Overview In this assignment, you will analyze three healthcare scenarios using external analysis concepts to identify key issues and determine which are most significant.
Scenarios Scenario 1: A Generational Shift
You are the Director of Strategy at Summit Health System. Over the past year, your organization has noticed a steady decline in primary care visits among patients ages 18–40. Internal data shows that primary care visits in this group have dropped by 15%, no-show rates for younger patients have increased, and preventive care utilization is declining.
At the same time, new competitors are entering your market. A national app-based provider now offers 24/7 virtual visits, same-day prescriptions, and AI-supported symptom checking. Other organizations in your region are also beginning to offer “digital-first” health plans that prioritize virtual care, and social media advertising for these services emphasizes speed, convenience, and “no waiting rooms.”
Summit Health has a limited telehealth platform with restricted hours and no AI-supported tools for patient interaction. Fortunately for now, satisfaction scores are strong among older patients, but there is declining engagement among younger ones.
Additional data complicates the situation. Overall patient volume at Summit Health has remained stable due to growth in older populations, and revenue has not yet declined significantly. Some physicians see digital care as low-quality, while others believe Summit’s system is falling behind. Some executives believe this is a temporary trend driven by convenience and marketing, while others argue this represents a fundamental shift in how younger patients access care. Leadership has not taken a unified approach to addressing the trend. Some departments are experimenting with limited digital options while others continue traditional care models without changes.
Scenario 2: Respiratory Surge
You are the Director of Strategy at Oakridge Regional Medical Center. Over the past three weeks, emergency department visits for respiratory symptoms have increased by 24%. Patients are presenting with coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and several cases have progressed rapidly, requiring ICU admission within 24 hours. ICU capacity has reached 88%, and respiratory therapy staff are reporting unusually high demand.
Two developments may be connected to the surge. A large manufacturing plant in your service area experienced an equipment failure that released airborne irritants into the surrounding community, affecting several nearby neighborhoods. At the same time, the county health department has issued an advisory about a possible seasonal respiratory illness that appears to be spreading earlier and more aggressively than expected. It is unclear whether the surge is caused by environmental exposure, an emerging illness, a combination of both, or something else.
Internally, the situation is becoming increasingly strained. Emergency and ICU teams are pushing for immediate action, including diverting patients and increasing staffing. Some physicians believe those teams are overreacting and argue that more data is needed before changing operations. Communication between departments has become inconsistent, with different units responding in different ways and some departments even creating their own informal workarounds rather than following system-wide protocols. Frontline staff reports confusion about procedures and growing frustration.
At the leadership level, disagreement is escalating, and leadership has not yet issued a system-wide directive on how departments should respond. Operations leaders are focused on capacity and staffing shortages, clinical leaders are divided on the cause and severity of the issue, finance leaders are concerned about rising costs and potential disruption to scheduled procedures, and the executive team has not reached consensus on whether this is a temporary spike or the beginning of a larger crisis.
Scenario 3: Technology Failure
You are the Director of Strategy at Meridian Health System. One morning, multiple hospitals across your system begin reporting system failures. Within hours, it becomes clear that a major third-party technology platform used for electronic health records, scheduling, and billing has gone offline. Patient records are inaccessible across all facilities, lab and imaging results are delayed or unavailable, registration and scheduling systems are down, and staff are documenting care on paper and creating workarounds. By the afternoon, national news outlets report that the vendor is experiencing a widespread system failure affecting hospitals across multiple states. No timeline for recovery has been provided.
The situation is escalating rapidly. Emergency departments are experiencing delays in triage and treatment. Some procedures have been postponed due to missing information, and staff are frustrated and unsure which processes to follow. Patients are beginning to question whether it is safe to receive care.
Regulatory agencies are requesting updates on patient safety. A competing hospital in your region has publicly stated that its systems remain fully operational. Media coverage is increasing, raising concerns about health system reliability, and cybersecurity experts suggest the outage may be related to a coordinated attack, though this has not been confirmed.
Internally, IT leaders believe the issue will be resolved quickly once the vendor restores service. Clinical leaders are concerned about patient safety and are calling for immediate operational changes, but operations leaders are focused on maintaining throughput and minimizing disruption. Finance leaders are worried about billing interruptions and revenue loss. Different facilities within the Meridian Health System have begun responding in different ways, with some canceling procedures and others continuing operations as planned. Leadership has not yet communicated a consistent system-wide response, leading to uncertainty across teams.
Instructions In a paper of 3 to 4 pages total (about one page per scenario), please complete the following for each scenario above:
Evaluate 2-3 key external trends or issues in the scenario, including how they are likely to develop over time and their potential impact on the organization. Prioritize the most significant issue based on its potential impact and likelihood of continuing, supported by evidence from the scenario. Present analyses using logical organization and proper grammar and mechanics, including utilization of references and in-text citations in proper SWS format. This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
Evaluate external issues and their significance for a healthcare organization based on their potential impact.