COMMUNICATION PLAN: SOUTHWEST MEDICAL

CENTER James Carter

AET/560July 11, 2016

Dr. Natasha Spellman

INTRODUCTION

Located in Liberal, Kansas, Southwest Medical Center (SWMC) operates as a not-for-profit acute care hospital. As the hospital evolves in a changing industry one of the goals is "Keeping Quality Healthcare Close to Home". This means recruiting & retaining highly skilled Physicians, investing in state-of-the-art medical technology and providing compassionate patient service. There will be a renovation to the hospital that will cause that wing to move into temporary housing. Southwest Medical are advancing at a large rate, adding new wings on to the never ending growing facility.

COMMUNICATION PLAN CONTENT

How to launch Technology needed Effectiveness The impact of management's response Generating feedback for continuous improvement Negative responses Communications about the change communication plan can help produce organizational change

HOW TO LAUNCH

• Educating the public about the improvements needed within the hospital.

• Recruiting program participants or beneficiaries

• Recruiting volunteers to help with your work• Raising money to fund the renovations• Countering the arguments, mistakes, or,

occasionally, the lies or misrepresentations of those opposed to your work.

TECHNOLOGY NEEDEDTo ensure the communication plan is successful requires the use of technology to ensure information gets to all levels within the southwest medical organization. This includes tools needed for explaining change data, surveys for feedback as well as instructional tools for training new procedures. Providing information needed for decision-making will require a variety of data slides showing not only patient statistics but also worker status both in the field and in the classroom. the use of responsibility charting is helpful in keeping track of who is responsible for a particular area of the change process. While one manager is working on gathering feedback from workers about how they feel about the renovations another is working on establishing the training program to address those concerns. Establishing accountability will ensure the change process stays on track while feedback through surveys will determine whether or not communication is effective.

EFFECTIVENESS

Testing the effectiveness of the communication plan can be done through feedback and observation throughout the southwest medical center organization. While surveys can be used to gather worker input, having face-to-face contact will produce better results of how workers feel about the upcoming change. Surveys may show workers are not satisfied but observing will show how the workers are reacting to the information provided. Worker resistance can be a sure sign the communication process is failing.

THE IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSE

If management is providing effective communication throughout the organization the workers will be asking questions for clarification but will understand the need for the change. If management is not providing effective communication then managers may see resistance in the form of disruptions within the work area as well as some workers trying to sway others against the change. The response by management to organizational change will be tested by how much worker support they provide. By showing workers that they share the same values management will gain trust in the decisions they are making will benefit everyone and not just management

GENERATING FEEDBACK FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

❏ Surveys ❏ Discussion Boards ❏ Interviews ❏ Change websites ❏ Team meetings

NEGATIVE RESPONSES

The negative responses to change can be limited by appealing to the workers sense of dedication in helping the sick. . Seeking participation in the change process by asking for worker input can also assist management in limiting negative responses. While positive strategies work best to redirect negative responses to change, control and pressure strategies may be the only way to resolve the disruptions caused by resistance workers. Keeping communication open not only helps address negative responses but organizational change as well.

COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE

• Having a communication plan affects organizational change by identifying the need, getting top management support, seeking feedback, and focusing resources. The southwest medical center has identified the need for change due to outdated technology and minimal space within the hospital both at which are considered safety issues. The communication plan helps gain support from top management and stakeholders in promoting the change across the organization as well as ensuring communication avenues are open and address the needs of the workers during the change process. The communication plan is also used to focus resources by identifying levels of responsibilities and holding accountable those who are guiding the change to ensure success.

COMMUNICATION PLAN CAN HELP PRODUCE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

Without a communication plan in place there is no clear direction by southwest management only chaos leading to worker frustration and confusion about the impending change. With open communication and a good plan the southwest medical canter will make the transition through the new change with no problem due in part by their committed workers who are dedicated to the cause.

REFERENCES:

• Economy, P. (2013). 5 ways to get your Employees to speak up, Internet Search, Inc., The Leadership Guy.

• McQuerrey, L. (2016). Ways to Increase Communication between Managers & Employees, Internet Search