Strategic responses by kendu adventist hospital to changes In the operating environment

Abstract

Rapid changes in the social, financial and technological environments have driven many organizations to adopt new strategies to maintain viability. As the operating environment of an organization changes, it becomes increasingly important that the organization engages in innovation to make most of its unique strengths stand out in the environment. This study was conducted with the objective of determining the strategic responses by Kendu Hospital to the changes in the operating environment. The study employed a case study design. The key respondents were selected purposively to give information on either clinical or operations management. Data was collected by means of interview guide consisting of unstructured openended questions. Data analysis was executed using content analysis methods. The final report was narrative in nature, with a rich description of strategic choices the hospital was performing in the context of service delivery. The findings revealed that in its effort to enhance the quality of health care services, the Hospital had tackled the changes in the operating environment by; investing in increased technological innovations; partnering strategically with other successful health care providers; investing in un-related income generating activities to provide revenue; improvement of its physical infrastructures; resource mobilization through proposal writing; strengthening its financial management systems and revenue collection; and evaluating and upgrading of the staff to alleviate staff turnover. The study concluded that so far, the strategic responses adopted by the Hospital had positioned it to be more prepared and focused to adequately respond to the demands of improved delivery of health care services. The study recommended that KAH need to use a combination of strategies to ensure long term sustainability of its mission and service by giving special attention to resource mobilization for health care financing and streamlining its human resource base. The study further recommends other studies for other Faith- Based health service providers to demonstrate the most appropriate strategies that may be employed in particular environmental changes.