How It Works

Participants collaborate in a comprehensive strategic exercise as the senior leadership team of a hospital in a bounded community.

They analyze the institution’s planned direction and make all decisions central to its successful operation including its mission, vision, service line mix, capacity, investment in quality, insurer relations, marketing, staffing, financial structure, for example.

A typical simulation involves four to six teams (comprised of four to seven members each) strategically guiding their respective hospitals through a competitive marketplace.

Teams submit decisions for each operating cycle simultaneously and receive prompt feedback on their hospital’s performance in the context of its competitors and prepare decisions for the next operating cycle.

The simulation involves six full operating cycles over two and a half days and includes supporting instructional modules, strategic financial analysis, feedback and discussion sessions. Each team has access to a senior faculty consultant. As a part of the exercise, teams create a mission statement, benchmark their progress, respond to topical news and develop a public service element.

The Simulation is led by a team of senior academics with real-world health system management experience.