Change and Cultural Case Study 2
Change and Culture Case Study II
Six months after the merger of Mercy Medical Hospitals and the Promedica Health Systems, the new administration initiated a significant reduction in workforce. The decision was made to redesign patient care delivery. The administration’s first job redesign recommendation was that of a universal worker. The universal worker would deliver many support services. Although this is not a fail proof system, the administration wanted other options to be considered as well.
The term universal worker is used when a person is cross trained in many departments, and therefore has a little more assignment flexibility. They are often used in call centers and hospitals to alleviate staff shortages and provide better service without the difficulties of processing so many referrals or dealing with call transfers (webAnswers.com2010). Depending upon the setting, universal worker may be more beneficial. One area that would fall within this area would be assisted living facilities; some of which have been affected since the merger. While some assisted living facilities still operate within this model, the industry as a whole is moving toward a more holistic approach to care in which the universal worker attends to all the daily living needs of their residents: assistance with ADLs, meal service, light housekeeping, laundry, programming, etc. Rather than dealing with four or five different people to have their needs met, residents are able to relate to one or two staff members who actually know them and are familiar with their needs, their routines, their likes and dislikes. The result is care that is more personal, customized and consistent (Widdes, 1996).
An additional benefit is increased efficiency in staffing, i.e., while the caregiver is assisting a resident with his bathing, dressing and so on, he or she may also be able to perform other duties, rather than having to call someone to dust off a countertop or clean a bathroom. Ultimately, this
Six months after the merger of Mercy Medical Hospitals and the Promedica Health Systems, the new administration initiated a significant reduction in workforce. The decision was made to redesign patient care delivery. The administration’s first job redesign recommendation was that of a universal worker. The universal worker would deliver many support services. Although this is not a fail proof system, the administration wanted other options to be considered as well.
The term universal worker is used when a person is cross trained in many departments, and therefore has a little more assignment flexibility. They are often used in call centers and hospitals to alleviate staff shortages and provide better service without the difficulties of processing so many referrals or dealing with call transfers (webAnswers.com2010). Depending upon the setting, universal worker may be more beneficial. One area that would fall within this area would be assisted living facilities; some of which have been affected since the merger. While some assisted living facilities still operate within this model, the industry as a whole is moving toward a more holistic approach to care in which the universal worker attends to all the daily living needs of their residents: assistance with ADLs, meal service, light housekeeping, laundry, programming, etc. Rather than dealing with four or five different people to have their needs met, residents are able to relate to one or two staff members who actually know them and are familiar with their needs, their routines, their likes and dislikes. The result is care that is more personal, customized and consistent (Widdes, 1996).
An additional benefit is increased efficiency in staffing, i.e., while the caregiver is assisting a resident with his bathing, dressing and so on, he or she may also be able to perform other duties, rather than having to call someone to dust off a countertop or clean a bathroom. Ultimately, this
References: An Organization Redesign Process. (2006-2011). Retrieved from http://www.leadership-and-motivation-training.com/organization-redesign-process.html Learning Organisations: People Behaviour. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/MENG/MEAB/lo_index.html Margerison, C., & McCann, D. (2000). Team Management: Practical New Approaches. New York: NY: Management Books. Smith, M. K. (2001). Peter Senge and the learning organization [Magazine]. Infed.org. Retrieved from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/senge.htm WebAnswers.combeta. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.webanswers.com/social-sciences/what-does-universal-worker-mean-b665ca Widdes, T. (April, 2000). Assisted living’s universal worker [Article]. CBS interactive Business Network. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/article/mi_m/is_n4_v45/ai_18335705/