Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times

MARIAN C. JENNINGS is president of Jennings Ryan & Kolb, anational management consulting firm providing services exclusivelyto the health care industry.

• Introduction. Understanding Risk and Uncertainty. Strategy Formulation in Health Care. Reducing Planning Risks through an Environmental Assessment. Envisioning the Future through Planning Assumptions. Tools to Address Uncertainty. Defining Strategic Intent. Developing Strategies and Measures of Success. Financial Planning in an Era of Uncertainty. Ensuring Success in Implementation. Summary and Conclusions. Glossary of Terms. References. Suggested Reading.

"The authors are real experts in planning, and it shows. They havecombined four powerful ingredients-decades of experience, awillingness to challenge conventional thinking, an approach that issimultaneously analytical and intuitive, and great clarity ofexpression-into a book that will reinvigorate planning in healthcare." (Lawrence D. Prybil, assistant dean and professor, Collegeof Public Health, University of Iowa) "Strategic planning is never easy, especially in chaotic times,With this book in hand, health care leaders--boards of trustees inparticular--will be much better equipped to fulfill their criticalresponsibility of setting sound strategic direction." (Rev. MichaelD. Place, president/CEO, Catholic Health Association, St. Louis,Missouri) "This insightful book provides original and practical direction tohealth care executives to develop meaningful strategy in a time ofuncertainty. Read it before you initiate your next planningproject." (Paul Maddrell, senior vice president, corporatestrategy, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois) "Health Care Strategy for Uncertain Times is state of the art, tothe point, and will be useful not only for beginners who arelooking for assistance, but also for those who are experienced inhealth care strategic planning." (Jeffrey A. Rivest, executive vicepresident and COO, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)