1. In the case study, we referred to the systems being developed and used as decision supportsystems. However, we also identified various artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. How can a decision support system incorporate and use AI technologies such as pattern recognition? 2. At the Mayo Clinic, patients are given opt-inand opt-out rights concerning whether or not their information is used in the system that determines the most appropriate therapies given the specific patient profile. So far, 95 percent of the patients have opted to have their information included in the system. (This is the notion of opting in.) Why do you believe that 5 percent of the patients have opted out? Would you opt in or opt out in this case? Please provide your reasoning. 3. In this case, demographic information such asethnicity, gender, and age greatly impacts thequality of the decision support and analysis. The same could be argued for the predictive analytics system used by the Richmond policein this chapter’s first case study. Why would some people find it acceptable to use such demographic data in this case (for medical purposes) and not in the first case (for predicting crime, its location, and itstiming)? 4. One of the most popular and widely usedapplication areas for expert systems ismedicine. What role could an expert systemplay in helping the Cleveland Clinic identifypatients susceptible to abdominal aorticaneurysms? What sort of rules would theexpert system include?How might a monitoring-and-surveillanceagent be used for patients in a medicalenvironment? How can health careproviders take advantage of thecapabilities of an information agent to stay abreast of the latest medical trends and treatments? 5. How might a monitoring-and-surveillance agent be used for patients in a medical environment? How can health care providers take advantage of the capabilities of an information agent to stay abreast of the latest medical trends and treatments?

Week 1 Forum Week 1-A: The reclassification of certain drugs consumers could only purchase with a prescription from a physician to [non-prescription] over-the-counter [OTC] drugs, has resulted in the decreased influence of physicians over which drugs may be prescribed for a patient as well as an explosion of pharmaceutical and medical device advertising directed to consumer. Do you believe today’s consumers are more informed about the disease process and its treatment [if so, how?] or are they relying too much on media to provide viable treatment suggestions [if so, why]? Week 1-B: An aging population, an increased demand for chronic long-term care, as well as an trend toward the development of new technologies that support alternative delivery systems (ADS) have all decentralized medical decision-making and embraced private innovations in healthcare for senior citizens and taxpayers. As the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of your facility, discuss the implication (both positive and negative) of decentralized medical services on caring for an increasing aging population and increased costs of new technologies. Name at least two strategies that may keep your organization viable. Week 1 Reflection Reflect on the week’s activity. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 2 Forum Week 2-A: The False Claims Act contain qui tam or whistleblower provisions. Discuss the pros and cons of being a whistleblower. If you were aware of fraudulent issues in your healthcare organization, do you agree that reporting such an issue should be mandatory [why/why not] and should penalties be imposed if fraudulent activity is not reported Week 2-B: Research the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Discuss the current status of this piece of legislation. Is the Act really necessary and/or should this piece of legislation be more defined? Why or why not. Support your answer. Week 2 Reflection Reflect on the week’s activity. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 3 Forum Week 3-A: Find a news article [no more than 2 years old] related to this week’s topic: Healthcare Information Technologies in an era of healthcare reform. First BRIEFLY summarize your referenced article then discuss YOUR reaction/opinion of the article. Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why/why not? Week 3-B: The burden of rising healthcare costs is more disconcerting to rural healthcare organizations. With that in mind, how does rural tele-health efforts keep up with that of the urban tele-health movement. Week 3 Reflection September 17th is Constitution Day. The educational activity for Constitution Day provides you the opportunity to reflect on your thoughts regarding healthcare and the Constitution in your reflection. Reflect on the week’s activity and the following questions: Does health care fall under “general Welfare” as references in Article I of the Constitution and if so, should the federal government fund health care for those who cannot afford it? Is health care a fundamental right under the 14th amendment? Post your opinion on the topics, questions, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 4 Forum Week 4-A: Research has indicated that although the government is aware of possible infectious epidemic attacks [For example think Eboli], local healthcare systems are not prepared to respond to this type of bioterrorist attack. Is this a true statement? Is there a national emergency plan in place for healthcare delivery? If so, what is the plan and who is responsible for its implementation? Week 4-B: The textbook indicated that with continued advances in medicine “…inpatient care will diminish and hospitals are likely to downsize.” The text also stated that the hospital “…will play a very different role in the future as part of an integrated collection of providers and site of care.” Describe what the hospital of the future looks like. Are hospitals important community assets that should be maintained at any cost? Or should they be allowed to close if they are not financially viable? Week 4 Reflection Reflect on the week’s activity. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 5 Forum Week 5-A: Congress is cutting hospital reimbursements, and hospital systems are merging to survive. Ambulatory care settings provide healthcare on an outpatient basis. In fact more than half of all surgical procedures are now performed in ambulatory surgery facilities. Ambulatory care settings include but are not limited to physician offices, urgent care centers, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, cancer clinics, imaging centers, endoscopy clinics, public health clinics, and other types of outpatient clinics. What is responsible for these current trends, and is it good, bad, inevitable? As a result of the large variety of ambulatory healthcare settings, is the quality of patient care better or worse? Week 5-B: In spite of nursing’s vital importance to hospitals, nurses face excessive paperwork, managerial and staffing responsibilities, as well as supervision of lesser trained techs and aides. These tasks [and other duties as assigned] require an inordinate amount of time spent in functions other than direct patient care. These frustrations are combined with long work hours, stagnant salaries, and other difficulties. As the Chief Nursing Officer for your health organization, provide three [3] possible solutions to these growing issues. Week 5 Reflection Reflect on the week’s activity. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 6 Forum Week 6-A: Combining laboratory results from various locations [testing sites] with clinical information from other disciplines and sources is a challenge. How can healthcare organizations successfully manage all of this clinical data and maintain patient confidentiality? Week 6-B: Healthcare materials manufacturers and distributors are moving from a supply oriented service to value oriented service and supply process. To assist facilities manage rising costs, reduction of cost is necessary. However, this reduction comes at the expense of the patient/client. Why does cost reduction hurt the patient [or does it] and is this transition really necessary? Why/Why not? Week 6 Reflection Reflect on the week’s activity. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned from the week’s discussion topics. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone. Week 7 Forum There is only one [1] forum question this week. Find and summarize in 1 – 2 paragraphs an article that best describes your hope for the future of healthcare in the USA. For credit be sure to attach the article or article link [NOT website!] Remember; No article – No points! ~and~ Website – No points! Week 7 Reflection Note: THIS reflection is about your thoughts on the course. Reflect on the entire course activity and in the course reflection discussion forum. Post your opinion on the topics, and what you have learned this semester. Similar to your Discussion topics, this posting should be substantial in length [300-500 words] and meet APA guidelines and graduate standards in writing. It should also be respectful and supportive in tone.