Shouldice Hospital Case Study

Shouldice Case Shouldice Hospital has developed a highly specialized technique for hernia operations. This hospital has a competitive advantage to other organizations providing hernia operations because they us a superior method to repair the hernia, are able to maintain relatively low costs, and have high patient satisfaction. Their strategy is if focused mainly on the psychological affect operations can have on a patient. If a patient is fully sedated during the operation, and afterwards told to stay in bed their healing progresses much slower. The goal of Shouldice hospital is to have patients immediately active post operation. They tell the patient that they are able to get up and walk around, therefore the patient doesn’t feel “put

Employees are never fired from Shouldice Hospital. This means there is low employee turnover and the hospital does not have to use valuable resources to consistently loo for talent and fill positions. If an employee is not performing adequately mangers take corrective measures, be that by trying to help them through outside support groups or with continuous learning and perfecting the surgical techniques. For example, if a patient returns to Shouldice for a reoccurring hernia, the doctor assigned to operate on the patient is that same doctor that conducted the initial operation. Under supervision, the doctor is able to see where he/she made the pervious mistake, how to correct it, and overall how to improve and perfect his skill.

2. Shouldice Hospital compensates its employees very fairly. Employees earn pay rates higher than most union rates offer and receive annual bonuses. For reference, surgeons make 15% more than comparable surgeons in the area. The hospital is able to offer employees great benefits, due to the core strategy, which allows the hospital to cut costs in other areas. Employees who are compensated well are more likely to be committed to the organization, and in this case to the strategy of

Patient rooms are all double bed rooms with out telephones or televisions. This s to encourage the patients to be social and active. Roommates typically have similar backgrounds or share other common factors. This encourages socialization among the patients. If patients what to talk on the phone, watch TV, eat, or participate in any other activities they must leave their rooms to do so. This encourages patients to be active which supports the main goal of helping patients heal better.

3. Shouldice believes that it is important for patients to feel comfortable, like they are at home; they do not want the hospital to feel like a hospital. The facility is full of common spaces for patients to socialize and be active. . These are important pieces to achieving the strategy because if patients are comfortable in their environment, they are more likely to be social, and therefore more like to be active and progressive towards healing.

4. The facility is also fully carpeted, which is an important detail because the carpet makes the hospital smell more pleasing, unlike cleaners as a typical hospital does. It also provides a safety element, in the case of postoperative falls it is easier on impact. Once again, making the patients more comfortable and feel at