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  • November 2013 (Revised November 2014)
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Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital

By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:17
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Abstract

The case explores the challenges facing Massachusetts General Hospital concerning the adoption of a new infection control policy, which promises to improve operational performance, patient safety, and profitability. The new policy requires coordination between different departments within the hospital, namely the Emergency Department, the Infection Control Unit, and Admission Services. Students are initially asked to assess the operational, financial and clinical implications of the new policy. They are then asked to examine different approaches to its implementation.

Objective: The case allows readers to examine a setting where internal coordination across different departments provides significant aggregate benefits for an organization. Coordination in this case, however, also leads to inequitable allocation of costs and benefits across the different departments, which then provides students with an opportunity to explore various implementation challenges and strategies.

Keywords

Safety; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Integration; Health Care and Treatment; Policy; Health Industry; Boston

Citation

Huckman, Robert S., and Nikolaos Trichakis. "Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital." Harvard Business School Case 614-044, November 2013. (Revised November 2014.)
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About The Author

Robert S. Huckman

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • March 2015
    • Faculty Research

    Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital

    By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
    • November 2013 (Revised November 2014)
    • Faculty Research

    Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital

    By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
    • August 2017
    • Faculty Research

    Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital (Abridged)

    By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
Related Work
  • Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
  • Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
  • Infection Control at Massachusetts General Hospital (Abridged) By: Robert S. Huckman and Nikolaos Trichakis
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