Reference no: EM133791584

Homework: Healthcare Administration Capstone: COVID-19 Pandemic

Course Objectives:

1) Apply and integrate the concepts and knowledge from prior general management and health care administration courses to industry-relevant challenges.

2) Assess the relevant strategic decision-making and implementation issues within a healthcare organization.

COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is a pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020. According to WHO, as of December 17, 2023, more than 770,000,000 cases had been confirmed worldwide, with nearly 7 million deaths attributed to COVID-19. As of December 17, 2023, the United States had more than 6 million people hospitalized because of COVID-19 cases, with more than 1 million deaths; these numbers are continuously updated; CDC COVID Tracker.

The pandemic caused global social and economic disruption, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression. COVID-19 has led to the postponement or cancellation of events, widespread supply shortages exacerbated by panic buying, agricultural disruption, and food shortages, and decreased emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Educational institutions have been partially or fully closed. Misinformation has circulated through social media and mass media. There have been incidents of xenophobia and discrimination against Chinese people and against those perceived as being Chinese or as being from areas with high infection rates.

The pandemic has affected the political systems of multiple countries, causing suspensions of legislative activities, isolations or deaths of multiple politicians, and rescheduling of elections due to fears of spreading the virus. Although they have broad support among epidemiologists, social distancing measures have been politically controversial in many countries. The pandemic has had many impacts on global health beyond those caused by COVID-19 disease.

It has led to a reduction in hospital visits for other reasons. In several countries, there has been a marked reduction in the spread of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, attributable to COVID-19 quarantines, social distancing measures, and recommendations to not engage in casual sex. Similarly, in some places, rates of transmission of influenza and other respiratory viruses significantly decreased during the pandemic. The pandemic has also negatively impacted mental health globally, including increased loneliness resulting from social distancing and depression and domestic violence from lockdowns.

The pandemic has resulted in misinformation and conspiracy theories about the scale of the pandemic and the origin, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Journalists have been arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the pandemic. It has also been propagated by celebrities, politicians, and other prominent public figures.

As of December 17, 2023, in the United States, (a) California, (b) Texas, (c) Florida, and (d) New York led the nation in positive COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Task

You are the CEO / COO of a Hospital in one (choose one) of the above-mentioned states and in 1000 to 1200 words, in MEMO format, please discuss the following about the COVID-19 response as it pertains to the selected state your hospital is located:

1) What were three areas that went well with the response?
2) What were three significant challenges with the response?
3) What were three ways in which the response could have been improved?

We discussed Fayol's Five Functions of Management: (i) Planning, (ii) organizing, (iii) coordinating, (iv) commanding, and (v) controlling. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Regional Hospital, how would you augment your healthcare facility's pandemic preparedness and response plan? Discuss which ways you would utilize Fayol's Fifth Function of Management, controlling into enhancing your facilities' pandemic preparedness and response plan. You must reference Fayol in your response to receive credit for this area.