Finally, the hospital must be prepared for the illogical reasoning that will preclude
it from accessing the funding desired. The roadblocks can be political or legislative.
Whole programs can disappear from the table by the sweep of a pen in a
distant office. The decisions may appear arbitrary, and often are, but it is the reality
of the process and must be considered with fl exibility and resolve.
On the other hand, the reasons for cancellation of a program may be far more
concrete, and, yet, insidious. Th e funding of military actions may take priority over
other domestic issues, and so the monies will be diverted there. Never underestimate
the power of the military to be persuasive enough to infl uence the distribution
of funding.
The ability to describe horrific scenarios to illustrate the need is unparalleled in
any other organization, and these poignant and provocative epithets and illustrations
go far in convincing the politician of the need for funding. As we have seen
with the confl ict in Iraq, the expense of military confl ict in manpower and dollars
is staggering.