Most healthcare organizations need to focus on improving the patient experience through the environment of care, improving efficiency and functionality through Lean planning, and reducing the cost of operations through more efficient buildings.
Aquinius, 2020
Let me start this conversation by advising that project master plans should NEVER be done in response to facility constraints and also investment in new buildings should not be purely to respond to growth or obsolescence. This is traditional thinking which needs to be aligned to the new era thinking. We all can fall into this fallacy however, We need to Align strategy with the desired role within a health care community. While we try to be all things to all people, the future requires us to determine our role in the continuum of care.
Positioning our organization to manage the health of a population, while continuing to work in a fee-for-service environment, requires thoughtful self-actualization before making 30-year investments. Master planning in this new era should be based on the best strategic intent for the institution while keeping in mind a realistic capital envelope.
What is the ideal hospital’s path to the second curve?
a) Integration
Integrated service delivery is “the organization and management of health services so that people get the care they need, when they need it, in ways that are user-friendly, achieve the desired results and provide value for money.”
b)Transformation,
Transformation is defined as “a marked change in form, nature, or appearance”. Transformation requires healthcare leaders willing to take bold steps to: a)Adopt a consumer-centric focus, b)Shift to preventive and outcomes-based care models, c)Embrace digital and technology enablers, d)Engage nontraditional value chain partners and, e)Drive improvements to access, quality and affordability of care.
This transformation requires Building blocks which are essential for success. First is to Create a strategic identity and design your service for trust. Once this is done, you master the pivot from sprint to scale and treat your legacy as an asset.
Aquinius Mung’atia, is currently the Head of Projects & Security, and a strategy enthusiast at Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa in Kenya.
