Rural Heath Authority

Introduction

As board member of the Rural Heath Authority (RAH) I am to review the draft budget, while realizing the board's collective values.

Analysis of the case

As this is a budgeting case without numbers, I have been able to analyze several key factors associated with the case. Many of these factors are associated with the provision of health care under prevailing conditions, such as the sudden influx of immigrant population, to the province and the increasing number of elderly individuals. Due to these factors it is evident that pressure has been felt on many of the health services and programs in the region ranging from obstetrics, prenatal and postpartum care to immunization and school based health care programs. It is also evident that the Rural Health Authority deals with health services where operating costs tends to fluctuate majority of the time, for example the operation of ambulances, where the fact of fluctuating fuels costs cannot be over looked. Another major factor that has also caught my attention is the low number of hospital beds per capita in the region, as this factor can often lead to delivering poor patient care.

Identify major issues

When examining the issues associated with the case, it is important not to over look any concerns that have been raised in the text. These concerns include meeting the future health care needs of the region where the population is expanding at a rate where the health services are unable meet the service needs due to lack of funding. Another issue that has managed to be on top is the existing budget deficit of $3 million dollars for the upcoming fiscal year, and the impacts of running such a deficit. As indicated above, it is evident that the RHB's health services are already at it's full capacity, and without adequate funding to maintain and expand these services, the RHB could fail to uphold it's values. I believe this is another concern that needs to be addressed if RHB is to provide the vision it has upheld in the previous years. When considering a budget deficit, the board must also consider it's feasibility in the long run, and take into account the feasibility of cutting or reducing health programs and services in the region. Lastly, another potential issue that can be addressed is the alternative ways of balancing the budget deficit without hindering RHB's current programs and services, which includes promoting the development and delivery of alternative and less expensive services, to the public.

Possible solutions

by addressing the question of my personal perspective on the looming budget cut.

As a member of the RHA board, I have been able to analyze