Creation of a Single Medical Department Through the Merger of Two SeparateMedical Departments Located at Separate Installations

摘要

The merger of Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and Darnall Army CommunityHospital (DACH) into an expanded health science center has been initiated. The two separate pediatric departments are the first departments to merge. An organizational survey of the two pediatric departments was done to determine if there were any identifiable groups that may prefer to remain separate, rather than merge. The participants were also asked for their attitude toward choice for merger, and its possible future effects upon the domains of mission accomplishment, compared to their current separate department status. The 'patient care employment' group at BAMC was the only statistically significant group that preferred to remain separate. All groups, viewed the merger as positive in mission accomplishment. Statistically significant mission domains were: the 'patient care' and 'graduate medical education (GME) mission domains at BAMC and at the total combined sites;' the 'GME' mission domain at DACH. Providing the participants with more input opportunity, and education about the merger, are ways that may be used to increase ownership and support for the merger, and thereby, increase the opportunities for success.