For this assignment, you will write a two-page essay discussing a social problem connected to health or health care. Examples of paper topics are as follows: unequal access to health care, universal health care, work-life balance, smoking, substance abuse, obesity, COVID-19, mental health, veteran’s health care, affordability of health care, planned parenthood, and eldercare. Your essay should address the prompts below.
Provide some background on the social problem. Discuss how socioeconomic inequality connects to the problem. Discuss how one of the sociological perspectives (conflict, interactionist, or symbolic interactionism) applies to the issue. Apply the concept of sociological imagination to the problem.
Discuss at least one solution to help alleviate the problem.
Discuss how the social problem you discussed impacts you. What steps can you take to help address the social problem discussed in your paper?
APA formatting and in-text citations and references are required. The title page and references page are not counted in the two-page requirement. It is required that students cite their textbook and at least one additional scholarly source from the CSU Online Library. It is recommended that students use additional scholarly sources found online or in the library to support their analysis
Goals and Objectives for Electronic Health Record (EHR) Implementation
Guidelines
Provided By:
The National Learning Consortium (NLC)
Developed By:
Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC)
Colorado Regional Extension Center (CO – REC)
Doctor’s Office Quality Information Technology (DOQ-IT)
The material in this document was developed by Regional Extension Center staff in the performance of technical support and EHR implementation. The information in this document is not intended to serve as legal advice nor should it substitute for legal counsel. Users are encouraged to seek additional detailed technical guidance to supplement the information contained within. The REC staff developed these materials based on the technology and law that were in place at the time this document was developed. Therefore, advances in technology and/or changes to the law subsequent to that date may not have been incorporated into this material. National Learning Consortium
The National Learning Consortium (NLC) is a virtual and evolving body of knowledge and tools designed to support healthcare providers and health IT professionalsworking towards the implementation, adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR systems.
The NLC represents the collective EHR implementation experiences and knowledge gained directly from the field of ONC’s outreach programs (REC, Beacon, State HIE) and through the Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC) Communities of Practice (CoPs).
The following resource is an example of a tool used in the field today that is recommended by “boots-on-the-ground” professionals for use by others who have made the commitment to implement or upgrade to certified EHR systems. Description
These guidelines are intended to aid providers and health IT implementers in planning for EHR implementation through the definition of goals and objectives. This resource can help define goals for quality improvement and help identify which features of the EHR are critical to the established goals. If you can define your goals, you can define your needs. If you can define your needs, then you can select an EHR system that will meet your needs.
Establishing realistic, measureable goals and objectives for EHR implementation is critical to determine whether or not an implementation was successful. These guidelines include examples that can be used to assist with goal and objective development. They also outline several dimensions upon which a practice can establish goals and objectives. The last section provides a template to document specific goals and objectives. Instructions
Review the guidelines to identify goals and objectives for EHR implementation. Use the template provided in section 7 to document specific goals and objectives. Use the template in section 8 to document benchmarks and track progress at 6 and 12 months post implementation. Table of Contents
1“WHY” implement EHRs? 4
2Getting Started 4
3Goal Definition 4
4Action Plan 5
5Measuring Success 5
5.1Examples 6
6Example Goals and Objectives 6
6.1System 6
6.2Vendor 7
6.3Billing 7
6.4Office Staff 7
6.5Providers And Clinical Functions 8
6.6Clinical Data management 8
6.7Medical Records And Document Management 8
6.8Patients 9
6.9Costs 9
7Goals and Objectives for Your Practice 9
7.1System: 9
7.2Vendor: 9
7.3Billing: 9
7.4Office Staff: 10
7.5Providers and Clinical Functions: 10
7.6Clinical Data Management: 11
7.7Medical Records and Document Management: 11
7.8Patients: 11
7.9Costs: 11
8EHR Benchmark Data Points 12 List of Exhibits
“WHY” implement EHRs?
This EHR implementation step should help practice leadership evaluate their current state to determine what is working well and what can be improved. Some of the questions providers ask themselves during this phase include:
“Am I accomplishing what I thought I would be doing when I decided to go to medical school?”
“Are we providing the best possible care to our patients, or are we simply trying to make it through the week?”
“If I had more time, what would I do differently?”
“What would it be like to leave the office yet stay connected to my practice?”
At this stage, practice leadership and staff should consider the practice’s clinical goals, needs, financial and technical readiness as they transition.
Getting Started
Start with a workflow analysis and identify the bottlenecks and inefficiencies that exist today. Decide which bottlenecks and inefficiencies you want to improve and assign them a priority. It doesn’t matter so much where you start — as long as you start somewhere.
In setting priorities, you may want to consider the following:
In what areas is our performance far from ideal?
What improvements do we think our patients will notice most?
Where do we think we can be successful in making change?
What groups of clinicians and staff should we involve in each item, and what is their readiness for change?
Goal Definition
Goals and needs should be documented to help guide decision-making throughout the implementation process. They may need to be re-assessed throughout the EHR implementation steps to ensure a smooth transition for the practice and all staff.
Set goals in areas that are important and meaningful to your practice. These may be clinical goals, revenue goals, or goals related to work environment. Goals in all three areas will help assure balanced processes after the implementation. Goals that are important to you will help you and your staff through the change process. We recommend you follow the “SMART” goals process. This process includes setting objectives and goals that meet the following criteria:
Specific – Achieving the goal would make a difference for our patients and our practice
Measureable – We can quantify the current level and the target goal
Attainable – Although the goal may be a stretch, we can achieve it
Relevant – This is worth the effort
Time bound – There are deadlines and opportunities to celebrate success!
These goals become the guide posts for an EHR implementation project, and achieving these goals will motivate providers and practice staff to make necessary changes and attain new skills.
Have some fun with goal setting. Involve everyone in the office by asking for creative suggestions on ways to eliminate inefficiency.
Action Plan
For each goal, define a plan of action for achieving the goal. What specific steps do you need to take to reach your goal?
Successes should be celebrated along the way. Implementing an EHR is a long process. Keeping the momentum and support of staff is important, so acknowledging success and interim milestones will help to sustain the effort.
Measuring Success
Determine how to measure the success of your action plan. Keep it simple! Don’t get hung up on statistics, sample size and complicating factors. However utilize any baseline data you may have, so you’ll have something to compare your quality improvement efforts to.
If you don’t meet your measurement for success the first time, re-evaluate, and try again. Quality improvement is a never-ending task.
Examples
Exhibit 1: Examples
Goal
Action Plan
Measure of Success
Decrease the number of pharmacy phone calls regarding prescriptions
Use the e-prescribing feature in the EHR to eliminate paper and handwritten prescriptions. Utilize the drug interaction checking feature of the EHR to guard against drug interactions
In two months, have an 85% reduction in pharmacy phone calls
Decrease transcription turnaround time and reduce transcription cost
Use clinical charting within the EHR to eliminate the need for transcription services
Within two months of EHR live, reduce the cost of transcription by 80%
Improve the quality of patient care for CAD patients
Use the EHR’s health maintenance tracking to monitor antiplatelet therapy
95% of patients with CAD have been prescribed antiplatelet therapy
Decrease waiting room time for patients
Encourage patients to use the PCs in the waiting room to update their demographics and insurance information
Within one month, 75% of patients wait no longer than 10 minutes in the waiting room
More sample goals to consider:
Improve patient access to the physician.
Decrease the number of times the physician leaves the exam room during a visit.
Increase the quantity/quality of patient education materials given to the patient.
Decrease the number of calls to the lab for results/follow up.
Increase the number of patients who receive reminders for age/sex appropriate preventative health measures.
Increase the number of patients who actually receive preventative health exams/procedures.
Example Goals and Objectives
System
EHR system must fully integrate with PMS.
EHR system must be reliable with virtually no down-time.
EHR system must be very fast and use a secure, wireless intra-office connection.
EHR system must be compatible with systems used by local hospitals, consultant specialists, labs, and imaging facilities with easily adaptable interfaces.
EHR system must be compliant with present technology standards for reporting of data to MCOs and Medicare.
EHR system must be expandable to a multi-site use and allow for growth in the size of practice.
EHR system must be redundant with disaster recovery procedure that is easily accomplished.
Vendor
Vendor must be a financially stable/viable company with strong presence in the local healthcare community and experience with small, primary care practices.
Vendor must have reputation for exceptional customer service and support.
Vendor must provide sufficient training of present and future staff in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Vendor must have availability and expertise to assist us in adapting the EHR to changing requirements for reporting, billing or clinical needs.
Billing
EHR system needs to maintain or improve present AR time.
EHR system must provide easy coding assistance and provide documentation to support codes.
EHR system should be user-friendly and allow for generation of reports to track trends in charges, AR, payer mix, denials, etc.
EHR system should facilitate “clean claims” and limit denials.
EHR system should adapt easily to changes in requirements for claims submission.
Office Staff
EHR should allow for and promote eventual goal of having all communication with patients, medical specialists’ offices, labs, imaging facilities and MCOs accomplished electronically rather than by phone in order to enhance efficiency and documentation.
EHR should be user-friendly and require minimal training for new employees.
EHR should be efficient with very few clicks to most-frequently used screens/functions.
EHR should support multi-resource scheduling easily and efficiently.
EHR should improve workflow for all functions including patient check-in, proscription refills, management of referrals, record requests, appointment scheduling, etc.
Providers And Clinical Functions
EHR visit documentation should be user-friendly and easily adaptable to provider preferences.
EHR documents should be easy to read with useful document structure.
EHR should allow for remote access from any computer with internet connection without loading special software.
EHR should have software that accommodates multiple visit types as well as visits in which multiple problems are addressed.
EHR needs to have a system by which covering doctors can see and review results and labs requiring urgent attention for providers who are not in the office.
EHR system should allow for providers to block their inbox (at least for urgent messages) when they are not in the office.
EHR should provide efficient means for communication with specialists.
EHR should streamline communication with patients and allow for electronic reporting of results.
EHR should interface with labs for electronic receipt of results as well as electronic order entry.
EHR should allow for easy use of digital photography for patient identification as well as documentation of exam findings.
Clinical Data management
EHR should have adaptable systems for disease management and programs targeting improvements in patient care as well as pay-for-performance goals.
EHR should have easily generated reports of patients by diagnosis, visit type, demographics, etc.
EHR should allow for easy reporting of data to MCOs, Medicare, and PHO.
Medical Records And Document Management
EHR should allow for rapid scanning of documents.
EHR should generate work notes, school excuses, immunization records, etc.
EHR should allow for efficient completion and management of multiple forms from outside agencies that need to be completed by our providers, such as WIC forms, PT1 transportation forms, DMV forms, school physicals, etc.
EHR should allow for maintaining a patient education “library” with materials that are easily accessed and printed for patients.
Patients
The EHR system should improve patient access to services.
The EHR system should improve patient satisfaction.
The EHR system should allow patients to undertake all communication with the office electronically, if they choose.
The EHR system should allow patients to give insurance, demographic information, and eventually some clinical history online before their office visits.
Costs
Systems should help us save transcription costs.
Systems should save on payroll costs eventually as system efficiencies are achieved and workforce shrinks by attrition.
System should decrease cost for supplies, courier services, and paper management.
System should increase revenue through MCO and Medicare incentive programs.
Goals and Objectives for Your Practice
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Billing:
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Office Staff:
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Providers and Clinical Functions:
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Medical Records and Document Management:
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EHR Benchmark Data Points
Exhibit 2: EMR Site Readiness Assessment: Clinic Overview And Demographics
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General Information
Date of Completion
Date of Completion
Date of Completion
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Clinic Phone Number: Click here to enter text.
Clinic Fax Number: Click here to enter text.
PRE-EMR
6 Months POST EMR
12 Months POST EMR
What is your average number of patient visits per day?
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What is your provider FTE count?
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What percentage of your providers are dictating notes?
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What is the rate of Hemoglobin A1c in patients diagnosed with
DM? % < 7?
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What is the average length of time your providers take to close encounters?
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What is the average percentage of patients seen without the medical chart each day?
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What is your average chart pull time?
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What is your average turnaround time from receipt of chart request to delivery to provider?
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What is your average number of inbound calls from patients, pharmacists, consulting providers, etc. each day? What percentage requires a chart pull?
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What is your average number of outbound calls from patients, pharmacists, consulting providers, etc. each day? What percentage requires a chart pull?
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What is your average patient cycle time from check-in to check-out?
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For your JCAHO Core Measurements for Ambulatory Care, how many are currently meeting established benchmarks? How many are not meeting benchmarks?
For this project, you will create a research plan based on the community health needs assessment (CHNA) of an organization of your choice. Follow the steps below.
Start by using an internet search or other methods to find a CHNA for an organization of your choice. It is recommended to use an organization in your community or where you work. CHNAs are required in charitable hospital organizations per IRS guidelines, and are required to be made public, so this type of facility may be a good place to start. If you have trouble finding an assessment, you can reach out to your professor.
Next, review the CHNA and identify the areas of opportunity as well as the supporting data. For example, if the local unemployment rate is high, perhaps job opportunities are an area that could be improved.
Choose one area of opportunity to focus on. Using the CHNA data, answer the following questions.
What is the area of opportunity you have identified?
What data was shared that supported this opportunity?
What is one idea you have to address this opportunity?
If you were going to create a strategic marketing plan for this idea, what research would you need to do (minimum of four specific areas)?
How would each of these research areas impact your final proposal on how to address this opportunity?
In your opinion, what would be the most difficult part of obtaining this research data?
Reflecting on the impact of the research you identified, what is the risk to this area of opportunity, if you made a plan without doing the necessary research?
Your project must be a minimum of two written pages. You may include graphics or charts to support your project, but they do not count toward the written page requirement. You must use a minimum of two sources to support your project. All sources used must have citations and references properly formatted in APA Style
Health care in the United States is changing. A paradigm shift is occurring as more and more health care organizations are reorganizing existing business models from inpatient to outpatient services. That being said, you have been tasked to develop a proposal for the development of a health care facility that is designed to meet the rapidly changing health care needs. Within your proposal, you are required to research and discuss the following:
The type of facility you are recommending and the rationale behind your recommendation. For example, if you chose an ambulatory care facility, explain the reasons why this type of facility would be recommended over another type.
The type of health care delivery and services that are provided at the facility.
The type of staff that will work in the facility. Specify the position categories and/or titles for these positions and include what are the credentials or licensures required by these positions in the state in which you live where you proposed facility would be located.
Note: You should include a minimum of 3 references, properly cited in APA format.
In this course, you have explored various concepts and principles related to public health, health law, health policy, finance, and risk management. You also learned how stakeholders and interest groups influence health policies and laws.
Now, it is time to reflect on how the key learnings from this course can be applied to your career. This assignment is a wonderful opportunity for you to review your own journey throughout this course. Specifically, think about how this course has helped shape your view on health policies and laws, as well as how stakeholders influence and are influenced by said health policies and laws.
Prompt
Create a journal to reflect on the knowledge and skills you have gained in this course and how these may apply to your career.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Course Knowledge: Describe your overall experience in this course, including new information learned. Consider the following questions in your response:
How has your perception of health policies and laws changed since beginning Module One?
How has your perception of stakeholders’ influence on health policies and laws changed since beginning Module One?
Career Growth: Describe how understanding health policies and laws can help further your career in healthcare. Consider the following questions in your response:
How will you apply the knowledge and skills learned in this course to your career or to future courses in this program?
Career Opportunities: Describe two potential career opportunities involving health policies and laws. Consider the following questions in your response:
How would these two career opportunities help you reach your personal goals?
Has your perception of your ideal healthcare job changed during this course? If so, how? If not, why not?
In this course, you have explored various concepts and principles related to public health, health law, health policy, finance, and risk management. You also learned how stakeholders and interest groups influence health policies and laws.
Now, it is time to reflect on how the key learnings from this course can be applied to your career. This assignment is a wonderful opportunity for you to review your own journey throughout this course. Specifically, think about how this course has helped shape your view on health policies and laws, as well as how stakeholders influence and are influenced by said health policies and laws.
Prompt
Create a journal to reflect on the knowledge and skills you have gained in this course and how these may apply to your career.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Course Knowledge: Describe your overall experience in this course, including new information learned. Consider the following questions in your response:
How has your perception of health policies and laws changed since beginning Module One?
How has your perception of stakeholders’ influence on health policies and laws changed since beginning Module One?
Career Growth: Describe how understanding health policies and laws can help further your career in healthcare. Consider the following questions in your response:
How will you apply the knowledge and skills learned in this course to your career or to future courses in this program?
Career Opportunities: Describe two potential career opportunities involving health policies and laws. Consider the following questions in your response:
How would these two career opportunities help you reach your personal goals?
Has your perception of your ideal healthcare job changed during this course? If so, how? If not, why not?
PART 1: Excel/Quantitative Inputs T accompanying excel file has 7 corresponding spreadsheets and one instructional. Each tab is numbered (1-6) corresponding to the following questions. Input data in yellow highlighted cells and the main dashboard (“master” spreadsheet) will auto-populate. Rationalize your inputs.
“Goal and Capital Raised” (5 points) a. How much money (goal/objective) do you think the club’s board should look to achieve (i.e., $2,000,000 for new building; $800,000 for full renovation; $143,000 to make just the necessary improvements)? b. Do you think selling a lot (or both) is a good financial strategy? Why/Why not?
“Membership Prices & Numbers” (8 points) a. Do you propose an increase in membership fees? How much? b. Do you think any “new” category of membership should exist? Why? Why not? c. How might price increases affect membership numbers? d. Is it possible that price increases could lead to higher membership numbers?
“Revenue Special Events” (8 points) a. Do you foresee any changes to this revenue category? b. What additional events could be added? c. How much revenue could be generated? d. Are there any limitations to new/existing events?
“Revenue Outside Rentals” (5 points) a. How many “outside” rentals would you propose each year? b. Is the pricing associated with current rentals appropriate? Would you change the fee schedule? To what? Why?
“Projected Expenses” (6 points) a. When implementing a budget for expenses for the next five years, does anything stand out? b. How does the depreciation expense affect the club’s operations?
“Loan Financing Schedule” (8 points) a. What interest rate did you choose on any debt? Why? b. How much are you proposing to repay each year? c. Do you have any “caution” signs on your Excel spreadsheet? Why? d. Are you proposing to make anniversary or pre payments? What do these accomplish? PART 2: Discussion/Qualitative Questions
Discuss the role of “debt” as a form of leverage for a business (most strategies in the current case will require the use of debt). (5 points) a. What are the biggest risks to the club taking on debt? b. Is debt inherently bad?
How might you prioritize the list of offerings the club is considering in its potential renovation plans? (5 points)
Instructions: Sunnyhill Health & Racquet Club (SHRC) PART 1: Excel/Quantitative Inputs T accompanying excel file has 7 corresponding spreadsheets and one instructional. Each tab is numbered (1-6) corresponding to the following questions. Input data in yellow highlighted cells and the main dashboard (“master” spreadsheet) will auto-populate. Rationalize your inputs.
“Goal and Capital Raised” (5 points) a. How much money (goal/objective) do you think the club’s board should look to achieve (i.e., $2,000,000 for new building; $800,000 for full renovation; $143,000 to make just the necessary improvements)? b. Do you think selling a lot (or both) is a good financial strategy? Why/Why not?
“Membership Prices & Numbers” (8 points) a. Do you propose an increase in membership fees? How much? b. Do you think any “new” category of membership should exist? Why? Why not? c. How might price increases affect membership numbers? d. Is it possible that price increases could lead to higher membership numbers?
“Revenue Special Events” (8 points) a. Do you foresee any changes to this revenue category? b. What additional events could be added? c. How much revenue could be generated? d. Are there any limitations to new/existing events?
“Revenue Outside Rentals” (5 points) a. How many “outside” rentals would you propose each year? b. Is the pricing associated with current rentals appropriate? Would you change the fee schedule? To what? Why?
“Projected Expenses” (6 points) a. When implementing a budget for expenses for the next five years, does anything stand out? b. How does the depreciation expense affect the club’s operations?
“Loan Financing Schedule” (8 points) a. What interest rate did you choose on any debt? Why? b. How much are you proposing to repay each year? c. Do you have any “caution” signs on your Excel spreadsheet? Why? d. Are you proposing to make anniversary or pre payments? What do these accomplish? PART 2: Discussion/Qualitative Questions
Discuss the role of “debt” as a form of leverage for a business (most strategies in the current case will require the use of debt). (5 points) a. What are the biggest risks to the club taking on debt? b. Is debt inherently bad?
How might you prioritize the list of offerings the club is considering in its potential renovation plans? (5 points)
In a three-page reflection paper, respond to the below questions based on the following course objectives:
Course Objectives:
Analyze ethical dilemmas in the health care environment.
Assess the sources of health care laws and regulations.
Explain the features of federal assistance programs.
Examine the rights of stakeholders in the health care system.
Analyze the characteristics of negligence in the health care environment.
Explain regulations regarding safeguarding of health information management.
Answer the following two questions with examples and explanations.
Discuss how the course supported each of the six objectives above.
Explain how you could apply the information presented in the course as a health care management professional.
Reflect on this course, and answer the following two questions:
What was the most valuable thing you learned, and why?
What did you find most challenging, and how will you strengthen those areas as a health care management professional?
Citations, references, and APA format are required. Use the CSU Online Library as one of your references to support one or more of your responses. APA formatting with at least three references are required
Discussion 1 | Episode 1 EPISODE ONE: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US
Should doctors and other health professionals take biological race into account when diagnosing and treating illness? Why? Can you think of a situation where thinking about race as biological might be misleading or have a negative effect? How would considering social race be different?
Tips:
Please start your Discussion with the Question so people know what you are discussing.
Initial Post Due Friday 11:59 pm, Secondary Sunday at 11:59 pm
Look at the rubric below to see what I am looking for.
There is no specific word count, but 200-500 words are probably adequate.
Rubric:
20 Points possible
4 Points – Displays a great understanding of the concepts in the assignment
4 Points – Utilizes APA formatting
4 Points – Clear and concise writing with no errors in grammar, spelling, or context.
4 Points – Make a timely initial response.
4 Points – Make a timely and appropriate secondary response. (see tips)
