• Home
  • Walden University
  • Decision Making in Healthcare DDHA 8600
  • Decision Making in Healthcare

Decision Making in Healthcare

DDHA 8600 Week 10 Diss By Day 3 Post an explanation of the role of the board in resolving an internal conflict between compliance, ethical obligations, and business needs. Role of Board The role of the board in resolving an internal conflict between compliance, ethical obligations, and business needs is significant. Boards have three primary functions: to establish policies, to make meaningful and strategic decisions, and to oversee the organization's activity (Arnwine, 2002) Policymaking Effective execution of policy is necessary to fulfill the other two roles. Policies define the focus and differentiate responsibilities among the board, the management, and the medical staff. Well-written policies lead to more efficient board functioning. Instead of having the same matter or very similar issues on the agenda repeatedly, the board can develop a strategy that covers the topic and leave the implementation of the policy to management. Boards have approximately 24 hours together each year, spread over regular meetings; thus, it is essential to use that time wisely (Asahak et al., 2018) Decision making Decision making involves making choices about the organization's vision, mission, and strategies. Boards make decisions about issues that are strategic and significant, such as whether to enter an affiliation agreement with another organization. As decision-makers, boards can also delegate non-governance types of decisions to others, but it is noted that such decisions should still have them as the final authority for approving or denying a project that can have a significant impact on the organization (Jurkiewicz, 2012). Oversight Oversight is an essential function, but boards must remember that the organization is theirs to oversee, not to manage. Some boards cross the line and try to involve themselves in management. Nevertheless, in the oversight role, the board is legally responsible for everything that happens within the hospital, whether in the emergency department, a clinic, or a nursing unit. In the area of quality, for example, the board's oversight role may include setting the tone by stating that the organization is committed to quality; establishing policies related to quality, such as credentialing; ensuring that mechanisms are in place, such as committees, to establish a quality plan; and monitoring implementation of the plan (Knecht & Kazemek, 2006). Internal Conflict Resolution A conventional conflict is when one or more members of the board disagree on a significant issue with the executive director. Again, the board chair has a strategic role in bringing both sides together, although board directors and the executive director also have responsibility for their behavior and their approach to solving the dispute. Board chairs need to remind board directors and managers to respect the fact that they each have different types of authority and to work toward developing mutual trust (Knecht & Kazemek, 2006). Sharing information between parties should be expected on both ends and should not be a reason for either party to be on the defensive. Conflict Resolution The board chair needs to assess the topics for discussion and move more quickly through agenda items where everyone agrees or