Research Paper on:
Establishing Long-Term Strategy at Shands Healthcare

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Healthcare is formulating a strategic plan for the future and needs to take into consideration present conditions as it determines its long-range goals. The purpose here is to address  a few of the points that Shands management will need to consider in developing an alternative process designed to improve customer satisfaction while also increasing Shands capacity. SWOT Analysis (Additions  to existing points) Strengths * The student writing on this topic needs to note that senior management recognizes the need to change present methods while also planning for the future.  * Though patient satisfaction is low, its origins lie with logistics and waiting times more than with results and the hospitals competence. Patients appear to have a great deal  of confidence in Shands ability to provide sound care. Weaknesses * Financial management is weak and must be improved. * Shands needs to exercise cost controls where feasible, particularly in  those areas not immediately apparent to patients. Opportunities * Patients have come to expect changes. The entire healthcare landscape is changing quickly, and patients rarely expect organizations to maintain  the status quo. * The student writing on this topic needs to note that patient satisfaction is low, providing Shands with opportunity to improve it. Improving patient satisfaction will  provide Shands with an advantage over its direct competitors. * The pod plan has the potential of significantly increasing capacity without greatly increasing costs. Threats * Shands may be expected  to take on greater numbers of uninsured patients as employees continue to lose health care coverage with their employers. Financial Analysis Shands is  far from entering into serious financial trouble, but neither is it positioned well for the long term. As discussed below, the hospital carries too much debt and it appears