Key Trends in Operations Management
 
Conditions impacting health care organizations evolve constantly, from the state of the economy, to new CMS policies or regulations, to consumer demand for the latest technology. Operations managers must anticipate how potential developments might impact the facility’s operations. …….
For this Discussion you are asked to integrate concepts from throughout the course by considering how emergent trends are likely to impact areas within health care operations.
 
Review Table 1-2 on page 22 in the Langabeer text, which lists 12 evolving trends in health care operations management, as well as the trends listed later in Langabeer, on pages 362–368. Select one of these evolving trends, and if you wish, …….
narrow your focus to a specific topic within this trend, such as a particular kind of software to improve productivity. Ideally, you should select a trend that will likely impact the area of health care in which you intend to work in the future. …….
Table 1-2
ROLES AND TRENDS IN HEALTHCARE OPERATION MANAGEMENT Primary Roles of Operations Managers Evolving Trends Reduce costs Standardization
Optimization
Resource tracking system
Reduce variability and improve logistical flow Integrated service delivery
Analytics
Supply chain management
Improve Productivity Information technology
Return on investment
Provide higher quality services Evidence- based health care
Six sigma
Improve business processes Outsourcing
Globalization
 
Evolving Trends ……. Strategy Focused on Agility, Speed, and Visibility Integration and Penetration of Technology Greater Vendors and Pater Collaboration Integrated Service Delivery with Activity Based- Costing Financial Value Consolidation and Horizontal Management Processes Deployment of Analytical and Optimization Techniques
More advanced Business Education
 
 
Continue to prepare for this Discussion by reviewing your Learning Resources from this course related to your selected trend. In addition, locate and read at least two recent articles and one or more websites that discuss this trend. The resources you find must help you address the following: …….
•Consider the operational issues related to this trend, including the challenges or opportunities that have led to it. What are the causes of this trend? What is the future likely to bring?
•How are quantitative methods contributing to, or likely to impact, this trend?
•Why and how should health care managers prepare for this uncertain, but potential development?
In your posting, support your assertions by drawing on your Learning Resources from throughout the course as well as on the articles and website(s) you located this week.
 
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING
•Identify your selected trend in the first line of your posting.
•Describe the background or causes of this trend, and assess its significance. In what ways do you think this trend will transform health care operations? …….
 
•What is the role that quantitative methods play, or might play, in this emergent trend?
 
•What should health care managers do to prepare for this uncertain, but potential development and/or to make the best use of this emergent trend? Provide a rationale for your assertions. …….