HCA450 All Weeks Discussions Latest 2018 October

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 1 Discussion

DQ1 Define the concept of "quality" within the health care industry. Why is it so important in health care? What are the implications of poor versus high-quality health care, especially financial implications, from various perspectives?

DQ2 Identify two challenges facing the delivery of quality in health care today. One of these must be financial in nature. Discuss ways in which the challenge can be overcome. What are the implications of implementing the solution?

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Describe the various steps taken by a health care organization as they relate to documenting quality in an organization. What might be some of the challenges faced when deficiencies are noted and need to be addressed?

DQ2 Please explain how quality might be measured in an organization. What are the various tools that could be used, and how might their use present challenges in implementation?

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 3 Discussion

DQ1 Briefly describe the function of the Joint Commission. How does it measure and ensure quality in an organization? What authorities does it carry and how effective are they in assuring quality?

DQ2 Identify at least two federal and state health care agencies (at least one of each) that regulate quality in health care organizations. Should governments be involved in regulating health care, and if so, to what extent?

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 Discuss the history of the concept of the adoption of EMRs by the health care industry: What are the various forces involved in mandates and regulations affecting the adoption of EMRs? What do you see as the advantages gained by adopting EMR and what are the disadvantages?

DQ2 What are some challenges and disadvantages to incorporating and utilizing technology in an organization? How has new technology assisted with measuring and delivering quality care? Please provide an example of how you have seen technology change the way you receive health care.

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 5 Discussion

DQ1 What is the role of insurance payers in the quality of services of a health care organization? Do they have an influence over the quality of an organization? How so?

DQ2 What is the greatest financial obstacle to quality in health care? Include research and anecdotal evidence to defend your claims.

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 Discuss the quality care approach used in an organization to improve patient safety and patient outcomes. Why was the quality model selected and how does it align to the organization's mission?

DQ2 In the book, Professionalism in Health Care: A Primer for Career Success, the author, Sherry Makely, outlines quality improvement goals: eliminating adverse effects, reducing waste and unnecessary expense, avoiding costly hospital readmissions, and preventing undesirable outcomes that place patients at risk. Provide an example of a quality improvement initiative that can be proposed in a health care organization. Describe how the initiative would work to achieve the goals associated with quality improvement.

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 7 Discussion

DQ1 Discuss the role of government in funding and regulation as it relates to ensuring delivery of quality health care: How successful have its efforts been? What effect have government efforts had on the private health care industry (e.g., care facilities, insurance companies, and drug companies)?

DQ2 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is often referred to as an example of a government-run health care system. How do you perceive the VA as a health care organization? What factors allow the VA system to effectively compete when so many for-profit and nonprofit health care organizations exist as an option?

HCA450 Quality in Health Care

Week 8 Discussion

DQ1 What are some of the different stakeholder perspectives on quality that may be present across the health care spectrum? How might they differ from each other? Why do we see this as a potential challenge?

DQ2 Provide an example of how quality improvement initiatives may differ among various organizations such as the VA, hospital, and LTC. What driving forces support each of these organizations, how does this impact quality improvement?