Decision-Making in Health and Medicine

Decision-making is the process of selecting a course of action from among available alternatives for purposes of addressing a particular matter or concern. It is one of the primary responsibilities held by managers, occupying a significant portion of their time, regardless of their level within institutional hierarchies. Nonmanagerial employees also are responsible for making many decisions. Decisions have the potential to profoundly impact health and medical establishments. This impact can be positive, in cases where good decisions are made, or negative, in cases where bad decisions are made. Given the competitive nature of the healthcare industry, constantly changing environments, and sensitivities associated with delivering health and medicine, healthcare providers must be extremely careful to avoid missteps associated with poor choices. As such, they must strive to consistently make good decisions that collectively plot clear and expedient pathways toward mission fulfillment. Improved decision-making begins with acquiring a thorough understanding of the concept. Associated knowledge, outlined in this chapter, can help to guide healthcare managers as they go about making decisions on behalf of their given establishments, bolstering their potential to make choices which advance operations and foster excellence in the delivery of health and medicine.