Organization Design

Organization Design

Organizations design or structure depends on the organization's objectives and strategies. The organizational structure consists of a hierarchal arrangement of lines of authority, communication, rights, and duties. These structures define the roles, power, and responsibilities assigned to staff and how an organization communicates information between the multiple levels of management. Consulate health care is a centralized structure where upper management has control and makes the decisions but at the same time remains an open system that has multiple external factors that influences decisions.

External Factors

Multiple external factors influence how a Long-term care facility and the governing organization functions. "External factors are factors that occur outside of the company that causes change inside the organization and are for the most part beyond the control of the company" (Hartzell,n.d.). External factors that can affect Long-Term care include customers, competition, economy, technology, government, and social conditions and resources (Hartzell, n.d.). Even though external factors occur outside the organization, ignoring them can have a major impact on the organizations current state of operations, growth, and long-term ability to remain in operation.

Nursing homes used to be the dominant institution for providing long-term care; however, recently alternatives have become available, and nursing homes are facing growing competition. Perspective residents are looking for a facility that can provide therapy if needed, maintain a home environment, and autonomy. Nursing Homes would compete to get the residents, offering Wi-Fi, private rooms, and upgraded amenities, added to the mix are Assisted living facilities and Home care (Castle & Engberg, 2009).

Technology has an impact on long-term care like no other force, in the past long-term care has been considered low tech, and today's technology is affecting major parts of health care and long-term care (Garavaglia, 2008). Technology is affecting the way health care is provided, allowing the doctor to see medical records without leaving his office, and maintaining a continuity of care by allowing the medical record to follow the patient. Electronic Medical Administration records is decreasing the number of medication errors made, and protecting the environment. Technology once a part of the future is part of the present- day health- care.

Government continues to be an external factor that regulates how Nursing homes functions, the government has multiple agencies, federal, and state that constantly drive for changes in patient care. In 1998 Medicare introduced a prospective payment system (PPS), PPS led to a decrease in Medicare payments to facilities, leading to a financial loss (Castle, 2009).

Internal Factors

Internal factors that influence an organization are people, events, structures, and conditions inside the organization and are usually under the control of the organization. Typical factors associated with the internal factors are mission statement, organizational culture, and style of leadership (Hartzell, n.d.). The internal environment influences the organizational activities, decisions, employee's behaviors, and attitudes. When an employee knows he or she will be held accountable for his or her actions, he or she tend to perform