Ashford 7: – Week 6 – Research Project

Research Project
Carefully read through all components (listed below) required for completion of the Research Project. In selecting your project topic, ensure that you will be able to ascertain the appropriate data/information needed to complete the project in terms of the deliverables.

Select a health care organization (local or national, large or small, public or private) and perform a needs assessment/gap analysis. You may utilize your own organization if you are employed in a health care related company. You may approach the Research Project from a (1) Human Resources, (2) Operations, or (3) Facilities perspective. You may select an organization in your own community.

Human Resources: staffing, training, recruitment, retention, job function redesign, etc.
Operations: delivery of service/care, access, wait times, equipment usage, process improvements, resource optimization, regulatory compliance, etc.
Facilities: space planning, construction, redesign, relocation.
The components for the Research Project include the following:

Title Page        
            
Executive Summary (Needs Content Criteria)         
             
Description of the organization (history, length in service/operation, how many beds? clients served? location; rural vs. urban, satellite locations, total number of staff, client usage information/demographics, etc.)         
              
Needs Assessment/Gap Analysis: What is not currently being offered? Room for improvements? Service delivery deficits? Personnel issues/shortages? Justify with supporting data and statistics.         
                             
Propose an intervention (service or facility) based on the needs/gap analysis.          
                                   
Justify your proposed intervention by providing an analysis from:
Cultural
Social
Legal
Economics
Regulatory
Reimbursement
Managed care
Health legislation
Contracts perspectives    
                                
Pick a minimum of three of the elements listed above depending on the organization selected and which apply to the specific organization/situation selected.       
                            
Create a plan to implement your intervention. Identify the stakeholders involved, and their role (s) in implementing the intervention. Include finance and staffing elements required to implement the intervention.        
                      
Develop a marketing communication plan on how the stakeholders will be informed, kept up-to-date, etc. prior to the intervention, during the intervention, and post intervention.          
                              
Develop a plan for measurement effectiveness of the intervention. What indicators will determine if the intervention is successful?        
                             
Reference page.
Writing the Research Project
The Research Project:
Must be 9 to 11 double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a title page with the following:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
Must use at least ten scholarly and /or peer-reviewed sources, published within the last 5 years.
Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

 
Executive Summary
Total: 2.00
Distinguished – Excellent summary that includes the main idea and relevant supporting details.  The summary is presented in a thorough, organized, and logical order.
Proficient –
Clear summary that includes the main idea and some important details.  The summary is presented in a somewhat logical order.
Basic – Main idea is unclear or not specified in the summary. Some critical information is missing.  Ideas are in random order and not logical.
Below Expectations – The main idea is not present and contains only some details.  Ideas are not in a logical order.
Non-Performance –
The summary is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Assessment/ Gap Analysis
Total: 3.00
Distinguished –
Clearly and comprehensively describes a health care organization  and performs an extensive needs assessment/gap analysis.
Proficient –
Describes a health care organization  and performs a sufficient needs assessment/gap analysis.
Basic –
Minimally  describes a health care organization.  The needs assessment/gap analysis is  incomplete.
Below Expectations –
Attempts to describe a health care organization and provide a  needs assessment/gap analysis but it is lacking relevant details.
Non-Performance – The description of a health care organization and needs assessment/gap analysis is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Propose an Intervention
Total: 2.00
Distinguished –
Proposed intervention is inventive, considering intricate ideas based on the needs/gap analysis.
Proficient – Proposed intervention is adequate, considering some of the complexities of the needs/gap analysis.
Basic – Proposed intervention is minimally described.  Relevant details are missing.
Below Expectations – Attempts to propose an intervention, but it is incomplete and unfocused.
Non-Performance – The proposed intervention is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Justification of Intervention
Total: 2.00
Distinguished – Comprehensively and articulately justifies the proposed intervention by providing an in-depth and well-thought out analysis from a minimum of three of the elements listed and applies each to the specific organization/situation selected.
Proficient – Justifies the proposed intervention by providing an analysis from a minimum of three of the elements listed and applies each to the specific organization/
situation selected, though some relevant details are missing.
Basic – Minimally justifies the proposed intervention.  The analysis is incomplete.
Below Expectations – Attempts to justify the proposed intervention, but the analysis is not given and/or is missing relevant details.
Non-Performance –
The justification and analysis is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Implementation Plan for Intervention
Total: 6.00
Distinguished -Develops a thorough and detailed plan to implement intervention. Identifies the stakeholders involved  and their role(s) in implementing the intervention. Includes finance and staffing elements required to implement the intervention.
Proficient – Sufficiently develops a plan to implement intervention. Identifies some, but not all stakeholders involved, and their role(s) in implementing the intervention. Includes finance and staffing elements but is missing some relevant information.
Basic – Minimally develops a plan to implement intervention. Lacks sufficient identification of stakeholders involved, and their role(s) in implementing the intervention.
Below Expectations – Attempts to  develop a plan to implement intervention, but does not identify stakeholders involved and their role (s) in implementing the intervention or includes finance and staffing elements.
Non-Performance – The implementation plan is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Marketing Plan
Total: 2.00
Distinguished – Develops a comprehensive marketing communication plan on how the stakeholders will be informed, kept up-to-date, etc. prior to the intervention, during the intervention, and post intervention.  Exceptional details are given.
Proficient –
Develops a marketing communication plan on how the stakeholders will be informed, kept up-to-date, etc. prior to the intervention, during the intervention, and post intervention.  Details are given, but some relevant information is missing.
Basic – Minimally develops a marketing communication plan.  There is insufficient information on how the stakeholders will be informed, kept up-to-date, etc. prior to the intervention, during the intervention, and post intervention.
Below Expectations – Attempts to develop a marketing communication plan.  There is incomplete and/or no  information  on how the stakeholders will be informed, kept up-to-date, etc. prior to the intervention, during the intervention, and post intervention.
Non-Performance -The marketing plan is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Intervention Effectiveness Measurement
Total: 4.00
Distinguished – Develops a feasible and comprehensive plan for measuring effectiveness of the intervention.  Relevant and detailed information is given regarding indicators that will determine if the intervention is successful.
Proficient – Develops a plan for measuring effectiveness of the intervention.  Information is given regarding indicators that will determine if the intervention is successful; however some relevant details are missing.
Basic – Minimally develops a plan for measuring effectiveness of the intervention.  Lacks information  regarding indicators that will determine if the intervention is successful.
Below Expectations – Attempts to develop a plan for measuring effectiveness of the intervention; however it is incomplete and unfocused.
Non-Performance – The measurement of effectiveness plan is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Critical Thinking: Conclusions and Related Outcomes
Total: 3.00
Distinguished – Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and clearly reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.
Proficient – Conclusions and related outcomes are logical and reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.
Basic – Conclusions and related outcomes are identified and minimally reflect student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.
Below Expectations – Conclusions and related outcomes are not logical or reflective of student’s informed evaluation and ability to place evidence and perspectives discussed in priority order.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Total: 1.50
Distinguished – Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to understand.
Proficient – Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to understand.
Basic – Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.
Below Expectations – Fails to display basic comprehension or syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors, which distract the reader.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

APA Formatting
Total: 1.50
Distinguished – Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title and reference page.
Proficient – Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper, however, layout contains a few minor errors.
Basic – Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper.  Layout does not meet all APA requirements.
Below Expectations – Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting.  There are frequent errors making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Page Requirement
Total: 1.50
Distinguished – The paper meets the specific page requirement stipulated in the assignment description.
Proficient – The paper closely meets the page requirements predetermined in the assignment description.
Basic – The paper meets over half of the page requirement.
Below Expectations – A fraction of the page requirement is completed.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Resource Requirement
Total: 1.50
Distinguished – Provides ample resources and uses the correct amount of sources from the specified search agents.
Proficient – Provides the approximate number of sources, while using some of the correct search agents specified in the assignment instructions.
Basic – Provides over half of the  sources required in the assignment instructions.
Below Expectations -Barely provides adequate resources and unable to include sources from specified search agents.
Non-Performance – The assignment is either non-existent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Course Home – Course Materials

Required Text

Wolper, L.F. (2011). Health care administration: Managing organized delivery systems (5th ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.

Required Articles

Fox News.  (2008).  Report: Over 120 UCLA hospital staff saw celebrity health records.  Retrieved from  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398784,00.html

Mindtools.  (n.d.).  Cause and effect diagram.  Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_03.htm

Mindtools.  (n.d.).   Pareto analysis.  Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_01.htm 

National Conference of State Legislation.  (2011).  Certificate of need: State health laws and programs. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/CONCertificateofNeedStateLaws/tabid/14373/Default.aspx

National Ethics Committee of the Veterans Health Administration.  (2004).   Online patient-clinician messaging: Fundamentals of ethical practice.  Retrieved from  http://www.ethics.va.gov/docs/necrpts/NEC_Report_20040701_Online_Clinician-Pt_Messaging.pdf

Required Multimedia

Ivanhoe.  (2012, March 6).  Part3 Tort Reform: The Solution or Punishment [Video file].   Retrieved from http://www.5min.com/Video/Tort-Reform-The-Solution-Or-Punishment-Part-33-175277195
Required Websites

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Health Information Technology: Key Topics. Retrieved from http://healthit.ahrq.gov/key-topics

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Topics A-Z. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/index.html

Web 2.0 tools.  (http://www.go2web20.net/)

Recommended Websites

Articulate.  (http://www.articulate.com/)

Jing.  (http://www.jingproject.com/)

Reallusion.  (http://www.reallusion.com/crazytalk/)

Slideshare.  (http://www.slideshare.net/)

Smilebox.  (http://www.smilebox.com/) 

Voice Thread.  (http://voicethread.com/#home)