South East Grey Community Health Centre: Journey to Rural Expansion

In 2019, the clinical director of the South East Grey Community Health Centre was conflicted about whether to proceed with presenting the chief executive officer with a proposal to expand the health centre's primary services to a satellite location in the neighbouring community of Port Elgin. The clinical director recalled the challenges she and her colleagues had faced in 2018, during the satellite expansion to Dundalk. As a nurse practitioner, she understood the pressing need for services and the moral imperative to put the patient's needs first. However, as a key member of the Centre's management team, she also knew what this proposal would entail operationally, and what internal pressures and risks were involved. The clinical director wondered how, in an environment of static or declining budgets, the Centre could build on its successes and challenges to date to address the emerging demand for further growth. Should she present the proposal to expand to another neighbouring community during a time of fiscal constraints?

This case is suitable for courses on operations, leadership, or marketing at the undergraduate or graduate level. This case provides an opportunity for students to review and consider factors that organizations encounter when undergoing growth pressures linked to increased market demand. After completion of this case, students will be able to <ul><li>increase their awareness of the benefits of stakeholder engagement and strategic collaboration;</li><li>understand the importance of strategic alignment and decision-making;</li><li>understand the benefit of innovation and agility in addressing market demand, and in overcoming financial constraints—specifically, how to bootstrap a program, demonstrate success, and then seek financial support;</li><li>explore the aspects of leadership that facilitate an innovative culture in health care;</li><li>evaluate the key role that culture and staff morale play in an organization, particularly when undergoing growth and change phases;</li><li>discuss the role of efficiency efforts for savings and reinvestment in growth, and finding financial resources internally; and</li><li>assess the importance of governance and accountability in a health care organization.</li><ul>

• healthcare, primary care, innovation