External environmental analysis: theory and practice.
The tendency of the hospital industry to plan by default--reacting to environmental change--is gradually evolving toward formal processes for monitoring change. External environmental analysis, a crucial component of strategic planning, is evaluated from a theoretical point of view. The need for developing and implementing systematic processes, their essential elements, and potential benefits are explored. The concept in practice is examined at the design and implementation stages using Sinai Hospital in Detroit, Michigan as an example.
D006302:Health Services Research; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008824:Michigan; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012922:Social Change