What Is an Organizational Chart in Hospitals?

Hospital systems are divided into departments that create their own separate hierarchies. Hierarchies serve the hospital effectively with information sharing. The organizational chart in hospitals not only disseminates information, but it also is a time-saving tool for budget predictions and creates important social relationships.

Interdepartmental Hierarchy Relationship

• A hospital's organizational chart depicts a direct relationship between superior and subordinate employees, but lateral relationships between different departments on a similar hierarchy benefit as well from this interconnectedness, which aids effective communication.

Hierarchy Model Works in Unison Laterally

• Proper interdepartmental positioning of the hierarchy model on the organizational chart dictates how an emergency works efficiently in a hospital. When an alarm sounds, the corridors are cleared in seconds for "Stat" or immediate actions. Each department, because of emergency drills, clearly knows its responsibilities and what positions to assume. The drills emphasize speed with precision during simulated emergencies and are practiced to save lives in real time.

  The organizational chart can also be a time-saving tool when used by departmental managers working on budget predictions and planning, according to the website Edrawsoft.com.

Limitations of the Organizational Chart

• The organizational chart is an effective tool for planning and information sharing, according to Edrawsoft.com. However,the chart demonstrates limitations because it fails to register the deeper social relationships that develop when people work together for a common outcome, and the website article further contends that the chart does not clearly demonstrate whether an autocratic or democratic management system is in place at the hospital.