HOSPITAL VULNERABILITIES IN THE 21-st CENTURY

Year 2019, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 111 - 128, 16.09.2019

Dan Sava

https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.541904

Abstract

 

The purpose of this paper is to raise
awareness about the future vulnerabilities of hospitals. It is based on current
literature on hospital organization and management, open sources, personal
experience and estimations of the author

 

The hospital is defined and a
classification is made based on structure and functionality. Vulnerabilities
vary according to the profile of the hospital, and they can be internal (weaknesses) or
external (threats).
The internal vulnerabilities can be conceptual, structural and functional
weaknesses. The external vulnerabilities can be general or specific threats. Every
vulnerability is described in the context of various types of hospitals, and
possible counter measures are suggested.

 

Hospitals’
weaknesses emerge from their lack of flexibility and competitiveness and from
their structural and functioning flaws. Most frequently, the threats menacing
hospitals derive from epidemiological change and lack of resources, an
unbalance between the demand for and the supply of care. To overcome their
vulnerabilities they need to take specific actions and be supported by the
Ministry of Health.

 

The paper provides
managers and policy-makers estimations regarding hospital vulnerabilities,
suggesting also possible actions to reduce these vulnerabilities or their
effects.

 

Keywords: hospital vulnerabilities,
weaknesses, threats.

Keywords

hospital vulnerabilities, weaknesses, threats

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