Kaiser Permanente

Question 1

Objective

The objective of Kaiser Permanente is to improve health. It means achieving the best level of health for all people throughout the life cycle, which in turn means having an effective health system. However, sometimes a firm can protect or improve health of the average population disproportionately, by serving the needs of certain groups. Therefore, the Kaiser Permanente also has the responsibility of reducing inequalities, improving health, for those who are at disadvantage. As a result, the health system must also be equitable. In addition, the Kaiser Permanente must also provide appropriate treatment of users of health services, which means providing health services in a way that respects the dignity, autonomy and confidentiality of the information. This is true, both for curative services and for services offered through prevention campaigns and health promotion.

Scope

The scope of the Kaiser Permanente relies on health promotion, which provides people the means to improve their health and adopt a healthy lifestyle. To achieve an adequate level of physical, mental and social needs, individuals or population groups should be able to identify and meet their basic needs and their ability to change and adapt to their environment. Health should be seen not only as an objective, but also as a daily source of happiness. The promotion of health is, therefore, not the exclusive domain of the health sector.

Advantages

It is extremely common to see patients waiting in long queues outside the emergency room. The expected waiting time in the United States is 3.2 hours. Therefore, Kaiser Permanente offers a new service that allows patients, except that they are in a matter of life or death, reduce waiting time by calling or registering online.

After pre-registration, the patient informs the hospital of his injury or illness in order to reserve the time available. In 75% of cases, users are served immediately, but if not served within 15 minutes, the hospital does not charge for visits, diagnostic services, and service professionals. In addition, the firm also has the following advantages (Piggot, Pp. 117-164): Kaiser Permanente has the licenses and permits to provide the services it offers.

Spacious and modern facilities.

We adjusted the guidelines of mandatory quality assurance in health through continuous improvement and customer focused attention.

The firm has high quality professionals, appropriate in each of the specialties and services.

The company has more than 50 years of experience in providing health services.

Figure 1 Activity System Map

Question 2

Resource based View

A firm consists of a frame (structure), some possessions (resources and capabilities), an ability to undertake activities (processes) and ability to react to environment surrounding in it and control the activities it takes in order to ensure its survival as efficiently as possible (performance). Firms originate at a point in time, develop and attain a shape (growth), continue in this world for a period of time battling the environment and finally may become nonexistent either through dissolution or integration into other firms. The resource based view focuses on unique capabilities that may allow Kaiser Permanente to outperform others and when these strategic ...