Since the turn of the century, there has been an increased focus on transforming the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Healthcare delivery systems are structured social systems that deliver healthcare services.
HCM 340 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Since the turn of the century, there has been an increased focus on transforming the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Healthcare delivery systems are structured social systems that deliver healthcare services. These social systems consist of a collection of people who provide services to specific communities, populations, or markets. Several reports have indicated the healthcare system we experience is not the ideal system we strive to achieve. There have been many efforts to optimize the care delivered to everyone in our society. Yet, many gaps still need to be addressed to enable us to come closer to attaining that ideal.
For your final project, you will research a gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care. You should discuss the existing initiatives involving economic and regulatory factors.
· Option One: A gap in quality related to care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses
· Option Two: A gap in equity related to mental health access for veterans
· Option Three: A gap in efficiency related to the rising cost of pharmaceuticals for the aging population
This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:
· Describe the impact of economic and regulatory drivers on healthcare delivery systems
· Identify major gaps in access to healthcare for determining areas of opportunity for improved access to quality healthcare
· Explain initiatives targeted at maintaining or improving the health status of specific populations
The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final project submission will occur in Module Seven.
Prompt
After choosing the topic for your course project from the options provided in the overview, you will work to develop your healthcare delivery systems research paper. Healthcare Delivery Process Gap is defined as: the gaps in care that result from a discrepancy between the care provided to patients and the recommended best practices in healthcare. Within the final research project, you will address your chosen gap in access, including existing initiatives in place to address the gap and economic and regulatory factors that are currently in place to address the gap.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction
A. Describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare. Include the specific population affected by the gap.
B. Briefly describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare.
C. Explain the impact that the socioeconomic background of the population has on their access to healthcare.
D. Describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
E. Predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed.
II. Existing Initiatives
A. Explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
B. Explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
C. Describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative. Consider when it was developed and what factors were considered.
D. Describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative.
E. Explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement.
III. Regulation
A. Explain a current regulation regarding the existing initiative that has been identified and the context in which it was developed. Why is this regulation important?
B. Describe the regulatory level that the existing initiative is being addressed at. Consider the potential for multiple levels of regulation.
IV. Conclusion: Explain the effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population.
A. Does the initiative align with initiatives in place to support other gaps?
B. Are there conflicting interests to be aware of?
Milestones
Milestone One: Topic Selection
In Module Three, you will select a healthcare delivery process gap and population affected from the list below. This will be the base of your final project: the healthcare delivery systems research paper. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Existing Initiatives
In Module Five, you will analyze an initiative related to your final project topic. Use the Centers for Disease Control’s website, National Health Initiatives, Strategies & Action Plans, located in the Module Five Readings and Resources to identify an existing initiative that aligns with your final project topic. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Final Submission: Healthcare Delivery Systems Research Paper
In Module Seven, you will consider how effective the initiative is in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population. As you consider the initiative’s current regulation and its effectiveness, you should address:
· Why regulation is important
· Potential for multiple levels of regulation
· Effectiveness of the existing initiative
This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
What to Submit
Your healthcare delivery systems research paper should use the Final Project Template and be 5 to 8 pages in length. It should be double-spaced, include one-inch margins, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and include at least three sources cited in APA formatting.
AI Usage
If you use gen AI tools to support your work on this assignment, be sure to follow these AI usage guidelines. You must acknowledge your use of these tools in your work. Guidelines on how to cite AI tools can be found in this Shapiro Library guide.
Final Project Rubric
|
Criteria |
Exceeds Expectations (100%) |
Meets Expectations (85%) |
Partially Meets Expectations (55%) |
Does Not Meet Expectations (0%) |
Value |
|
Introduction: Gap |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates keen insight into the healthcare
delivery processes |
Describes a
specific gap in the delivery of healthcare, including the specific population
affected by the gap |
Describes a
specific gap in the delivery of healthcare, including the specific population
affected by the gap, but the description is cursory or contains inaccuracies |
Does not describe
a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare to a specific population |
8 |
|
Introduction: History |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the
premise of the gap |
Briefly describes
the history of this gap in access to healthcare |
Describes the
history of this gap in access to healthcare, but description is verbose or
contains inaccuracies |
Does not describe
the history of this gap in access to healthcare |
8 |
|
Introduction: Socioeconomic Background |
Exceeds
expectations and the explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of
the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare |
Explains the
impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare |
Explains the
impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare,
but explanation is cursory or illogical |
Does not explain
the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to
healthcare |
8 |
|
Introduction: Affect |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the
healthcare delivery processes as they relate to consumer access to quality,
equity, or efficiency of care |
Describes how the
healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access to
quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
Describes how the
healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access to
quality, equity, or efficiency of care, but the description is cursory or
contains inaccuracies |
Does not describe
how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
8 |
|
Introduction: Implications |
Exceeds
expectations and predictions demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of the
interrelationship between healthcare access and other variables |
Predicts any
potential implications if this gap in access to quality, equity, or
efficiency of care is not addressed |
Predicts any
potential implications if this gap in access to quality, equity, or
efficiency of care is not addressed, but predictions are unrealistic or
unrelated |
Does not predict
any potential implications if this gap in access to quality, equity, or
efficiency of care is not addressed |
8 |
|
Existing Initiatives: Address Gap |
Exceeds
expectations and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs for
addressing the gap |
Explains an
existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
Explains an
existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care, but explanation is cursory
or contains inaccuracies |
Does not explain
an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap
in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
8 |
|
Existing Initiatives: Goals |
Exceeds
expectations and explanation demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the
purpose of the existing initiative |
Explains the
specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
Explains the
specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care, but explanation is cursory
or contains inaccuracies |
Does not explain
the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in
access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care |
8 |
|
Existing Initiatives: Development |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the
elements involved in the development of initiatives |
Describes the
circumstances around the development of the existing initiative |
Describes the
circumstances around the development of the existing initiative, but description
is unclear or incomplete |
Does not describe
the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative |
8 |
|
Existing Initiatives: Resources |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates a complex grasp of the funding
requirements of healthcare delivery initiatives |
Describes the
resources required to fund the existing initiative |
Describes the
resources required to fund the existing initiative, but description is
illogical or contains inaccuracies |
Does not describe
the resources required to fund the existing initiative |
8 |
|
Existing Initiatives: Improvement |
Exceeds
expectations and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs of the
initiative and its shortcomings |
Explains why the
existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires
improvement |
Explains why the
existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires
improvement, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies |
Does not explain
why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now
requires improvement |
8 |
|
Regulation: Current Regulation |
Exceeds
expectations and explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of how
context influences the development of regulations |
Explains a current
regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and
the context in which it was developed |
Explains a current
regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and
the context in which it was developed, but explanation is cursory or contains
inaccuracies |
Does not explain a
current regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been
identified and the context in which it was developed |
7 |
|
Regulation: Regulatory Level |
Exceeds
expectations and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of
regulatory control levels |
Describes the
regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed |
Describes the
regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed, but
description is cursory or unrelated |
Does not describe
the regulatory level at which that the existing initiatives are being
addressed |
7 |
|
Conclusion |
Exceeds
expectations and explanation demonstrates a complex grasp of the relationship
between individual initiatives and the healthcare system |
Explains the
effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in
addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population |
Explains the
effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in
addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population,
but explanation is cursory or unrelated to the overall healthcare system |
Does not explain
the role of this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the population or the
initiative in place to address this gap |
3 |
|
Clear Communication |
Exceeds
expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough
understanding |
Consistently and
effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audience |
Shows progress
toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective
in a way that negatively impacts understanding |
Shows no evidence
of consistent, effective, or organized communication |
1.5 |
|
Citations and Attributions |
Uses citations for
ideas requiring attribution, with few or no minor errors |
Uses citations for
ideas requiring attribution, with consistent minor errors |
Uses citations for
ideas requiring attribution, with major errors |
Does not use
citations for ideas requiring attribution |
1.5 |
|
Total: |
100% |
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