Choosing an HIT Vendor Solution   It is very typical for leaders and their staffs to explore market capabilities when it comes to looking for viable and feasible partners who provide health technology solutions. When examining vendor products, be they software, hardware, or other technologies, it is important to examine not only the vendor sales […]

Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis in HIT Planning   Hospital Systems, Ancillary Services, and Physician Practices are often the focus of HIT initiatives. While these settings are key areas for HIT advancement and data acquisition, there are places within the continuum of care that often lack automation or comprehensive data management strategies, creating gaps in […]

Strategic Health Care Topics and Government Regulations and Reforms   Discussions are a key element of learning and sharing experiences throughout the course. This week you are asked to research the literature related to regulations such as the HITECH Act and the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act (PPACA). This legislation has been in place […]

Technology and the Future in Health Care–Transformational Trends and Forces   In this Discussion you are asked to select an emerging technology and evaluate its cost-effectiveness and potential adoption. Many novel technologies require significant rethinking of current workflows, roles, culture, and financial models. You are asked to consider how the technology you chose affects these […]

High Reliability in Health Care – Long-Term Care   There are three imperative steps that need to be taken. The first is a strong commitment by leadership to this very high level of safety and quality. The leadership must set the goal and example for everyone in order to achieve high reliability. The second is […]

Adjustments to Transitions in Health Care Delivery   Consider what you’ve learned so far about the transition from volume- to value-based reimbursement. Different organizations will respond to the impact of this change in various ways. Based on its actions, an organization may flourish, or it may fail as its reimbursement decreases. As reimbursement methodology changes, […]

High energy is usually present when a new initiative is introduced, at the start of a large project, or at the beginning of an effort to solve a problem. However, as time passes, new priorities emerge, team members change, and operations can drift back to unsatisfactory levels.   —Daniel B. McLaughlin and John R. Olson […]

As healthcare leaders focus on improving their operations, they must understand the systems in which change resides… taking a broad systems view can improve the effectiveness of change.   —Daniel B. McLaughlin and John R. Olson   An old truism is that change is a constant, and this is certainly applicable not only to the […]

Performance Improvement   Clearly the criteria, discipline, and focus that underlie the Baldrige process have been key contributors to our daily improvements. The feedback we received … has been instrumental in providing a clear road map for the journey.   —Michael Murphy, CEO, 2007 Baldrige Award recipient, Sharp HealthCare   Incremental change is how a […]

Given the complex interplay between incentive program designs, provider characteristics, and other external factors, evaluations of VBP programs need to consider an array of factors that potentially contribute to observed effects.   —Damberg et al., 2014   As you compose your response to the questions posed below, reflect on how facility design, logistics, and value […]