Influence of External Environmental Challenges on Strategic Responses of Private Hospitals in Nairobi City County

Abstract

This research examined the influence of external environmental chllenges on strategic responses of private hospitals in nairobi city county. The objective was to establish the influence of external environmental changes on strategic responses of private hospitals in Nairobi city County. The research will be of significance to the management private hospitals in nairobi city county, policy makers in health sectors and other scholars who indents to carry more studies on similar titles. Primary data was used in this study and was collected using a designed questionnaire.The questionnaire had both closed and open ended questions.The study used drop and pick method to distribute the questionaires.Since the population was small, a census survey was used. This research had a population of 349 private hospitals in Nairobi City County. The validity and reliability of the study was affirmed by carrying out a pre-research. The findings were then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively and presentation of data done by applying tables and figures. From the findings, 96% indicated that environmental challenges influences operations in private hospitals in nairobi city county. Respondents of 56% indicated that strategic responses do affect functions at private hospitals in Nairobi city county. The study made the following recommendations.First the health sector should involve all the stakeholders while developing strategies to counter environmental changes. The objectives should be applied uniformly to all sources depending on the level and nature of what they do.Further, hospitals should hire strategic managers.The managers should develop effective strategic plans to guide the hopitals.The plans should be future oriented and set on achievable goals.Hospitalsq must also place moreq emphasisq onq anq integratedq healthq serviceq strategyq andq recognisingq theq macroq environmentq influencesq their hospitals performance. The study also recons that the government through the ministry of health should come up with a seamless strategy to incorporate both the private and public hospitals in developing their vision plans in the health sector and ensure they provide sustainable and efficient policies to favour the hospitals.