To Buy or Not to Buy, That Is the Question

Buying expensive items is not easy for individuals with limited economic resources. Even though the budgets of most health care organizations (e.g., hospital, clinic, doctor’s office) are significantly larger than the budget of the average American family, most of these organizations operate with limited resources too. Health care managers use planning and budgeting information to make resource use decisions.

To prepare for this Discussion, think about a significant purchase you have made in the past. How did you pay for it? Did you shop around for the best deal? What was the impact on your own budget and finances?

Post a comprehensive response to the following:

• Share an example of something that you had to budget and plan to pay for. How does your personal decision-making process differ from what you learned about planning and budgeting in health care?
• How do most individuals monitor and control their cash flow? Provide specific examples.
• How does the monitoring of cash flow of a health organization compare to the monitoring the cash flow for individuals handling their personal finances? Explain your choice.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations