One of the major strengths of Jackson Memorial Hospital there is its size and the fact that it allows professionals to develop further. The weaknesses of the medical facility consist of two major items. Quality improvement according to the US News website remains one of the major issues. The other concern is Non-competitive salaries. Among opportunities, there is patient education as a vital part of the quality of service. The crucial external threat is a highly competitive environment that can negatively influence client and employee retention.
A closer look at the components that constitute SWOT analysis will allow a more thorough examination of Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. When strengths are concerned, the hospital could be given credit for its size and high demand among patients. Since it is also a teaching hospital, professional employees could act as leaders providing assistance to trainees and apply for additional courses themselves. Moreover, the hospital offers to pay the tuition expenses, provided employees will work for some time in the hospital. Professional development programs are another opportunity for honing knowledge and skills.
As for the weaknesses, Jackson Memorial has room for improvement in several areas. Firstly, the hospital’s major concern is low patient satisfaction. According to Glassdoor and US news data on self-reported satisfaction levels, patients are not fully content with the quality of service they are offered in multiple spheres. That includes geriatrics with 34 points out of 100, cardiology and heart surgery with 25 out of 100, and other spheres. Patients’ self-reported experiences are also below average. There are complaints featuring low nurse responsiveness and unclear doctors’ explanations. Regarding personnel, the hospital seems to pay low wages that partially explains the level of service. According to Glassdoor and US News, average wages are 20 dollars per hour.
The introduction of patient education as a common practice could serve as an opportunity to increase patient satisfaction and improve health. A better understanding of medical conditions contributes to general awareness and less stress in patients. Expanding clients’ knowledge of medication administration and minor illness self-treatment could help prevent readmissions and also increase patient satisfaction. An ability to address minor conditions could prevent hospital staff from spending time on less intense cases and concentrating on acute medical help. Overall, patient education could potentially save time and enable doctors and nurses to be more patient-oriented. This could improve satisfaction with services provided by the hospital.
The major threat of the Jackson Memorial Hospital is its highly competitive environment. The market for medical services is represented by about 19 more hospitals. Since the rates of pay in Jackson Memorial are below average, employee retention could become a concern. This could lead to high-skilled professionals changing their place of employment leaving for higher-paid positions. This point of view was backed by one of the contributors to Glassdoor who worked there for one year. Despite the fact that the hospital under analysis is a country-owned organization, it should bring profit and stay competitive. Overall, low patient satisfaction is another reason why market competition could be a threat. Dissatisfied clients in a search for better care could opt for other hospitals in the vicinity.
Based on my own professional experience I could outline the major concerns for the administration of Jackson Memorial Hospital to have in mind. Firstly, as I already mentioned, low rates of pay in the situation of high competition and high demand for trained and skilled medical professionals is a serious issue that could have adverse consequences. Understaffing often harms hospitals and leads to their closure due to inadequate hiring and payment policy. Secondly, I would like to stress that quality improvement is paramount for addressing the persistent problem of patient satisfaction. Finally, Jackson Memorial exhibits the need for a frequent assessment of the market in order to stay competitive and make sure it offers the best service for patients and the best working environment for employees.
As for recommendations, I would suggest scaling up the rates of pay. This would eliminate the weakness of professionals seeking better employment opportunities. A competitive pay would also become a strength and together with opportunities for professional growth, Jackson Memorial will become the most wanted employer. Patient satisfaction is a top priority in any medical institution and it has a direct influence on its financial status. Therefore, it is vital to increase it by teaching staff to be more responsive and answer the patients’ questions in a way they could understand. Market strategies should become a new priority because a competitive market with strong players like the University of Miami Hospital or Memorial Hospital West could easily attract dissatisfied clients from Jackson Memorial.
Reference
Chang, D. (2014). Healthcare price averages don’t give Miami-Dade tools to cut costs. Web.
Glassdoor. (n.d.). Jackson Memorial Hospital employee reviews. Web.