Explains why quality and patient safety are important, particularly for this health care setting.

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For this Application Assignment, you will consider quality and patient safety efforts for a particular type of organization.

To prepare for this Application Assignment:

  • Select a health care setting such as an acute care hospital, long-term care facility, or private clinic.
  • Consider the importance of quality and patient safety in this organization.
  • Consider the challenges to providing quality and patient safety in this organization.

To complete this Application Assignment, write a 2- to 3-page paper that:

  • Explains why quality and patient safety are important, particularly for this health care setting.
  • Identifies the key challenges regarding quality and/or patient safety for this setting.
  • Describes at least two strategies for improving and assuring quality and patient safety in this setting and explains why you chose these strategies.

Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

 

Required Resources

Media

  • Video: Dentzer, S. (2006). National campaign aims to curb hospital mistakes, saves lives. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec06/lives_08-18.htmlThis video presentation includes an interview with Dr. Donald Berwick discussing the 100,000 Lives Campaign. There is also an option to download the audio only.

Readings

  • Course Text: Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States
    • Chapter 11, “High Quality Health Care”

    This chapter defines quality of health care and how differing definitions of quality care are influenced by the perspective of different stakeholders. Chapter 11 also addresses basic strategies for managing quality within the inherent complexity of health care organizations.

  • Article: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2008). The current state of health care quality. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=30711

This article provides an overview of three key concerns in quality health care: underuse, overuse, and misuse of resources. The full article is available for download by scrolling down the page to the Publication and Resources section and clicking Download to view “The Current State of Health Care Quality Overview.”

  • Article: Wharam, J. F., & Sulmasy, D. (2009). Improving the quality of health care: Who is responsible for what? JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(2), 215–217. Retrieved from http://jama.ama-assn.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/cgi/reprint/301/2/215?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=1&andorexacttitle=and&andorexacttitleabs=and&fulltext=measuring+quality&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=10&sortspec=relevance&fdate=7/1/2005&resourcetype=HWCIT

This commentary provides definitions, obligations, and implications of quality health care. The article also provides an overview of pay-for-performance and general quality improvement measures.

  • Article: McFadden, K. L., Stock, G. N., & Gowen, C. R. (2006). Exploring strategies for reducing hospital errors. Journal of Healthcare Management, 51(2), 123–135. Retrieved fromhttp://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=20416533&site=ehost-live&scope=site

This study explores strategies for reducing hospital errors such as (1) partnership with stakeholders, (2) reporting errors free of blame, (3) open discussion of errors, (4) cultural shift, (5) education and training, (6) statistical analysis of data, and (7) system redesign. Focus your attention on the “Executive Summary” section within the first three pages and the “Discussion” section of the study.

Answer

What are the underlying goals of P4P and fee-for-service models?

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Pay-for-Performance

The fee-for-service model of health care is neutral with regard to differences in the quality of health care. The pay-for-performance (P4P) model of health care attempts to set targets to measure quality care. If quality targets are met, providers are rewarded financially. This model is gaining increased popularity in both the public and private sectors. It is, however, not without its critics.

In this week’s Discussion, you and your colleagues will compare and contrast the pay-for-performance model and the fee-for-service model of health care.

To prepare for this Discussion:

  • Consider how the P4P model affects the overall quality and profit margin of health care.
  • Consider how the traditional fee-for-service model affects the overall quality and profit margins of health care providers.

By Day 4, post a comprehensive response to the following:

  • What are the underlying goals of P4P and fee-for-service models?
  • Are there risks to patients in a P4P model?
  • If you were a patient, which model would you prefer the hospital to follow? Why?
  • If you were a provider, which model would you prefer to be paid for? Why?

Required Resources

Media

  • Video: Dentzer, S. (2006). National campaign aims to curb hospital mistakes, saves lives. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec06/lives_08-18.htmlThis video presentation includes an interview with Dr. Donald Berwick discussing the 100,000 Lives Campaign. There is also an option to download the audio only.

Readings

  • Course Text: Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States
    • Chapter 11, “High Quality Health Care”

    This chapter defines quality of health care and how differing definitions of quality care are influenced by the perspective of different stakeholders. Chapter 11 also addresses basic strategies for managing quality within the inherent complexity of health care organizations.

  • Article: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2008). The current state of health care quality. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=30711

This article provides an overview of three key concerns in quality health care: underuse, overuse, and misuse of resources. The full article is available for download by scrolling down the page to the Publication and Resources section and clicking Download to view “The Current State of Health Care Quality Overview.”

  • Article: Wharam, J. F., & Sulmasy, D. (2009). Improving the quality of health care: Who is responsible for what? JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(2), 215–217. Retrieved from http://jama.ama-

Evaluate the main steps in building a strategic plan for a health care organization

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Unit 1 Assignment: Part 1 | Healthcare

Unit outcomes addressed in this Assignment:

  • Evaluate the main steps in building a strategic plan for a health care organization.
  • Analyze the content included in a market plan.
  • Formulate building strategy into the organization and distinguish the driving force.
  • Examine the development of a strategic mindset and the decision-making role of the marketplace in a health care organization.

Course outcome assessed/addressed in this Assignment:

HA575-1: Distinguish how marketing principles and theories can maximize effectiveness of healthcare systems.

HA575-2: Evaluate research-supported strategies for efficiently assessing and measuring marketing potential.

Instructions

  1. Title page
  2. Introduction
    1. Propose your health care firm.
    2. Compose the services and/or products offered.
    3. Prepare a need for the strategic and business plan.
    4. Compare the difference between the strategic plan and a business plan.
    5. Relate Force and Focus
    6. Distinguish is the driving force

Submit Part I | Title and Introduction

The Assignment should meet all APA standards, be grammatically correct, appropriate and consistent research citation and documentation, appropriate graphics to display data and the results of analysis, and visual materials to support presentation of the overall document. Each section is to be a minimum of two (2) pages and should include a separate title and reference page. Your Final Project will have a separate title page and one reference page(s) that combines all references utilized throughout the Final Project.

Requirements

Length (met/exceeds requirements; one page or more for each section in length, not including your title or reference page). References are to be scholarly peer reviewed resources ONLY, with a minimum of two (2) references. Carefully cites borrowed material, All sources used in the paper appear in the References. Alphabetized, includes names of author(s), title, place of publication, publisher, date of publication with correct indention, and correct capitalization meeting APA guidelines.

You MUST use the APA template for ALL written Assignments.

Please be sure to download the file “Writing Center Resources” from Doc Sharing to assist you with meeting APA expectations for written Assignments.

Select a health care issue about which you would like to influence a change

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Public policies that influence broad groups of people over broad areas of the country, can be initiated at the executive branch of government, designed through legislative action, and crafted through the judicial branch. It is important to keep in mind that what goes on at the national or state level ultimately influences what occurs at the institutional level, directly influencing what health care professionals and their organizations can do. In this Application Assignment, you are encouraged to be a champion of positive social change by being a positive component of the legislative process.

To prepare for this Application Assignment:

  • Select a health care issue about which you would like to influence a change.
  • Scan state and federal government sites to find links to health care legislation. Sites are also available that specialize in tracking bills in progress.
  • Identify two or three Web sites that provide credible information on this issue.
  • Research within these sites what has been proposed or enacted at local, state, and federal levels in the past to address this issue.
  • Research the positions of special interest groups.

To complete this Application Assignment, write a persuasive e-mail or letter to your state or national member of the legislator.

  • Explain why you believe this issue is important and how it could be addressed through policy.
  • Describe the potential impact of your proposed changes on health care consumers and/or health services organizations.

Submit the following:

  • A copy of the letter or e-mail you have written, as indicated above. (You will not be required to send the letter or e-mail; however, as part Walden University’s social change mission you are encouraged to personally take a stand to improve your community.)
  • A 1-page summary of the process you conducted to gather information for the letter. Include the addresses of the credible Web resources you used, how you obtained the contact information of the recipient of your letter, and why the topic of the letter is important to you. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

Required Resources

Media

  • Video: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2009). Five questions with TFAH’s Jeff Levi. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/newsroom-content/2009/07/rwjf-five-questions-with-tfahs-jeff-levi.html

This video presentation includes an interview with Dr. Jeffrey Levi, Executive Director of Trust For America’s Health, discussing benefits of paying for preventive care.