Prioritizing resource allocation for clinical enhancement: a participative methodology.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Administration
• Health Policy
• Hospital Management

Background:

• Hospital funding allocation for new and expanded clinical programs is a critical operational planning challenge.
• York Central Hospital faced annual difficulties in this resource allocation process.
• Effective budget development requires a robust system for prioritizing investments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a systematic prioritization process for hospital funding allocation.
• To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the operating plan (budget) development.
• To align financial investments with the hospital's strategic vision and directions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a standardized program proposal format.
• Implementation of a peer evaluation system for proposals.
• Grounding the process in the hospital's vision and strategic directions.
• Fostering a culture of evidence-based practice in decision-making.

Main Results:

• Successful design and implementation of the prioritization process.
• Improved ability to allocate hospital funding for clinical programs.
• Enhanced alignment of budget development with strategic objectives.

Conclusions:

• A standardized, evidence-based prioritization process can effectively address challenges in hospital funding allocation.
• Peer evaluation and strategic alignment are key components of successful resource management.
• The implemented process supports informed decision-making for hospital growth and development.