HCM 340 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report To Err is Human was a call to arms for the U.S. healthcare delivery system. It emphasized the need to explore the processes, structure, and outcomes related to the quality of care provided to individuals in our society. For your final project, you will research a gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care (including existing initiatives in place to address the gap and economic and regulatory factors that are currently in place to address the gap). Access to care includes access to health insurance coverage, access to services and providers, and timeliness of the care received. All three of these components impact quality of care. Access can also include affordability. The quality of the care people receive in the healthcare system should not vary based upon their socioeconomic status. For your final project, you will select a healthcare delivery process gap and the population affected from the list below. Then, you will develop a healthcare delivery systems research paper. • • • 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 rising cost of pharmaceuticals for the aging population This assessment addresses the following course outcomes: • • • • Draw connections between current healthcare delivery systems and the context in which they were developed 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 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. 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. 1 Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: 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. Has this been an issue historically, or is it a modern issue? 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. 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. B. Explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access. 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. Does the initiative align with initiative in place to support other gaps? Are there conflicting interests to be aware of? I. Milestones Milestone One: Topic Selection In Module Three, you will submit a 2- to 3-page paper explaining why the topic you chose is a gap in healthcare and analyze the specific population impacted by the issue. This assignment will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Existing Initiatives In Module Five, you will submit a 2- to 3-page paper in which you will identify and analyze an initiative that addresses the gap you chose as the topic for your final project. This assignment will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. 2 Final Submission: Healthcare Delivery Systems Research Paper In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric. Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your healthcare delivery systems research paper should be 5 to 8 pages. It should be double-spaced, include one-inch margins, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and adhere to the latest edition of APA formatting. Critical Elements Introduction: Gap Exemplary (100%) Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates keen insight into the healthcare delivery processes Proficient (85%) Describes a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare, including the specific population affected by the gap Introduction: History Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the premise of the gap Meets “Proficient” criteria and the explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the healthcare delivery processes as they relate to consumer access Briefly describes the history of this gap in access to healthcare Introduction: Socioeconomic Background Introduction: Affect Explains the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare Describes how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access 3 Needs Improvement (55%) 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 Describes the history of this gap in access to healthcare, but description is verbose or contains inaccuracies Explains the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare, but explanation is cursory or illogical Describes how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access, but description cursory or contains inaccuracies Not Evident (0%) Does not describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare to a specific population Value 7.9 Does not describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare 7.9 Does not explain the impact socioeconomic background has on a population’s access to healthcare 7.9 Does not describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access 7.9 Introduction: Implications Meets “Proficient” criteria and predictions demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of the interrelationship between healthcare access and other variables Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs for addressing the gap Predicts any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed Predicts any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed, but predictions are unrealistic or unrelated Does not predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed 7.9 Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access Does not explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access 7.9 Existing Initiatives: Goals Meets “Proficient” criteria 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 Does not explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access 7.9 Existing Initiatives: Development Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of the elements involved in the development of initiatives Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a complex grasp of the funding requirements of healthcare delivery initiatives Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the needs of the initiative and its shortcomings Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative Explains an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Explains the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Describes the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative, but description is unclear or incomplete Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative, but description is illogical or contains inaccuracies Does not describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative 7.9 Does not describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative 7.9 Does not explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement 7.9 Existing Initiatives: Address Gap Existing Initiatives: Resources Existing Initiatives: Improvement Describes the resources required to fund the existing initiative Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement 4 Explains why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement, but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies Regulation: Current Regulation Meets “Proficient” criteria 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 Regulation: Regulatory Level Meets “Proficient” criteria and description demonstrates a nuanced understanding of regulatory control levels Describes the regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria 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 Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization 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 Describes the regulatory level at which the existing initiatives are being addressed, but description is cursory or unrelated 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 Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Does not explain a current regulation regarding the existing initiatives that have been identified and the context in which it was developed 7.9 Does not describe the regulatory level at which that the existing initiatives are being addressed 7.9 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 2.6 Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas 2.6 Total 5 100% Running Head: FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE 3-2 Final Project Milestone One Tracy McNeill HCM 340-R1747 Healthcare Delivery Systems South New Hampshire University 1 FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE 2 Table of Contents Final Project Milestone One: Topic Selection .............................................................................................. 3 Gap ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 History .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Socioeconomic background .......................................................................................................................... 4 Affect ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Implications................................................................................................................................................... 5 References ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 3 FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE Final Project Milestone One: Topic Selection Gap In the country today, the development of a reliable healthcare system has been a significant issue of concern. There are various weaknesses which the current system exhibits as far as the delivery of care is concerned. These weaknesses have affected the abilities of the current system to offer the desired levels of care to the entire population. This project looks at the existing disparities in care provision to veterans. Mental health issues continue to rise in the country with veterans recording among the highest incidents. Post-traumatic disorders continue to increase, affecting the majority of the veterans. In this context, veterans continue to face a challenge when it comes to receiving the desired levels of care as far as mental health interventions are concerned. In recent years, at least 4 million veterans have reported incidents which relate to mental health challenges obtained from their duration in the service. The lack of sufficient resources for dealing with the associated conditions such as post-traumatic disorders continue to reduce the effectiveness of the current healthcare systems to deliver quality care and services to veterans. History Venetians have been engaged in various wars and combat encounters in history. For instance, the United States had sent soldiers to combat in areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. With these wars being among the long-standing encounters and tensions, a lot of soldiers were exposed to long combat. Majority of the soldiers who were posted in such areas have reported incidents such as PTSD and other mental challenges since their retirement from service. Most of these people have challenges coping with the past incidents and encounters which they faced during combat. In 2016, at least 1.5 million veterans in the country visited the respective care 4 FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE facilities to seek mental health attention and assistance. This figure shows a rise of about 31% of the value reported in 2004 as far as mental health challenges for veterans are concerned (Fishbain, Pulikal, Lewis & Gao, 2017). While the country has been developing hospitals to provide the desired levels of care to the populations, the existing systems do not bridge the gap created by veterans and mental health. Majority of the current veteran affairs hospitals and the civilian care facilities have been overwhelmed by the rising cases of mental health from veterans (Cogan, Cervelli, Dillahunt-Aspillaga & Rossiter, 2018). Socioeconomic background Veterans usually face diverse challenges when reconnecting with their communities and families. The social ties between the veterans and the community are limited based on the differences in operating environments. On the same note, veterans may report challenges when it comes to maintaining relationships within their families and communities. Seeking employment elsewhere is a challenge for many veterans. This conclusion is based on the concept of age. Most of the veterans are retired war heroes who may in the process find it hard to secure employment. On the same note, the general perceptions of the potential employers against veterans have continued to affect their abilities to seek a successful career. For instance, most employers look at factors such as age, gender, education and experience when employing a candidate. Most veterans have experience in combat as opposed to the general workplace tasks. Affect Limited provision of specialized care to veterans has continued to affect the abilities to reduce the gap in mental health outcomes. For instance, veterans continue to report insufficient attention and lack of sufficient services when it comes to receiving mental health assistance. The 5 FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE inability of the current systems to adjust to meet the needs of veterans has made it hard to bridge the existing gaps. Implications If the current gap is not addressed, the country will continue to report a rise in cases of mental health affecting veterans. On the same note, the current healthcare providers will continue to be overwhelmed with mental health cases and incidents, which in turn will create a crisis in care delivery. Therefore, the country needs to implement the right measures which will promote efficiency in care delivery addressing the current gaps in veteran mental health (DeVoe et al. 2017). 6 FINAL PROJECT MILESTONE ONE References Cogan, A., Cervelli, L., Dillahunt-Aspillaga, T., & Rossiter, A. G. (2018). Treating military service members and veterans in the private sector: Information and resources for clinicians. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 99(12), 2659-2661. DeVoe, E. R., Paris, R., Emmert-Aronson, B., Ross, A., & Acker, M. (2017). A randomized clinical trial of a postdeployment parenting intervention for service members and their families with very young children. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 9(S1), 25. Fishbain, D. A., Pulikal, A., Lewis, J. E., & Gao, J. (2017). Chronic pain types differ in their reported prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and there is consistent evidence that chronic pain is associated with PTSD: an evidence-based structured systematic review. Pain medicine, 18(4), 711-735. Running head: THE MENTAL HEALTH GAP FOR VETERANS Milestone Two: Existing Initiative Addressing the Mental Health Gaps for Veterans Tracy McNeill Southern New Hampshire University 1 THE MENTAL HEALTH GAP FOR VETERANS 2 Addressing the Mental Health Gap for Veterans Healthcare initiatives aim to ensure that Americans access the highest quality health care services. These initiatives purpose to eliminate health disparities and provide equal services for US residents across the age and population divide. The ministry of health expects all stakeholders in the health sector to commit to reducing the burden of disability, illness, and injury, and ultimately the quality of life for all Americans. Service members, veterans, and their families form a population segment that has received tremendous attention over the last ten years. The Major League Baseball, alongside the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, established the Welcome Back Veterans Initiative in 2008. The establishment allocated resources for organizations that provided support for the mental health of veterans and their families. The initiative has since provided grants towards academic medical institutions working towards catering for the mental health needs of service members, veterans, and their families. Goals of the Existing Initiative The Welcome Back Veterans (WBV) initiative aimed to provide treatment opportunities, thus improving the quality of life for service members, veterans, and their families. Since its establishment, the WBV program has provided grants worth about $30 million (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2017). The initiative also availed training opportunities for mental health service providers, thus enhancing competence. The WBV initiative also aimed to create awareness about mental health and promote the need to seek help from service providers. Mental issues have been associated with trauma for far too long, and the WBV looked forward to de- THE MENTAL HEALTH GAP FOR VETERANS 3 stigmatizing the issue enabling veterans to seek help (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2018). The program also worked towards setting up mental health safety networks through the creating of referrals networks. These networks would help service members, veterans, and their families, thus ensuring access to quality health care. The initiative also aimed at partnering with other organizations, thus building capacity for mental health care. The Development of the Initiative The Welcome Back Veterans Initiative has successfully enhanced access to quality mental health services for service members, veterans, and their families. Since its inception, the WBV program has ensured that about 3600 veterans and their families access clinical mental services, including screening, treatment, and referrals. The initiative has formed approximately 188 networks and organized about 228 training sessions, thus building a skills-base (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2018). The program has implemented prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy to treat moral injury-based- posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans. Besides, the treatment outcomes for recovering service members and veterans have improved significantly over the years (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2017). There is, however, a need for improvement of services to incorporate arising issues such as the novel requirements for grants and partnerships. Resources for the WVB Initiative The Welcome Back Veterans initiative is a program primarily sponsored by Major League Basketball and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2018). The founding partners provide resources for the primary goals of the initiative. The program also benefits from establishing partnerships with other organizations interested in changing the mental health state for service members and veterans. These partnerships have THE MENTAL HEALTH GAP FOR VETERANS 4 enabled the setting up of mental health centers, including the Duke University Center. Various applications and platforms are also available for veterans battling suicide and addictions. These resources have materialized telepathy in providing mental healthcare services for service members and veterans in need of remote and/or urgent services. Conclusion Service members and veterans stand a higher risk of suffering from mental health issues during their transition from service to home. Some of the conditions they are susceptible to include depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, and addiction to drugs and substances. Major League Basketball and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation came together to establish an initiative that would work towards enhancing the accessibility of mental healthcare for veterans in 2008 (Tanielian, Batka, & Meredith, 2018). The Welcome Back Veterans initiative has since provided about $30 million worth in grants for organizations working towards mental health awareness, service provision, and personnel training. The initiative has been able to improve cognitive healthcare accessibility. However, a lot has to be done towards the improvement of services to suit arising issues such as the availability of grants and partnerships. References Tanielian, T., Batka, C., & Meredith, L. S. (2018). Bridging gaps in mental health care: lessons learned from the welcome back veterans initiative. Rand health quarterly, 7(4). Tanielian, T., Batka, C., & Meredith, L. S. (2017). The changing landscape for Veterans' mental health care.
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