Introduction
A healthcare organization is a purposefully planned social facility that is structured to develop and enhance the delivery of healthcare services. The organizations are formed by specialized personnel with the aim of bettering the healthy living standards in society (Kaur, 2017). This essay focuses on United Healthcare Corporation by discussing the overall preparedness, the strategic plan for developing effective healthcare services, and potential issues that affect the strategic plans.
Description of the Organization
United Healthcare (UH) is a US-based non-profit making organization that was established in 1977. The organization was started by Dr. Paul Ellwood and Richard Burke, who served in the healthcare industry (Arya, 2016). Later on, the two founders opted to change the name to United Healthcare Corporation (UHC). The organization’s core plan was to help people live a standard life characterized by healthy lifestyles (MacLeod et al., 2018). Additionally, UHC was founded to create a strategy that would involve innovative methodologies for better medical services.
UHC’s Overall Readiness in Providing Quality Services to Clients
The organization has committed to effective quality service provision to the nations in various ways. First, UHC has been intensively involved in innovative strategies that aim to discover new efficient ways of providing quality healthcare. For example, the organization has successfully researched and tested modern therapeutic ways to administer drugs to patients (Understanding health insurance, 2021). The organization advocates for the utilization of herbal products in medicine manufacturing. The frontline personnel on this initiative have found that using herbal combined with organic compounds can reduce major risks of lifestyle diseases.
Strategic Planning to Address UHC’s Issues
Network Growth
The key point of the network growth is about expanding the services by opening in-patient and out-patient care facilities in 50 US states and more than 120 countries. The organization has partnered with Optum to form a collaborative base for enhancing quality healthcare provision to clients (MacLeod et al., 2018). It is important to note that UHC has opened various nursing institutions that aim to equip medical students with better skills in handling healthcare issues in society.
Management
UHC has focused on online platforms in the management of the growing industry. The utilization of online management has bettered services such as clinical therapies. Clients can get guidance and counseling on health matters through online forums. The organization is a non-profit firm that relies on member contributions and donor financing. UHC collects money from healthcare insurance schemes from members’ taxation (Understanding health insurance, 2021). Lastly, UHC has effectively delegated duties in order of seniority to enable a sequential operation in the healthcare facilities.
Nurse Staffing
UHC is known for encouraging nursing professionals to participate in productive healthcare programs to take full authority in their career. The aspect of sacrifice is also key to another nursing perspective. The organization has opened chances for nurses to explore how they can deliver quality services (Understanding health insurance, 2021). UHC can invest in nursing personnel conferences that sensitize nurses on the current trends in medical care service delivery.
Resource Management
UHC has tried to maintain financial solvency by effectively distributing resources in all healthcare facilities in all regions that the organization covers. One of UHC’s key strategies is likely to embrace is to use the just-in-time (JIT) model that involves producing what is needed for a given time (Arya, 2016). This means that by keeping resources and staff needed at a time, the objectives can be realized effectively.
Patient Satisfaction
UHC healthcare is committed to ensuring that services delivered to patients are effective as one way of reaching the client satisfaction note. However, the organization has embraced offering medical services at an affordable cost. When patients are given proper services, they are likely to include UHC partners in their health insurance matters (MacLeod et al., 2018). UHC recommends the use of functional facilities and diversified specialists to reach client satisfaction in the health institutions.
Current Issues in UHC That Can Affect the Strategic Plans
The key issue is offering affordable healthcare in the prevailing market in terms of the cost of drugs and other services. Currently, the world is facing a challenge of financial crisis due to the ongoing pandemic. It means many people will have low income, and medication will be a challenge (Arya, 2016). UHC faces the risk of having many patients default on paying health bills due to scarcity of money. Therefore, if many people are not paying medical bills, it is a likely scenario that UHC facilities risk financial decline.
Theory Model That Can Be Used in the Strategy Implementation
The convenient model for UHC to implement the strategies in this would be the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The model is relevant as it will provide insights into hospital operations’ positive side (Kaur, 2017). Additionally, the SWOT analysis model enlightens UHC on how to convert strengths into opportunities and prevent weaknesses from becoming the healthcare industry’s threats. For example, the organization’s expansion in different countries offers an opportunity for the firm’s acknowledgment (Kaur, 2017). If the firm has been recognized to offer good healthcare services, many potential clients would love to partner with UHC collaboratively.
UHC is committed to ensuring that healthcare services are improved not only in the US but also in other member states. The organization has prepared for efficiency in delivering healthcare services by having a framework that incorporates the utilization of strategic plans and a qualified workforce. UHC can utilize the SWOT analysis model to give helpful insights into the development of healthcare services. Through the use of the model, the organization can penetrate all countries hence ensuring the society has an effective medical care system.
References
Arya, K. D. (2016). Innovation in public healthcare systems: do we understand its potential? Management Issues in Healthcare System, 2(1), 52-63. Web.
Kaur, R. (2017). SWOT Analysis of health literacy in India. International Journal of Healthcare Education & Medical Informatics, 4(2), 28-31. Web.
MacLeod, S., Musich, S., Hawkins, K., & Schwebke, K. (2018). Highlighting a common quality of care delivery problem: overuse of low-value healthcare services. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 40(4), 201-208. Web.
Understanding health insurance: Summary of benefits and coverage. (2021). Web.