1. Identify the problem the DSS will help decision makers solve
Implementation of the Decision Support Systems in running of organizational management needs will target specific problems in order to increase efficiency and eliminate poor performance. The most important elements of the DSS that every management setting aims to achieve are mainly driven by the need to remain vigilant on quality service delivery as well as cost benefit analysis results. While profitability may not be a reason good enough to facilitate appropriate performance reviews, certain industries must represent quality service delivery in their effective decision making processes. One of such industries is the healthcare industry whose sensitive interaction with human life dictates focus on quality ahead of profitability (Malhotra, 1989). It is imperative therefore that the effective DSS in such industries include some of the most important healthcare issues on the system blueprint to assist in tackling both quality and profitability in a single agenda. Patients’ needs are important in the system as human resource needs encompassed under the DSS. Some of the problems that will be targeted in the designed DSS will include various departmental issues that need management input in different respects such as;
Management of patients’ health records in terms of entry and retrieval
Provide an efficient patient progress tracking procedures
Consolidation of various facilities under the institution’s capacity for enhancement and elimination of idle capacity
Following up specific patient care through real time caregiver’s activities tracking systems
Collection of patients’ satisfaction scores for application in performance enhancement through efficient customer experience backed service delivery reviews
Assist in control and management of staffing needs through staff monitoring data
Drugs and equipment procurement management systems
Facility administration and related allocation and delegation of responsibilities to track performance
Human resource monitoring, performance appraisal and motivation management
2. Build: Describe the major steps in developing the DSS and define the various types of testing the DSS will need before implementing the prototype
Development
Initial stages of the building process of a customized DSS will involve the internalization of the organization needs and outline in the basic structure. This will include determining the needs of the organizational decision making process and integrate them in the structural component of the DSS. The organizational and management structural designs will be dissected for integration in the DSS structural design to make it compatible with the computer based system. Various management areas that require focus and input through the decision making highlight will be pointed out and roles attached for enhancement through DSS (Dahm and Wadensten, 2008). Functional units of the entire organization will also be pointed out for easier monitoring via the computer system.
Using this functional and structural integration, it will be easy for the DSS to pick up various decisions making needs and prompt the management to act on a number of options that the system has. This will be the case for patient care processes, employees monitoring and welfare needs as well as the facility control and management decision making inputs. Connecting all the decision making needs to a central detection system will facilitate the building phase to be completed.
Testing
Testing the workability of the DSS will include various phases of implementation to avoid a system failure or clash disabling the operations of the entire organization. The three basic areas of input will be implemented and tested differently while the current management systems are still in place. Once the desired results are received, the new system will be full implemented and the ineffective system laid aside. Performance efficiency in coverage of the important input areas will be compared between the current system and the new DSS application.
Buy: Define the type of DSS you will buy and describe the major steps and criteria you will use in selecting the DSS vendor and software
Type
The Horizon Expert system will be implemented as it befits the healthcare system as observed by McKesson (2007). Horizon Expert DSS application is a management program that enables the management of the healthcare facility needs with a side range of specificity and optimization opportunities. Some of the most important data sources that enable the implementation of Horizon Expert cover patient care needs, employee management as well as various facility monitoring and control needs making it an important tool in healthcare.
Selection Criteria
When determining the DSS vendor and type for buying, it was important to consider the cost element and the quality of the product with an aim of determining the best package in the market. Besides the quality and cost, the implementation aspects, ease of operation as well as compatibility with the organizational setting became very instrumental in the purchasing process. Based on the internal needs that need to be included in the decision making framework, it was inevitable to include the most important targets list that the effective DSS must cover. It came out clear that the Horizon Expert is better than most other healthcare DSS packages that the market had.
3. Describe the user and management involvement in the implementation approach, goal development and implementation and evaluation planning and how you will obtain management and user “buy-in?”
Implementation Approach
In order for the DSS package to meet the intended needs, both the users’ and the managements’ attention in the implementation program is irreplaceable. Cooperation and assistance from all sections of the organization are needed in the implementation of a new system that brings in changes to old ways of carrying out business. In respect to a healthcare needs that the management ought to streamline in a comprehensive management plan, the need to facilitate the appropriate understanding must be well served (Dahm and Wadensten, 2008). Some training may be needed to ensure that there is cooperation among the various stakeholders in the DSS implementation program.
Goal Development and Implementation
It is imperative that initial implementation targets are outlined in advance to enhance the realization of the desired changes. Various management levels and staff must set out their targets to be met through the DSS, to act as implementation yardsticks. Goal development regarding the implementation will need to be focused on the new management capacity created by the DSS application likely to factor in enhancements.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the DSS performance will be evaluated on the performance enhancement criteria that will focus on the changes brought in upon implementation. Since the DSS has clearly defined areas of management where input is needed in terms of enhancement, it is easy to monitor changes.
Obtaining Buy-In
Where some aspects of outsourcing are needed for the implementation of the DSS, it will be identified on the technical implementation needs against the current internal capacity. In case there are aspects of implementation that demand a buy-in arrangement, the necessary implementation outsourcing will be procured from the program supplier.
References
Dahm, M. & Wadensten, B. (2008) “Nurses’ Experiences of and Opinions about Using Standardized Care Plans in Electronic Health Records – A Questionnaire Study,” Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(16):2137-2145. <Doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02377.x>
Malhotra, N. K. (1989) “Decision Support Systems for Healthcare Marketing Managers,” Journal of Healthcare Marketing, 9(2):20-28
McKesson, (2007) Making Care Planning Relevant. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK “http://www.mckesson.com/static_files/McKesson.com/MPT/Documents/Making%20Care%20Planning%20Relevant_HorizonExpertPlan_WHT259.pdf” http://www.mckesson.com/static_files/McKesson.com/MPT/Documents/Making%20Care%20Planning%20Relevant_HorizonExpertPlan_WHT259.pdf.
Jermaine Byrant
Nicole Johnson
OVER
RATING
YEARS
