Abstract. This paper analyses the management of Hospital General in Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas, México, a decentralized public institute from the State Government that started operations on 1985. The first services offered to the local population was medical consultation, core medical specialties, emergency services, hospitalization, and intensive care unit. Within the hospital activities, both administrative and medical the management continuously looked for best practices that allowed it to reach its goals and fulfill its mission. Current literature provides a diversity of strategic tools and models that create value to public health processes making a more efficient use of resources. With this context, this research takes an exploratory case study approach using semi-structured interviews having as key informants the hospital managers since its foundation, allowing explanations on the evolution of the implemented management practices. This paper infers the need to incorporate actions that contribute to a comprehensive and structured professional management.Key words: hospital, integral control panel, strategic management