Resource Planning and Management for ICU Expansion - Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of resource planning and management for the expansion of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust. It begins by defining resource planning and its importance in achieving project goals, particularly in healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for strategic formulation to make resources available. The report details the process of identifying resources required for ICU expansion, procurement methods, and discusses various funding sources, including government funding, private loans, and donations. Furthermore, it explores the application of project management principles to ensure effective resource management, including scheduling, resource allocation, and risk minimization. The report highlights the significance of effective planning in preventing wastage, optimizing resource utilization, and ultimately enhancing patient care. It underscores the importance of factors such as ventilation and space to improve patient well-being. The report concludes by emphasizing the role of project management in the healthcare sector to improve overall function of medical facilities. This assignment is an excellent resource for students studying resource management and healthcare administration.

Planning & Managing Resources

Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................3
Main body.............................................................................................................................................3
The concept of resource planning for the expansion of ICU.......................................................3
Sources of fund for the availability of resources required for expansion of ICU.........................5
Concept of Project Management in relation to how it may contribute to the effective
management of resources..........................................................................................................6
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................8
References .........................................................................................................................................10

 Introduction
Planning and resource management deals with careful analysis and execution of activities
performed for the purpose of obtaining resources and their optimum utilisation. Resource
management deals with set of various activities including identification of resources, methods of
procuring them along with their thoughtful utilisation. The management of resources includes the
proper organisation of assets and follows the process of accurate allocation according to their
suitability. In this assessment report, planning a careful strategic formulation will be discussed to
make resources available for the ICU expansion of North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust. This report
includes the process of identification of resources required for the determined purpose. It explains
the procurement process and discuss the relevant sources of fund needed to make resources
available. In addition to this, it elaborates the concept of project management in relation to how it
may contribute to the effective management of resources.
l The concept of resource planning for the expansion of ICU
Resource planning is the process of identifying and forecasting the requirements of
resources in order to attain success in completion of a project. Resource planning aims to achieve
maximum utilisation of available assets to generate favourable outcomes. It refers to the process of
allocating tasks to various personnel according to their calibre and potential for the purpose of
collecting resources for the completion of a project. Resource planning executes the steps
regarding the identification of assets, planning procedures, and financial requirements. The various
requirements will be evaluated including the assessment of scope of the project and cost
ascertainment along with the forecasting of elements. The process of effective resource planning
allows project managers to identify gaps in the availability of resources and how to fill these gaps.
Demand forecasting is another important task in resource planning to determine the excess and
lack of resources and fulfil the requirements accordingly (Anesi, 2019).
The expansion of ICU is a major project which will require thoughtful analysis regarding the
decision-making processes. Despite being the fact that the government is suggesting patients to
take home treatment with social distancing precautions and proper medications, the need for
advanced ICUs is emerging due to the increase in the number of critical patients during the
pandemic. This project idea will require identification of various resources and the evaluation of
procurement of funds and planning management.
The expansion of the intensive care unit is associated with further requirement of beds and

equipment needed for the treatment of patients. This project will also analyse the idle resources
which are not being properly used in the routine activities. With the use of effective resource
planning, these idle resources will be turned into useful assets or into a medium to provide
valuable services.
While expanding the treatment units, major emphasis should be laid on the factors which
determine the mental state of the patients. Proper ventilation is a major necessity during unit
expansion project. Covid patients feel suffocated with the application of masks and need to be
treated in fully ventilated ambience (Subramanian and et. al, 2018). Proper arrangements and
equipment should be provided to avoid shortage of treatments. To allocate resources wisely as per
the specifications to focus on the wellbeing of the patients, it is important that adequate space is
ensured to avoid overcrowding.
The aim of this project expansion is to provide patients with proper treatment and spaces
for the purpose of availing quarantine services. The objective of this initiation is to offer high
services for the better treatment of the patients and to promote their wellbeing and fast recovery.
This plan can be initiated by printing templates and conducting campaigns to establish awareness
among the people involved. This project initiation demands the support from local audiences and
influential personalities for the purpose of donating funds and resources. The expansion idea will
be executed with the compliance of effective resource planning management. The expansion
project demands the availability of facilities for the proper treatment of patients, and these will
include wide number of beds, toolkits, oxygen supply, more nursing staff, medicines, and other
amenities ensuring a better quality of care.
A systematic planning process needs to be developed and implemented in order to
effectively allocate resources to fulfil the emerging demands of the project. The initiation of a
project or expansion of a project includes the process of incurring various costs to assess the
availability of useful resources. Effective resource planning deals with the analysis of various
resources of the organisation and how they are being utilised in day-to-day operations. The
resources and space which is not occupied could be used for the expansion purpose. One of the
main objectives of resource planning is to prevent wastage and utilise idle resources for a better
purpose. Planning and resource management implies the delegation of tasks to oversee that no
assets and hospital space is serving idle for the organisation (Strnad et. al, 2018). The process of
resource planning analyses the less useful assets and examines their applicability and suitability in
other areas of valuable operations. Resource planning also considers third parties such as

partnering agencies, medical departments, nurses, and assistants.
Sources of fund for the availability of resources required for the expansion of the ICU
For the purpose of expansion in the intensive care units, there is a requirement of huge
capital resources, and these funds are to be raised using different sources of finance. These sources
of finance need to be carefully evaluated to determine their applicability in various areas of
requirements.
1. Government fundings: Health care sectors are supported by the fundings and help that the
government offers for the betterment of the society. Government fundings are critically significant
when it comes to raising funds for a cause that aims the development of the society. This expansion
idea will be supported by government as hospitals are crowding with covid patients and critically ill
patients that requires intensive care. The assistance offered through government healthcare
associations will provide major financial support for the expansion purpose (McCarroll 2018).
2. Private loans through financial institutions: For the expansion of the ICU, loans from
financial institutions are a major source of finance for the arrangement of necessary resources.
Private loans can be obtained depending on the credibility for the procurement of various
important resources. Private loans can generate maximum funds and is a secure method of
obtaining capital resources.
3. Donations or voluntary aid: Donations is one of the major sources of obtaining funds though
public and influential public figures. These influential personalities will be willing to contribute
when it comes to donating for a noble cause. Awareness campaigns regarding the importance of
treatment services and the severity of conditions caused by covid must be promoted (Horak et. al,
2019). Potential amounts of donations made by wealthy businessmen and renowned personalities
could be used for the construction and expenses required for the creation of space. Also, voluntary
aids would be helpful for the purpose of organising set ups for the intensive care units.
The allocation of funds in applicable usage and proper utilisation of financial resources requires
detailed and critical analysis. Often it happens that a massive amount of capital resources is being
spent and still procurement of required resources shows lack and shortage in availability. Resources
are not being fully made available even after the complete utilisation of all capital funds. Therefore,
optimum utilisation of funds implies access to availability of all significant resources with the given
sources of finance. To ensure the optimum utilisation of finance, good budgeting skills are required
in the process of effective resource planning which is mentioned below.

 Self-awareness: Awareness regarding the source of finance and the methods used in
obtaining funds along with their application for the purpose of task completion is very important.
Accurate use of sources of finance is essential to generate desirable outcomes.
 Discipline: Maintaining discipline while spending funds is crucial by ensuring that funds are
applied in the direction of the completion of the project (Anesi et. al, 2019.). No funds should be
used for personal benefits.
 Organisation skills: Effective resource management gives utter importance to the process of
organising funds and their optimum utilisation.
 Critical evaluation: The process of funds procurement always includes critical evaluation of
methods, their applicability, and advantages that they offer.
 Delegation: Tasks needs to be delegated to different authorities for the purpose of saving
time and the effective completion of the tasks.
Concept of Project Management in relation to how it may contribute to the effective
management of resources.
Project management basically involves the use of techniques, specific knowledge, skills,
tools for the purpose to deliver value to the customers. It basically involves two terms project and
management for the purpose to achieve the objectives of the organisation. Management is
basically the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals working
together in groups efficiently can accomplish selected aims. Project management basically involves
breaking down or dividing the project into different tasks and afterwards those tasks are divided
amongst the team members (Maciąg, 2019). In order to complete a project on time it is essential to
perform the process of project management in effective manner. The concept of project
management becomes easy to execute proper project plans in order to achieve the business
objectives. In addition to that project management helps in reducing the costs and value through
the optimum utilization of resources. The ineffective concept of project management can lead to
unclarity in the objectives which might results in facing risks of failure of the project. The utilization
of resources basically helps in maintaining the productivity when there is a situation of
underperformance which basically allows the rescheduling of resources and avoiding the worst
situations. In context to resource utilization, the project managers focus on the time taken by the
employees to perform a specific task. The concept of project management contributes towards the

effective management of resources and contributes towards freeing up resources to expand the
operation of the ICU in short, medium, and long term. There are various ways through which
project management helps in the utilization of resources which contributes to the organisation
( Mizuno and Bodek, 2020).
Schedule and Inform Resources: To ensure the effective utilization of resources it is very important
for the project leaders to schedule the task accordingly. In context to this, the project management
helps in easily assigning the resources to the individuals and facing challenges into a largely,
smooth and streamlined process (Giuliani et.al, 2018).
Creating a pool of resources: Before allocating the resources to the specific projects, it is important
to create a global pool of resources and anticipating various resources. Through creating a global
pool of resources, it enables project leaders to easily determine the resource constraints that can
have a major influence on the delivery dates and project deadlines.
Overloading and Monitor Under-loading: For the minimization of risk, it is important that project
leaders are careful and focused on regularly utilizing the availability and loading of the resources
and focusing on maintaining the time balance by updating schedules, rescheduling resources, and
informing about budgets (Kraemer, 2018).
In context to the ICU, project management plays a very important role in healthcare sector
and helps in improving the overall function of the medical facilities for the purpose to resolve the
issues in the implementation of policies and current policies that helps in fostering the positive
relationships with the stake holders and enhancing the patient care. In context to the goals of the
ICU, the objectives might vary as per the type of healthcare, unit, or hospital system. The main
objectives or goals basically involves developing, creating, and translating knowledge when an
intensive care unit basically belongs to an academic hospital. There are various challenges which
are faced by the medical professionals in the ICU environment as it basically involves the failure in
proper implementation of the guidelines and protocols in the environment of ICU. It might also
include the high level of complexity of the illnesses and patients. In context to healthcare, the
importance of good project managers and project management skills are increasing day by day as
these skills helps in speedy improvement, controlling the costs and managing the risk (Mageza,
Mulaba-Bafubiandi and Banganayi, 2018).
With proper application of the project management techniques, it becomes easy for the
healthcare organisations to execute, organize, and plan various set of tasks in an efficient manner

for the purpose to achieve their goals and maximize their resources. Regarding healthcare,
healthcare managers are focusing on constantly advancing and refining the process for the
objective to improve the overall experience of the patient, improving patient care and reduction in
costs. The project management skills related to healthcare plays a vital role in the organisation as it
helps in improving the project outcomes. With the proper management techniques, it can help
organisations to execute a task, plan their operations systematically and properly execute tasks in
order to achieve their objectives and maximize their resources. The most common management
technique is known as waterfall project management in healthcare, and it involves a linear and
sequential process which basically involves the number of distinct phases. Under waterfall project
management, there is a proper mapping of the deliverables and requirements for each phase
(Bekius and Meijer, 2020).
A systematic planning process needs to be developed and implemented to effectively
allocate resources to fulfil the emerging demands of the audience. The initiation of a project or
expansion of a project includes the process of incurring various costs to assess availability of useful
resources. The careful and effective resource planning deals with the analysis of various resources
of the organisation and how they are being utilised in day-to-day operations. In context with the
ICU, project management plays a very important role. The process of project management helps in
bringing direction to the projects and leadership. Leadership is the process of influencing the
behaviour of people by making them strive voluntarily towards attainment of organisational goals.
In healthcare, the project managers help in ensuring that there is a clear line of accountability
(Aggarwal, Srivastava and Bharadwaj, 2020).
l Conclusion
As per the view of the respective report, it has been concluded that the expansion of ICU
requires a careful resource planning management. The methods of obtaining finance should be
carefully selected and optimum utilisation of resources are highly significant to attain desirable
outcomes. The concept of resource planning ensures potential management and prevents wastage
of resources through effective supervision. In addition to that, project management is also very
important as it helps in creating a proper plan for the execution of strategic goals and objectives. In
addition to this, project management plays an important role in ensuring the quality of care.

l References
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