Responses of Catholic health care institutions to environmental changes.

Abstract

Organizations continually consume resources from the environment (as inputs), transform (throughput process) and release them (as output) to the same environment. The firm's environment is turbulence. In turbulence environment real time response is very important for the success of the organization. The success and indeed, survival of every organization depends on how well it relates with its challenges and how it positions itself to the external environment. Catholic Health Care Institutions have been survrving in a changing external environment. The financing source of Catholic Health Care Institutions has completely changed and now heavily dependent on patient fees. Donations have tremendously declined and no longer reliable. Missionary expatriates are very few and government has long ceased to give grants. The staff turnover is very high in these institutions. A cross sectional survey was used to find out the changes in the external environment that have affected Catholic Health care Institutions in Kenya and how they have responded to these changes. The population of interest was all Catholic health care institutions in Kenya. The population was limited to those health care institutions that are recognized as Catholic' and registered under the Catholic Health Commission. This was a total population of 417. A stratified random sample of 50 institutions was drawn and 38 participated in the study, representing 76% response rate. The findings indicate that Catholic Health Care Institutions have been surviving m a changing external environment. The changes in economic, technological, social, cultural, political and legal factors have affected the Catholic Health Care Institutions in varying degrees. Technology has enhanced communication and has led to efficiency. Many of the Catholic Health Care Institutions have stalled to the economic downturn. They are faced with a situation of declining utilization, accumulation of patient debts and threatened sustainability. The staff attrition rate is high. The Catholic Health Care institutions financial situation is weakened by unjust multiple levies such as the business permits by the local government and other professional bodies. The Catholic Health Care Institutions have implemented different strategies in responding to the environmental changes. Some have put in place strategic plans. The strategic plan gives the institutions direction, clarity and guiding factor in their operation. Some started medical training school to enable them to provide quality and qualified health care professionals at an affordable price. Others have income generating activities, to generate funds to support health care services. Community health programs have been put in place. Health staff Training and development, changing organization structure, computerization of operations, retrenchment and rationalization have been done to some extend. The findings of this study should be understood and evaluated in light of the limitations of the study. This study is especially helpful to Catholic Health Care Institution and management, as it will sensitize them on the impact that the macro-environment changes are having on the Catholic Health Care Institutions. The findings are thus expected to help the Catholic Health Care Institutions to identify strategic gaps in their strategic responses and enable them to better respond to environmental changes. Government agencies may find the information useful in formulation of policy and a regulatory framework for the health industry.