Section (A)Short QuestionsQues1.Discuss the key roles and responsibilities of a hospital administrator and outline the essential qualities that define an effective hospital administrator. How do these qualities contribute to the successful management of a hospital? (5 marks)Ques2.Explain the importance of quality management in hospitals and describe two key quality management programs commonly implemented in healthcare settings. How do these programs contribute to improving patient care and hospital efficiency? (5 marks)Section (B)Case StudiesCase Study1: (25 marks)Metropolitan General Hospital (MGH), a prominent healthcare facility in a bustling urban center, faced an unprecedented crisis when a powerful earthquake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck the city. Known for its comprehensive medical services, including a fully functional emergency department (casualty services), outpatient services, day care units, a state-of-the-art operating department, and advanced diagnostic facilities, MGH was immediately thrust into a state of emergency. Within minutes of the earthquake, the hospital’s emergency response plan was activated to manage the surge of injured patients. The casualty department swiftly set up a triage area in the hospital’s parking lot, enabling healthcare professionals to assess and categorize incoming patients based on the severity of their injuries using a color-coded system: red for critical, yellow for moderate, green for minor, and black for deceased or beyond help. The influx of patients, including those with head injuries, spinal fractures, crush injuries, and severe bleeding, required immediate and effective resource management.MGH’s disaster preparedness plan, which had been regularly updated and rehearsed through drills, played a crucial role in the hospital’s response. The plan facilitated rapid mobilization of all hospital staff, including off-duty personnel, to support emergency operations. Security staff helped manage the crowd, while administrative personnel assisted with patient registration and internal communication. The hospital had strategically stockpiled essential medical supplies, such as IV fluids, blood, pain relief medications, splints, and surgical kits, ensuring that immediate needs were met. The establishment of a command center enabled effective communication and coordination among departments, and with external agencies like local fire departments, police, and regional health authorities, providing additional support in patient transfer and crowd control.To manage the overwhelming number of patients, MGH adapted its outpatient services, temporarily suspending non-urgent appointments and converting outpatient areas into treatment spaces for patients with moderate injuries. Medical staff from various departments were reassigned to these areas to prevent the emergency room from becoming overloaded. Additionally, the hospital’s day care units, typically reserved for minor procedures and short-term observation, were repurposed to provide continuous monitoring for patients who needed observation but did not require immediate surgery. This included patients with head injuries, fractures, and minor internal injuries, who were closely monitored by nurses and junior doctors to ensure their conditions did not deteriorate.The operating department was under significant strain due to the high volume of trauma cases requiring urgent surgical intervention. All operating theaters were fully staffed, and surgical teams worked around the clock to perform life-saving procedures such as managing internal bleeding, performing amputations, and stabilizing fractures. Elective surgeries scheduled for the week were postponed to prioritize critical trauma cases. Meanwhile, the hospital’s diagnostic services faced an influx of requests for X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to assess internal injuries, necessitating extended working hours for radiologists and technicians. Despite the hospital’s well-coordinated response, challenges emerged, including delays in treatment due to the sheer volume of patients, shortages of some specialized equipment, and occasional communication breakdowns between departments. These challenges underscored the importance of having a robust disaster management plan, efficient resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination to handle such crises effectively.Case Study Questions:Ques1.How did the disaster preparedness plan of MGH contribute to managing the earthquake crisis effectively? (5 marks) Hospital Administration – Discuss the key help they provide. Ques2.What strategies did MGH use to handle the surge of patients in the emergency and casualty departments? (5 marks)Ques3.How did MGH ensure continuous monitoring for patients who required observation but not immediate surgery? (5 marks)Ques4.In what ways did the operating department adapt to the increased demand for surgical interventions during the crisis? (5 marks)Ques5.What were some of the challenges MGH faced during the earthquake crisis, and how could these be addressed in future preparedness plans? (5 marks)Case Study2: (25 marks)Background: Alpha Tech Inc., a rapidly growing software development company, specializes in creating innovative solutions for businesses in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and retail. The company is known for its agile work environment and its emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. With a workforce of over 500 employees spread across multiple departments, effective management practices are essential for Alpha Tech to maintain productivity, meet project deadlines, and achieve strategic goals.Scenario: Recently, Alpha Tech secured a high-profile contract with a major financial institution to develop a new digital banking platform. The project is expected to significantly enhance Alpha Tech’s reputation in the industry and increase its market share. However, the project also presents several challenges, including a tight deadline, high client expectations, and the need for coordination among multiple departments. The project involves a cross-functional team comprising software developers, UI/UX designers, project managers, quality assurance specialists, and business analysts.Planning: The project planning phase is crucial for setting the foundation of the digital banking platform. The project management team at Alpha Tech, led by Sarah Thompson, the Senior Project Manager, develops a detailed project plan outlining the scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies. A Gantt chart is created to visualize the project schedule, and a work breakdown structure (WBS) is developed to break down the project into manageable tasks. Sarah ensures that each task is assigned to the appropriate team members, considering their expertise and workload.Information System: To streamline project management and ensure real-time tracking of progress, Alpha Tech implements a robust project management information system (PMIS). The PMIS integrates with existing tools such as Jira and Slack, enabling seamless collaboration among team members. The system provides dashboards that display key project metrics, including task completion rates, budget utilization, and resource availability. It also facilitates document sharing, version control, and real-time updates, ensuring that all stakeholders