1 Conducting a Literature Review on a Research Problem / Phenomenon 2 Conducting a Literature Review on a Research Problem / Phenomenon Introduction The current healthcare challenge in Qatar mirrors the case in many developing nations. The challenge in questions pits high demand for healthcare services on one side and in adequate healthcare resources to match such demand. This puts the population at risk because it means that there will not be enough resources to meet healthcare needs for the population. This trend creates challenges of dealing with mortality rates because the newborns as well as their mother will be at risk. Additionally, the ageing population, which is increasing around the world, will increase the demand for healthcare, which will also increase the challenge for matching health care resources to healthcare needs of the population. One of the ways that the policy makers in Qatar have proposed to deal with the challenge is to reduce the time of stay in hospital. This literature review looks at three qualitative approaches and three quantitative approaches of how limited healthcare resources can be applied to deal with healthcare challenges. Literature Review Factors that Affect Healthcare Delivery According to World Health Organization (2012), social factors are likely to affect initiatives aimed at improving healthcare management. Similarly, political factors are also likely to influence the outcome of efforts aimed at optimizing healthcare resources in a situation where population needs are more. One of the challenges highlighted by World Health Organization is understaffing (2012). Understaffing may hamper healthcare delivery because it means there is not enough workforces to implement and execute approaches aimed at improve healthcare delivery in healthcare facilities. This means that the objectives of an approach aimed at employing 3 resources optimally will not be achieved. The fact that lacks people with adequate skills to deal with the increasing healthcare demands. One of the approaches proposed by World Healthcare Organization (2012) is to train workers kin various healthcare fields for a short duration and then deploy these workers to tasks that they have never performed before. Although the current research under review focuses on maternal health, the recommendation by World Health Organization could be applied ac cross the board in the large healthcare system (2012). Business Process Management in Healthcare Apart from ensuring enough workers to support healthcare improvement initiatives, it is also important to implement business process management in healthcare. According to Becker et al (2007), rethinking healthcare and modelling the same following business process management could be the key to improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. BPR in its fundamental form encompasses the radical redesigning of business processes. The areas affected by this approach are quality, cost, service and speed of execution. Becker and colleagues’ (2007) research aligns with the research at hand because it provides a qualitative means of dealing with the problem at hand. With an increasing population, the healthcare resources are seldom enough. Consequentially, the cost may not necessarily measure up to the quality of healthcare delivered. Similarly, the speed of delivery may also be below par. While business process approach could be a sure way to dealing with the healthcare challenge at hand, business process management (BPM) provides even a better solution. Rather than target the overall process in a one-size fits all approach, as BPR does, BPM targets the process and its components iteratively allowing for the optimization of such processes. With a BPM approach in healthcare, resources will be invested in the most productive way. Additionally, goals and targets will be set against which process outcome will be measured. If such targets and goals are not achieved, BPM allows the specific 4 obstacles and bottlenecks to be identified and dealt with. BPM becomes important in this approach because of its reliance on information technology. With information technology, data such as patient history and risk factors will allow a visibility that the healthcare professional requires to serve the client expeditiously. Care Pathways Another approach to improve healthcare and patient outcome is care pathways. In their article, Kul and Colleagues (2012) investigate the impact of care pathways as tools for improving the quality of care delivered. Care pathways as approaches to healthcare have been investigated on their role in reducing the mortality rate as well as, readmission rate. According to Kul et al, (2012), care pathways have a positive impact on mortality rate. This means that care pathways are an important tool in improving the quality of care delivered by the healthcare system. Additionally, the authors (kul et al., 2012) argue that care pathways are good for reducing the duration of hospital stay. This means that more customers will be served within a short duration. Additionally, the customers will have better treatment outcome. This approach could be applied in Qatar where healthcare organizations provide multiple pathways to healthcare such that hospitals and healthcare resources do not have to be tied up. This will help deal with the issue of a high population and dwindling healthcare resources. Lean Management in Healthcare In a quantitative approach, Lawal et al (2014) investigate how lean management concepts can be applied in healthcare. Lean management has been borrowed from Toyota. It is a quality management approach. In healthcare lean management can be applied as indicated through research conducted by Lawal et al (2014) in other healthcare organization in different countries. 5 In their research, Lawal and colleagues (2014) analyze the application of lean management in Saskatchewan. In the case model case Toyota’s lean management was applied in combination with a policy deployment system as well as strategic management. Using a daily visual management the workforce in the organization evaluated their progress using visibility wall and daily huddles. This is a very prolific approach because it measures whether objectives set aside for completing daily tasks have been met. In a setting where healthcare resources must employed optimally to serve a large population, lean management as applied in Saskatchewan can be a good way to go. The fact that this approach has daily assessment of progress makes it ideal for Qatar healthcare. Treatment Strategies In the current healthcare dispensation, the interest of many researchers is directed towards measuring whether healthcare institutions performance is improving in terms efficiency and quality. In a research funded by Commonwealth Fund Kroch, Duan, Silow-Carroll, and Meyer (2007) carried out a quantitative research to determine the trend of performance of various healthcare organizations. The authors’ research is important in the current discourse because it reflects the needs of the current healthcare market. In this research, the authors found out that the length of hospital stay is declining across all the data tested. The authors point out the use minor surgery on an outpatient basis for the less complicated conditions is attributable to the trend in question. This leaves the hospital beds to the more serious cases. A similar approach can be applied in Qatar where the healthcare resources across all healthcare organizations are deployed optimally across the inpatient and outpatient programs. 6 Operational Research in Healthcare Planning Operational research provides managers with data, which allows them to make optimal decisions. As a result, the application of operational research in healthcare planning could provide decision makers with data and visibility that allows for optimal utilization of resources. In their paper, Rais and Viana (2010) investigate how operation research can be used to guide healthcare resource allocation decisions. The authors show that the data driven decisions are likely to bring about improvement and optimization of healthcare. The authors argue that by applying Operational Research techniques such as simulation, deterministic and nondeterministic approaches could be used for healthcare planning especially distribution of healthcare resources such as emergency vehicles. One of the areas where this research is applicable is in the location of new health centres. In the current discourse, the challenge is to serve the increasing population. As a result determining how deploy emergency vehicles as well as determining the locations for new hospitals requires data that is obtainable through operational research. Conclusion The healthcare challenge weighs equally heavily across the globe although the poor nations that lack the resources and technology feel the greatest burden. As healthcare challenges abound, several approaches as discussed above can be used to optimize healthcare in the face of a growing population. The above analysis presents various approaches that the Qatar healthcare sector can apply to serve its growing population better. One of the approaches include providing care pathways, second, carrying out minor surgeries through outpatient such that inpatient is left for critical cases. Third, employing lean management in healthcare management, which improves 7 the quality of service delivered. Fourth, using Operational Research methodologies to optimize healthcare planning, this allows for deployment of resources in an optimal manner. Fifth, dealing with issues such as understaffing can also be a step in the right direction to improve healthcare delivery especially where large numbers of patients are to be served. Lastly, taking a business process management approach where processes are assessed iteratively allowing for identification of specific problems and obstacles can also be crucial for overcoming challenges in Qatar’s healthcare problems. 8 References Becker, J., Fischer, R., & Janiesch, C. (2007). Optimizing US health care processes-A case study in Business process management. AMCIS 2007 Proceedings, 504. Kroch, E. A., Duan, M., Silow-Carroll, S., & Meyer, J. A. (2007). Hospital Performance Improvement: Trends in Quality and Efficiency. A Quantitative Analysis of Performance Improvement in US Hospitals, The Commonwealth Fund. Kul, S., Barbieri, A., Milan, E., Montag, I., Vanhaecht, K., & Panella, M. (2012). Effects of care pathways on the in-hospital treatment of heart failure: a systematic review. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 12, 81. http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-12-81 Lawal, A. K., Rotter, T., Kinsman, L., Sari, N., Harrison, L., Jeffery, C., ... & Flynn, R. (2014). Lean management in health care: definition, concepts, methodology and effects reported (systematic review protocol). Systematic reviews, 3(1), 103. Rais, A., & Viana, A. (2011). Operations research in healthcare: a survey. International transactions in operational research, 18(1), 1-31. World Health Organization. (2012). WHO recommendations: optimizing health worker roles to improve access to key maternal and newborn health interventions through task shifting. World Health Organization. 9 1 Title of the Paper in Full Goes Here Student Name Here Walden University 2 Abstract Abstracts are not required for all course papers. Please ask your instructor if you have questions regarding whether an abstract is required for a particular assignment. 3 Title of the Paper in Full Goes Here AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. 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AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. Level 1 Heading AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. AAA bbb cccc dddd eeee ffff gggg hhhh iiii jjjj kkkk llll mmmm nnnn oooo pppp qqqq rrrr sssss tttt uuuu vvvv wwww xxxx yyyy zzzz. 6 References (Please note that the following references are intended as examples only.) Alexander, G., & Bonaparte, N. (2008). My way or the highway that I built. Ancient Dictators, 25(7), 14-31. doi:10.8220/CTCE.52.1.23-91 Babar, E. (2007). The art of being a French elephant. Adventurous Cartoon Animals, 19, 43194392. Retrieved from http://www.elephants104.ace.org Bumstead, D. (2009). The essentials: Sandwiches and sleep. Journals of Famous Loafers, 5, 565582. doi:12.2847/CEDG.39.2.51-71 Hansel, G., & Gretel, D. (1973). Candied houses and unfriendly occupants. Thousand Oaks, CA: Fairy Tale Publishing. Hera, J. (2008). Why Paris was wrong. Journal of Greek Goddess Sore Spots, 20(4), 19-21. doi: 15.555/GGE.64.1.76-82 Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2007). How to cite a video: The city is always Baltimore [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Name of program [Video webcast]. Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com Sinatra, F. (2008). Zing! Went the strings of my heart. Making Good Songs Great, 18(3), 31-22. Retrieved from http://articlesextollingrecordingsofyore.192/fs.com Smasfaldi, H., Wareumph, I., Aeoli, Q., Rickies, F., Furoush, P., Aaegrade, V., … Fiiel, B. (2005). The art of correcting surname mispronunciation. New York, NY: Supportive Publisher Press. Retrieved from http://www.onewaytociteelectronicbooksperAPA7.02.com 7 White, S., & Red, R. (2001). Stop and smell the what now? Floral arranging for beginners (Research Report No. 40-921). Retrieved from University of Wooded Glen, Center for Aesthetic Improvements in Fairy Tales website: http://www.uwg.caift/~40_921.pdf
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