As you have seen, an interdisciplinary team approach provides a constellation of benefits for patients and providers.

To prepare:

Choose one of the following topics and find a scholarly article in the Walden Library that deals with the topic in the context of an interdisciplinary approach to health care.

• Reimbursement
• Efficiency
• Economies of scale
• Pay for performance
• Patient satisfaction
• Team learning·learning from each other

Post an explanation of how you think an interdisciplinary approach can influence or is influenced by the factor you have selected. You should consider both positive and negative effects. Be sure to include the citation of the article in your posting.

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In 1965, psychologist Bruce Tuckman created his now classic model of group dynamics, identifying and describing four stages of group development: “Forming,” “Storming,” “Norming,” and “Performing.” In later years, he added a fifth stage to the model, called “Adjourning.”

In this Application Assignment, you will use the Tuckman Model of Group Dynamics to describe a team experience.

To prepare:

For this Assignment, review the week’s Required Resources, particularly those relating to the Tuckman model.

To complete:

Write a 1- to 2-page paper that summarizes a team experience you’ve had and relate it to the Tuckman Model of Group Dynamics. It could be work-related or a personal project, such as building a cabinet with a friend.

• Describe the stages the group experienced in the context of Tuckman’s stages. Please describe the situations involved.
• What problems or conflicts arose during the teaming process?
• At what stage did the conflicts arise?
• How did the group deal with the problems? What was the outcome?
• What would have made the process go smoother?

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.

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resources

 Freshman, B., Rubino, L., & Reid Chassiakos, Y. (Eds.). (2010). Collaboration across disciplines in health care. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Chapter 4, “Fostering Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Healthcare Organizations” (pp. 77-84, from “Case Studies” to the “Conclusion”)
Exemplary case studies of interdisciplinary collaboration at a California hospital are recounted. Although each addresses a different issue, the experience at this institution demonstrates the effectiveness and utility of an interdisciplinary approach.
Chapter 5, “Doctors Are From Mars, Patients Are From Venus”
This chapter focuses on the history and nature of the traditional doctor-patient relationship and how it is evolving into a collaborative one. Specific responsibilities and skills required of both doctor and patient in creating and supporting a successful collaboration are discussed.

Baldwin Jr., D., & Baldwin, M. (2007). Interdisciplinary education and health team training: A model for learning and service. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 21(S1), 52-69.
Note: Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article presents an account of the effort to promote and foster interdisciplinary primary care team experiences into the curriculum of the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Chimaera Consulting Limited. (2001). Famous models: Stages of group development. Retrieved from http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/tuckman.htm  

This page provides a succinct and useful explanation of the four (later five) stages of group development identified by psychologist Bruce Tuckman in his landmark article in 1965.

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There is health policy covering almost every aspect of health care practice. In this Discussion, you will explore a health care issue of particular interest to you and consider its relationship to relevant policy.

To prepare for this Discussion, consider this week’s Learning Resources. Select a health care issue that is interesting or important to you.Post a comprehensive response to the following:

• Briefly describe the health care issue that you selected.
• Why did you select this issue? Why is it important to you?
• Is the issue you identified setting dependent?
• Describe how health care policy can influence the issue you selected.
• Cite a source to support your position.
• _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

One of the fundamental functions of health care policy is to improve the overall quality of care that is delivered in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Assuring that every institution and individual health care provider offers the best possible care can be a challenge, as the definition of “quality” can vary greatly among regions, facilities, and providers.

In 2001, the Committee on Quality of Health Care in America at the Institute of Medicine released its landmark report Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. (US Institute of Medicine, 2001). The report called for nothing less than a complete overhaul of the health care delivery system in the United States.

Four major areas of health care delivery were identified and reviewed: the patient experience; the functioning of health care delivery teams; the functioning of the larger organizations within which the health care delivery teams operate; and the environment in which the organizations operate.

Several organizations have attempted to help better understand the “quality chasm” by developing tools for assessing the relative quality of institutions and their services. These tools are built on standards of care and performance benchmarks allowing for a balanced comparison across facilities and regions.

To prepare for this Application, select an organization that compares acute and long-term care facilities from the list provided. Then, select at least two hospitals or long-term care facilities in your own region to compare.

HealthGrades
http://www.healthgrades.com

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Hospital Compare
http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/

The Leapfrog Group
http://www.leapfroggroup.org

UCompareHealthCare.com
http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/

To complete this Application, write a 3- to 4-page paper that addresses the following:

• Select at least two hospitals or long-term care facilities in your own region. Identify and describe the facilities that you selected, including: the type of facility, the locations, the size (number of beds), the facilities’ affiliation (independent or part of a health system), and the facilities’ area of specialty (if any).
• Select four indicators (also known as “measures”) from one or more of the websites provided in the Learning Resources that pertain to the facilities you selected above. Define those four indicators (for example: pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital). Compare and contrast those indicators for the facilities you have selected.
• Make an argument for the facility you would choose, if you or a family member needed care from a facility. Be sure to clearly explain the reasons for your choice.

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. 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 your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

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resources

Current Issues in Healthcare Policy and Practice
Chapter 1, “Inpatient Facilities and Services”Hospitals have evolved significantly over the years to offer a wide breadth of services. This chapter offers an introduction to the inpatient acute-care centers.

Gourevitch, M., Caronna, C., & Kalkut, G. (2008). Acute Care. In Kovner, A. R., Knickman, J. & Jonas, S. (Ed.). Jonas and Kovner’s health care delivery in the United States. (pp. 191-218). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. 

HealthGrades
http://www.healthgrades.com

HeathGrades is a for-profit health care rating organization that provides ratings for doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes. 

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Hospital Compare
http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/

Hospital Compare is designed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to help consumers make informed decision by providing them with comparison information on hospital processes and outcome of care measures, as well as the results of patient-experience surveys. 

The Leapfrog Group
http://www.leapfroggroup.org

LeapFrog Group is a voluntary program that provides performance data to provide transparency and improve performance at its member hospitals. 

UCompareHealthCare.com
http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/

UCompareHealthCare.com is a for-profit entity that allows consumers to compare performance indicators for doctors, nursing homes, and hospitals at no charge. 

Optional Resources

Institute of Medicine. (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.