Decision support systems and the healthcare strategic planning process: a case study.

As hospitals continue to face problems with nursing shortages and difficulty in retaining experienced nurses, they are forced to examine the environment of nursing practice to determine how that environment can be improved. At Henry Ford Hospital, a planning process is underway to establish a more truly professional practice environment for nursing. This professional practice environment is based on a group practice model for inpatient nursing. The group practice model offers the potential for greater clinical and administrative autonomy and collaborative practice with physicians, but may require significant changes in internal budgeting and accounting systems. Several different inpatient group practice models and their implications are discussed.