Proposal Part 5

Proposal Part 5

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Proposal Part 5

Healthcare organizations and firms of all sizes and outlines encounter a set of challenges comprising the outburst of information technologies, globalization, concerns regarding environmental effects, changing demographics, augmented regulatory scrutiny, healthcare reforms, and a worldwide economic recession. Regardless, the conventional outcome for healthcare firms is producing margin, irrespective of non-profit or profit status. Even though most organizations consider managing such objectives, their provisions and activities should not solely concentrate on the economic effects of their endeavors, but operate to cover social, environmental, and economic practices, which impose significant benefits on the patients, the employees, the community, and the respective society as a whole. Hence, nothing is relatively new for numerous healthcare organizations since they have attempted to brainstorm and implement measures effective in the management of resources they utilize and the techniques they can apply in serving the communities they embody as an inherent dimension of their operations.

Sustainability in the Healthcare Context

Undeniably, the integration of sustainability initiatives within healthcare establishes a different delineation in contrast with the common provision of health services to the community. Sustainable healthcare comprises a complex structure of interactive measures based on restoring, managing, and optimizing human health (Schroeder, 2013). Such measures or approaches possess an ecological foundation, and as such function harmoniously with the people and the environment in order to ensure positive impacts within and outside of the healthcare system. Regarding this definition, it is evident that the current healthcare structure lacks compelling approaches aimed at facilitating sustainability. Hence, accomplishing sustainability requires viewing beyond the existing elements within the system to the actual things that are required in order to deliver the best results for all concerned parties. Overall, individuals seek to gain health and thus, a structure aimed at fulfilling this need would certainly meet the conditions stated within the said definition.

Indeed, most healthcare organizations possess the scientific or medical knowledge to preserve health for a widespread majority of individuals. They possess a fixed expertise of viral and bacterial infections that once eradicated whole populations. Furthermore, healthcare organizations possess an adequate understanding of the different measures that can be utilized to avert serious illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart ailments, cancer, and other expensive yet grave diseases. Aside from this, healthcare organizations also have an understanding of the toxic effect that environmental poisons can pose on health, specifically on the illnesses and malignancy they cause within the human body. Irrespective of such extensive knowledge, the healthcare setting generally possess discrete challenges that limit them from effecting any changes that would be assistive in the maintenance of health among patients and the general population (Rich, Singleton & Wadhwa, 2013).

Challenges to Implementation of Sustainable Healthcare

Foremost, the general healthcare context is not structured adequately to preserve the health of people on a current basis. In contrast, the system exudes complete dependence on a stable stream of ailing individuals in order to sustain its longevity (Schroeder, 2013). Physicians, clinics, hospitals, pharmaceutical organizations and health insurers normally gain profit from illnesses. Additionally, not-for-profit organizations reimburse many individuals especially in the performance of surgical operations. Hence, without a large number of sick individuals, several healthcare structures would suffer and even become defunct. The notion of profit in healthcare is counter-prolific. As such, its suppliers would not be willing to implement changes, which pose a threat on the attainment of profits. Hence, the respective structure is factually unsustainable and to an extent, unnecessary due to the possibility of prevention for most illnesses.

Apart from the external setting, the mindset among most individuals also facilitates the consistent unsustainability of the existing healthcare structure (Schroeder, 2013). Most individuals who engage in the active maintenance of their personal health possess a mindset that influences them to perceive themselves as capable of sustenance. Individuals have the tendency to feel sturdy and imperative and as such, focus on integrating steps they can apply to remain in that particular way. When people become ill or engage in accidents, they seek discriminative assistance, which allows the physician to maintain ownership of their wellbeing. Apparently, the current healthcare structure is not fit for this. Instead, it is established for individuals who are inert and seek medication or procedures aimed at the provision of a fix. Hence, the patriarchal temperament of this system restricts any implementation of sustainable practices by individuals and consequently, the healthcare organization itself.

Examples of Healthcare Sustainability Programs

Based on these findings, it is possible to see the limitations that this particular organization in establishing sustainable healthcare. Nevertheless, there is a significant opportunity that can be approached due to the existence of various sustainability schemes that the hospital can implement within its structure.

Green Initiatives

Foremost, the organization can focus on going green. This simply involves the design and implementation of measures that can be effective in the maintenance of the natural environment. Green initiatives are usually eco-friendly and advocate for a range of practices aimed at safeguarding the environment within which the organization operates. In other instances, green programs influence the company to utilize resources wisely. Currently, the scarcity of resources has not prevented organizations from using them at an excessive rate. Accordingly, the rate at which such resources are used does not correlate to the rate of replenishment (Association for Manufacturing Excellence, 2008). Hence, most resources are becoming limited as more organizations continue to exploit them. As such, sustainability initiatives (green programs) can focus on averting these crises by being an imperative part of the respective healthcare organization.

Business and Social Sustainability Initiatives

For organizations pursuing sustainability such as this, the development of corporate patronage models has established more opportunities aimed at facilitating capacity building within undeserved or underdeveloped markets. From the base of pyramid tactics to the models of social enterprise, different healthcare organizations are developing new sustainable measures that can be used to establish access to the products they offer within new markets. For instance, Abbott, as a healthcare organization, has instructed over 1000 community medical doctors in China concerning imperative practices such as the prevention and treatment of diabetes. Similarly, the company has also trained 600 healthcare practitioners on nutrition among children (Rich, Singleton & Wadhwa, 2013). As such, the respective organization has acted sustainably by assisting the respective societies in attaining enumerable positive effects on the affected populations. As such, this organization can also implement sustainability initiatives by utilizing its business resources for a social and common good effective for the population.

Conclusion

In conclusion, healthcare sustainability in these respective organizations is imperative. Accordingly, the healthcare sector maintains a rigid structure that fails to comply with the requirements that commonly come from sustainability. Part of this limitation is attributed to the human mindset and the general healthcare infrastructure. However, based on the illustration of healthcare organizations such as Abbott, it is possible to apply initiatives aimed at facilitating sustainability considerably. In this respect, this particular organization can focus on green initiatives, which focus on the protection of the natural environment via implementation of eco-friendly practices, and business-social programs that utilize the organization’s resources in order to make a profound and costless positive impact on the society.

References

Association for Manufacturing Excellence. (2008). Green manufacturing: Case studies in lean and sustainability. New York: Productivity Press.

Rich, C. R., Singleton, J. K., & Wadhwa, S. S. (2013). Sustainability for healthcare management: A leadership imperative. London: Routledge.

Schroeder, K. (2013). Sustainable healthcare. Chichester, WS: John Wiley & Sons.