Why is a marketing plan important for a healthcare manager? Provide examples.

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

A marketing plan is essential for healthcare managers for several reasons. It acts as a roadmap, guiding their efforts to achieve specific goals and objectives related to patient acquisition, service promotion, and overall organizational success. Here’s why:

1. Strategic Direction and Focus:

  • Clear Goals and Objectives: A marketing plan outlines the specific goals the healthcare organization wants to achieve, such as increasing patient volume for a specific service, enhancing brand awareness, or boosting patient satisfaction. This provides a clear direction for marketing activities.

  • Targeted Efforts: By identifying the target audience and their needs, the plan allows healthcare managers to focus their marketing resources on the most promising segments, leading to more efficient and effective campaigns.

A marketing plan is essential for healthcare managers for several reasons. It acts as a roadmap, guiding their efforts to achieve specific goals and objectives related to patient acquisition, service promotion, and overall organizational success. Here’s why:

1. Strategic Direction and Focus:

  • Clear Goals and Objectives: A marketing plan outlines the specific goals the healthcare organization wants to achieve, such as increasing patient volume for a specific service, enhancing brand awareness, or boosting patient satisfaction. This provides a clear direction for marketing activities.

  • Targeted Efforts: By identifying the target audience and their needs, the plan allows healthcare managers to focus their marketing resources on the most promising segments, leading to more efficient and effective campaigns.

Example: A hospital aiming to increase its share of pediatric patients might develop a marketing plan focused on reaching families with young children, highlighting the hospital’s pediatric expertise and specialized services.

2. Efficient Resource Allocation:

  • Budgeting and Prioritization: A well-structured marketing plan helps healthcare managers allocate budget efficiently by prioritizing activities and channels that offer the highest return on investment (ROI).

  • Cost-Effectiveness: It avoids wasted spending on ineffective campaigns or strategies.

Example: A clinic with a limited marketing budget might prioritize digital marketing campaigns, such as targeted social media advertising, over expensive print ads that might not reach the desired audience.

3. Measurable Results and Accountability:

  • Performance Tracking: A marketing plan includes metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of campaigns.

  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: Tracking results provides valuable insights that allow healthcare managers to adjust strategies, optimize campaigns, and demonstrate the value of their marketing efforts.

Example: A hospital implementing a new website to promote telehealth services can track website traffic, appointment bookings, and patient satisfaction surveys to measure the campaign’s success and identify areas for improvement.

4. Building Brand Awareness and Reputation:

  • Consistent Messaging: A marketing plan ensures consistent messaging across all channels, reinforcing the hospital’s brand identity and value proposition.

  • Positive Brand Image: It helps shape a positive brand image by highlighting the organization’s strengths, expertise, and commitment to patient care.

Example: A healthcare organization focused on providing compassionate care might develop a marketing campaign emphasizing its patient-centered approach, skilled medical staff, and comfortable environment.

5. Addressing Competition and Market Changes:

  • Competitive Analysis: A marketing plan includes competitive analysis, identifying the organization’s strengths and weaknesses relative to competitors.

  • Adaptation and Innovation: It allows healthcare managers to adapt to changing market conditions, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences.

Example: A hospital facing increased competition from a new clinic specializing in a specific service might develop a marketing plan that differentiates its services, highlighting its expertise and unique offerings.

In conclusion, a comprehensive marketing plan is a critical tool for healthcare managers, enabling them to achieve organizational goals, enhance patient care, and ensure the long-term success of their organization.

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