Key Challenges:

Coordination Across Departments: The functional structure, while efficient in managing specific departments, has led to silos within the organization. This lack of coordination across departments has sometimes resulted in fragmented patient care, where patients experience delays or inconsistencies as they move from one department to another.

Adaptability and Innovation: The rigid nature of the functional structure has made it difficult for County General Hospital to adapt quickly to changes in the healthcare environment, such as the need to implement new technologies or respond to public health crises like the recent pandemic. The hospital needs a more flexible structure to foster innovation and responsiveness.

Resource Allocation: While the functional structure has traditionally allowed for effective resource management within departments, it has also led to inefficiencies in how resources are shared across the hospital. Some departments face shortages while others have excess capacity, leading to uneven patient experiences.

Patient$-$Centered Care: As patient needs become more complex, the hospital's leadership recognizes the importance of a more integrated, patient$-$centered approach to care. The current functional structure may not support the level of interdisciplinary collaboration needed to deliver seamless, holistic care.

Objectives: The leadership team at County General Hospital has asked you, the Chief Administrative Officer, to evaluate the current functional structure and explore alternative organizational models that could better support the hospital$$s mission of providing high$-$quality, accessible care to all patients. The goal is to identify a structure that will enhance coordination, improve resource allocation, foster innovation, and support patient$-$centered care.The proposed organizational structure for ABC Hospital is a service line structure. A service line structure organizes the hospital$$s operations around specific lines of care, such as cardiology, oncology, or orthopedics.