Organizational

Structure of a Hospital
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.
Organizational structure varies
from hospital to hospital.

 Large hospitals have complex

organizational structures.

 Smaller hospitals tend to have much

simpler organizational structures.
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.
 Common Categorical
Grouping:

 Administrative Services
 Informational Services
 Therapeutic Services
 Diagnostic Services
 Support Services
 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
 Informational Services
 Document and process information
Includes:
1. Admissions
2. Billing & Collection
3. Medical Records
4. Computer Information Systems
5. Health Education
6. Human Resources
 Provides treatment to patients
Includes following departments:
1. Physical Therapy - treatment to improve
large muscle mobility
2. Occupational Therapy - treatment goal is
to help patient regain fine motor skills
3. Speech/Language Pathology - identify,
evaluate, treat speech/language
disorders
4. 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
8. Dietary - maintain nutritionally sound
diets for patients
9. Sports Medicine - provide rehabilitative
services to athletes
10.Nursing - provide care for patients
 Diagnostic Services
 Determines the cause(s) of
illness or injury
Includes:
1. Medical Laboratory - studies body
tissues
2. Medical Imaging - radiology, MRI, CT,
Ultra Sound
3. Emergency Medicine -provides
emergency diagnoses & treatment
 Support Services
 Provides support for entire hospital
Includes:
1. Central Supply - orders, receives, stocks &
distributes equipment & supplies
2. Biomedical Technology - design, build
repair, medical equipment
3. Housekeeping & Maintenance - maintain
safe, clean environment
Traditional Organizational
Chart
 Board

Administration

Information Therapeutic Diagnostic Support

Services Services Services Services

Admissions PT, OT Med. Lab Central Supply

Billing, etc. Speech/Lang. Radiology Biomedical
Med. Records Resp. Therapy Nuclear Med Housekeeping
Computer Info. Pharmacy ER Maintenance
Health Ed. Nursing Cardiology Dietary
Human Resour. Dietary Neurology Transportation
Pyramid demonstrates a
symbolic organizational
structure of a hospital.
 Board

Admin. Services

Information Services

Therapeutic Services

Diagnostic Services

Support Services
 Example of “symbolic
representation” of
organizational structure