92603 : Health Service Management - Sociology Assignment

Internal Code : MAS4982

Sociology Assignment :

Scenario Information

Flint Hills Hospital is a 50-bed hospital servicing a rural town. It is well equipped for routine inpatient care and has an accident and emergency department which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The more serious and complex patients need to be transferred to the city which is approximately 150 km away. Until 15 years ago, Flint Hills Hospital was in the middle of a growing rural community. However a series of droughts and a downturn in agricultural prices has resulted in many people leaving the area. The community is now largely made up of low-income families. Also, the age structure of the surrounding population has changed as most young people cannot find work and have moved to the city. As a result, the clientele of the Hospital is ageing. One other factor is affecting the demand on the hospital. There is only limited access to bulk billed general practice, as there are only 4 General Practitioners in the town and one of them is about to retire. As a result, the community is going to the Hospital instead of their local general practitioners (GPs). The hospital, through its emergency department, has now become the main source of medical care for residents who cannot afford, or cannot wait for basic medical care. Like most rural hospitals, Flint Hills is facing financial difficulties. Because of the location of the hospital and the challenges in the town, it has become increasingly difficult to attract new medical practitioners of all types and harder to retain existing staff. Although the hospital CEO is somewhat sympathetic to the medical care problems of the community, she sees her first priority as spending the hospital’s scarce funds in the most efficient way possible. Therefore, she has recommended to the head of the head local area health service that Flint Hills’ accident and emergency department should be closed and patients should drive 30 km to the hospital in the nearby town. The money saved would then be diverted into expanding the aged care facilities in the hospital...

Assessment :

This assessment briefing is designed to provide further information or details in relation to the assessment task. It is not designed to replace the information contained in the subject outline. It is provided to further explain and expand on the information contained there. Where there is an inconsistency between the two documents, then the subject outline must be regarded as the authoritative document. Assessment 1 :  in Managing Quality, Risk and Cost is a simulation. Assessment 2 : : This preparation for the negotiation activity reviews the basic skills and concepts used to plan and conduct two-party negotiations. ASSIGNMENT 3: PREPARING FOR A NEGOTIATION  Students will read the following short negotiation scenario. After reading it, students will undertake a structured negotiation preparation by providing answers to the questions below. Students should refer back to the required and additional readings for workshop 3 in order to refresh their memory and to check their understanding of recommended negotiation preparation.