Memo Assignment

Memo Assignment Darla S HCS 514/Managing in Today’s Health Care Organizations Tracy Miller September 6, 2010 MEMO TO: John Smith, CEO FROM: Darla Selbrede DATE: September 6, 2010 SUBJECT: Design and functionality of Riverside Hospital Abstract: This memo is an introduction of Riverside Hospital which will focus on facility design and functionality. Its purpose is to provide a generalized picture of how this facility operates and how employees provide optimal service to patients.

Facility Design Riverside Hospital has a combination of centralized and decentralized design. The centralized design of the organization includes hierarchy procedures, guidelines, and processes that are regularly useful in order to regulate operations of particular activities. These activities are those seen in management, finances, marketing, accreditation, and legal issues. In contrast, the decentralized design of the organization includes activities more closely related to patient care.

This decentralization of the organization encourages enthusiasm and creativity, permits critical thinking from different care givers, and accommodates flexibility and autonomy. Riverside Hospital is conveniently located in Rapides General Hospital in order to accommodate patients and health care workers. This locality helps to better serve patients because they are able to utilize Rapides General Hospital’s resources such as its radiology and laboratory services.

The hospital is also centrally located in the city of Alexandria, Louisiana which provides greater access to the community. Facility Functionality Riverside Hospital is a long term acute care unit with 28 private rooms which includes two suites. This facility is able to care for patients who are not healthy enough to return home. The types of patients cared for at this facility are those who need extended stays for things such as severe wounds, respiratory failure, postoperative care, and trauma.

Riverside Hospital has qualified nursing staff and certified nursing assistants. Respiratory therapists are available 24 hours daily to provide respiratory needs including weaning patients off ventilators. There is a physical therapy department which includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, and a speech therapist to help patients return to their optimal level of independence. The social worker helps to provide discharge planning which starts the day of admission to utilize resources that may be needed.

There is a registered dietician who provides dietary recommendations and education for the patient. Riverside Hospital has an onsite pharmacy with a pharmacist available 24 hours a day. Summary The organizational design at Riverside Hospital is important to its success. Each part is necessary in order for the facility to maintain its stability as a business while providing an optimal working environment for its employees. Each employee at Riverside Hospital is considered a part of the health care team which focuses on the main goal of this organization... quality patient care.

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