ensure that the maternity wards are increased with corresponding investments in the pediatric department. This will ensure sufficient availing of healthcare facilities to the growing population (Robinson, 1999).
Government regulation will also have to be a central part in the decision making. This is because for any medical facility to continue in existence it must comply with the medical regulations set out by the constitution. Failure to comply with such regulation may result in the revocation of the license to offer such services to the community. This will be detrimental to both the community and the health facility and hence must be avoided at all costs.
The existing market, as far as health facilities are concerned, can also be instrumental in the determination of capital expenditures. This is due to the fact that such markets can be a source of competition. Competition increases the need for better quality services. As such, more capital expenditures may be incurred in a bid at improving the quality of services offered. The programs may also be cultured to be more clientele based so as to attract more patients. This is especially common for private healthcare systems (Gaynor, 2006).
Benchmarking is the setting of specific standards that are used as the minimum qualifications in assessing the quality of healthcare services offered. Benchmarking sets a pedestal from which decisions are made. This is especially as pertains to the various ways of achieving the minimum qualifications with ease and at a reduced cost. This lead to efficiency in economical decision making as far as running and starting of a healthcare facility is concerned (Porter and Teisberg, 2005).
References
Porter, M. E., & Teisberg, E. O. (2005). Redefining health care: Creating positive-sum
competition to deliver value. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business School Press.
Cannon, M. F., & Tanner, M. D. (2007). Healthy competition: What's holding back health care
and how to free it. Washington, DC: Cato Inst.
Greenberg, W., & United States. (2002). Competition in the health care sector: Past, present,
and future : proceedings of a conference sponsored by the Bureau of Economics, Federal Trade Commission, March 1978. Washington, DC: Beard Books.
Robinson, J. C., & Milbank Memorial Fund. (1999). The corporate practice of medicine:
Competition and innovation in health care. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press.
Gaynor , M. (2006). Competition and quality in health care markets. Boston: Now Publishers.
