TRIP TO MCCALL
CHAPTER 1
Code Blue
Health Science Edition Four
The Characters
 Hap Castleton—administrator
– What kind of person is Hap?
 An introvert or an extrovert?
 A detail person or someone who is concerned with
the “big picture?”
 Del Cluff—assistant controller
– What kind of a person is Del?
 An introvert or an extrovert?
 A detail person or someone who is concerned with
the “big picture?”
Terminology
 Throughout the textbook/novel we will be
introduced to new terminology.
– Terms are defined in the sidebar of the page
where they first appear.
– Terms are listed again in the glossary of
medical and administrative terms on page 289.
– Abbreviations used in the text are explained on
page 287.
– There is an index of topics discussed on page
314.
Board of Trustees
 The board of trustees:
– hires and fires the
administrator
– approves the budget
– approves applications for
doctors to be members of
the medical staff
– approves physician
privileges (the procedures
they are allowed to perform
within the hospital)
Hospital Administrator
 What is a hospital
administrator?
– The person responsible for
the entire operation of the
hospital
– Sometimes he or she is
called the president
– Sometimes he or she is
called the chief executive
officer (CEO)
– He or she is the boss
Hospital Administrator
 Many people don’t realize that it is not the
doctors who run the hospital, it is the
hospital administrator.
 The hospital administrator is responsible for
everything that takes place within the
hospital.
 The administrator’s authority comes from
the board of trustees.
Typical Organization Chart of a
Community Hospital
Board of Trustees
Administrator
President of the
Medical Staff
Medical
Departments
Support
Departments
Medical Staff
Assistant Controller
 Del Cluff is being
considered for the job
of controller
– The controller is the
person who has
responsibility for the
finances of the hospital.
– A controller’s
responsibilities include
budgeting, accounting,
and running the
business office.
Other Terms Used in Chapter 1
 Code Blue: A distress
code word broadcast
over the hospital
intercom announcing
to physicians that there
is a cardiac arrest
within the hospital and
that aid is required.
Communication
 It takes two to communicate –
the person who sends the
message and the person
who receives it.
 When formulating a message
it is important to consider the education and
personality of the receiver.
 Perhaps communication is an area in which Del
is weak.
Communication
 It takes two to communicate: the person who
sends the message and the person who receives
the message.
Receiver provides
feedback
Message is
created in
mind of
sender
Message is
communicated
Message is
received and
interpreted
It takes more than
words to communicate
Communication is Influenced by
 Body language
 The beliefs, cultures, education, values, and
perceptions of the sender and receiver
 How people process information and make
decisions
 The personality profile of the
senders and receivers
Discussion Question 1
 From what you have
read in Chapter 1,
complete the following
personality profile for
Hap Castleton and Del
Cluff by checking the
appropriate column for
the individual whose
personality most
closely fits the attribute
listed.
Discussion Question 1
Attribute
Focuses primarily on detail
Focuses primarily on the big picture
Motivated by facts
Motivated by feelings
Focuses on the possible
Motivated by dreams
Hap Castleton
Del Cluff
Discussion Question 1
Attribute
Analytic
Sympathetic
Interested in things
Interested in people
Apt to gather more information before
making a decision
Apt to make a quick decision based on
emotion
Hap
Castleton
Del
Cluff
Discussion Question 2
 Why is it important to
understand the value
system, personality
style and decisionmaking model of those
with whom you work in
a healthcare setting?
Discussion Question 3
 It is obvious that Del
has not established a
good rapport with his
boss, Hap. To what do
you attribute this
problem?
Discussion Question 4
 What are the
differences in the ways
Del Cluff and Hap
Castleton process
information and,
therefore, make
decisions?
Discussion Question 5
 How could Del Cluff be
more effective in
communicating his
concern about the
hospital’s financial
condition to his boss, Hap
Castleton?
Writing Exercise
 Assume you are Del Cluff.
Using what you know
about Hap Castleton,
prepare a written memo
explaining your concerns
about the hospital’s losses.
 Explain why you will not
oppose Edward Wycoff’s
efforts to cut the hospital
budget.
END OF CHAPTER 1