The document discusses the organizational structure of hospitals. It explains that hospital structure involves different levels of management and departments grouped by similarity of duties. Large hospitals tend to have complex structures while smaller hospitals have simpler structures. Common departmental groupings include administrative services, informational services, therapeutic services, diagnostic services, and support services. An example traditional organizational chart and symbolic pyramid structure are also provided.

1. Organizational
Structure of a Hospital

2. Organizational Structure refers to
levels of management within a hospital.
 Levels allow efficient management of
hospital departments.
 The structure helps one understand
the hospital’s chain of command.

3. Organizational structure varies
from hospital to hospital.
 Large hospitals have complex
organizational structures.
 Smaller hospitals tend to have much
simpler organizational structures.

4. Grouping of Hospital Departments
Within the Structure:
 Hospital departments are grouped in
order to promote efficiency of facility.
 Grouping is generally done according
to similarity of duties.

5. Common Categorical
Grouping:
 Administrative Services
 Informational Services
 Therapeutic Services
 Diagnostic Services
 Support Services

6. Administrative Services
 Hospital Administrators
CEO, Vice President(s), Executive
Assistants, Department Heads
 Business people who “run the hospital”
 Oversee budgeting and finance
 Establish hospital policies and
procedures
 Often perform public relation duties

7. Informational Services
 Document and process information
Includes:
3. Admissions
4. Billing & Collection
5. Medical Records
6. Computer Information Systems
7. Health Education
8. Human Resources

8.  Provides treatment to patients
Includes following departments:
3. Physical Therapy - treatment to improve
large muscle mobility
4. Occupational Therapy - treatment goal is
to help patient regain fine motor skills
5. Speech/Language Pathology - identify,
evaluate, treat speech/language
disorders

9. 1. Respiratory Therapy - treat patients with
heart & lung disease
5. Medical Psychology - concerned with
mental well-being of patients
6. Social Services - connect patients with
community resources (financial aid, etc.)
7. Pharmacy - dispense medications

10. 1. Dietary - maintain nutritionally sound
diets for patients
1. Sports Medicine - provide rehabilitative
services to athletes
2. Nursing - provide care for patients

11. Diagnostic Services
 Determines the cause(s) of
illness or injury
Includes:
§ Medical Laboratory - studies body
tissues
§ Medical Imaging - radiology, MRI, CT,
Ultra Sound
§ Emergency Medicine -provides
emergency diagnoses & treatment

12. Support Services
 Provides support for entire hospital
Includes:
§ Central Supply - orders, receives, stocks &
distributes equipment & supplies
§ Biomedical Technology - design, build
repair, medical equipment
§ Housekeeping & Maintenance - maintain
safe, clean environment

13. Traditional Organizational
Chart

14. Board
Administration
Information Therapeutic Diagnostic Support
Services Services Services Services
Admissions PT, OT Speech/ Med. Lab Central Supply
Billing, etc. Lang. Resp. Radiology Biomedical
Med. Records Therapy Nuclear Med Housekeeping
Computer Info. Pharmacy ER Maintenance
Health Ed. Nursing Cardiology Dietary
Human Resour. Dietary Neurology Transportation

15. Pyramid demonstrates a
symbolic organizational
structure of a hospital.

16. Board
Admin. Services
Information Services
Therapeutic Services
Diagnostic Services
Support Services

17. Example of “symbolic
representation” of
organizational structure