For health care administrators, operating within an integrated system requires strategic thinking to effectively balance the complexities of delivering effective health care while successfully managing a business model. Furthermore, health care administrators must also network with and understand respective stakeholders who are involved in and contribute to decision making for both health care delivery processes and business development.

This week, you explore factors in situational analyses that may contribute to different approaches to promoting strategic planning in HSOs. You also examine how these factors may contribute to or affect assessment strategies necessary for HSOs.

What impacts organizational strategies for HSOs? How do health care administrators address factors that contribute to, affect, and compromise operations for HSOs?

Situational analyses assist health care administrators in determining those factors that contribute to the overall situation concerning the operation of an HSO. As examined earlier in the course, there are a variety of factors that may contribute to how health care administrators design, implement, and revise initiatives for improvement within HSOs. As you continue your examination of these factors within the context of improving performance in HSOs, consider the role of strategic assessment in addressing those factors for maximizing improvement.

For this Assignment, review Case 3, “HSO Strategic Assessment,” in Chapter 9 of the text, Managing Health Services Organizations and Systems. Reflect on those factors from the general and health care environments that most greatly impact the situational analysis in the case. Then, consider how these factors might affect organizational strategies implemented in an HSO. Review the Week 4 Case Questions document in this week’s Learning Resources to complete the Assignment.

The Assignment (4–6 pages):

• Complete the case questions presented.
• Be sure to support your answers with support from the literature.