HCA 497 Course Material - hca497dotcom

1. HCA 497 Course Material - hca497dotcom

2. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Entire Course (Ash) HCA 497 Week 1 DQ 1 U.S. Health Care System vs. Other Countries (Ash) U.S. Health Care System vs. Other Countries. Compare and contrast the U.S. health care system with that of another country. What are some of the major advantages and disadvantages inherent of both systems? Explain whether the selected country could learn from the U.S. health care system or if the U.S. could learn from the other country. • HCA 497 Week 1 DQ 1 U.S. Health Care System vs. Other Countries • HCA 497 Week 1 DQ 2 Health Care Trends and Challenges • HCA 497 Week 2 DQ 1 The Aging Population • HCA 497 Week 2 DQ 2 Quality Management Techniques • HCA 497 Week 2 Quality Oversight in Health Care Organizations • HCA 497 Week 3 DQ 1 The Rising Cost of Health Care

3. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 1 DQ 2 Health Care Trends and Challenges (Ash) HCA 497 Week 2 DQ 1 The Aging Population (Ash) The Aging Population. Analyze what you believe to be three of the most significant challenges that health care providers face in the delivery of health care services to the aging population. Prioritize your selections (i.e., one, two, and three) and justify the rankings that you assigned to each challenge. Research statistical data on the topic and include at least one statistic from a credible source to support your opinions. • Health Care Trends and Challenges. Evaluate the impact of at least two major trends that occurred in the U.S. health care system during the twentieth century that continue to significantly influence the access to health care in the twenty-first century. Identify the population groups that are affected the most and explain why this is the case. How have these trends challenged health care organizations and their leaders?

4. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 2 DQ 2 Quality Management Techniques (Ash) HCA 497 Week 2 Quality Oversight in Health Care Organizations (Ash) Quality Oversight in Health Care Organizations. Quality of care and patient safety has become a driving force in the delivery of health care in the twenty-first century. Your paper should address the following: 1. Explain the role of quality oversight in health care organizations and elaborate on how non-clinical personnel contribute to the process. 2. Identify and describe three stakeholder organizations or agencies that contribute to quality oversight within health care organizations in a substantial way. Include at least one government and one non-government organization/agency that focuses on quality of care within the health care field. • Quality Management Techniques. Evaluate the effectiveness of two or three quality management techniques that are practiced in health care organizations. What types of health care organizations and populations would benefit most from these techniques and why? What are some of the roles that non-clinical health care professionals play in the quality of care within health care organizations?

5. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 3 Cost Containment HCA 497 Week 3 DQ 1 The Rising Costs of Health Care. From the perspective of a health care provider (e.g., doctor, hospital, long-term health care facility, pharmaceutical company), evaluate the three most significant economic drivers that have contributed to the rising costs in health care. Explain why the health care provider might hold this position. • Analyze the following: • 1. The major points covered in the article. • 2. The pros and cons of Tort Reform and the practice of defensive medicine. • 3. The implications of Tort Reform on the practice of defensive medicine, quality of care, and health care costs. • 4. The author’s position on Tort Reform. Discuss whether you agree or disagree with the author’s opinion on Tort Reform

6. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 3 DQ 2 HCA 497 Week 4 DQ 1 Nationwide Health Information Network (N.H.I.N.) (Ash) Identify and describe at least three initiatives that have been taken by the Office of the National Coordinator to promote the nationwide exchange of health data. How will these initiatives contribute to improved quality, safety, and efficiency of health care? Which of these initiatives do you consider most significant? Explain your answer. • Financial Effects of Governmental Regulations. Explain and evaluate two mandated or proposed policies from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (C.M.S.) or any other branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the past three years that could have a substantial financial effect on a health care provider (e.g., doctor, hospital, long-term health care facility, pharmaceutical company). Describe the policies and explain the potential effects. Is the effect positive or negative? Explain your answer.

7. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 4 DQ 2 Technology and Health Care (Ash) HCA 497 Week 4 Regulatory Analysis Health Information Use and address the following: 1. What are the major provisions and objectives of the H.I.T.E.C.H. Act? 2. What are the key requirements of the H.I.T.E.C.H. Act for health care providers? 3. What are the responsibilities of health care providers toward “meaningful use”? 4. What are at least three challenges that health care providers may confront in taking advantage of the provisions of the H.I.T.E.C.H. Act? • What is the relationship between technology, health care, and ethics? Can technology have both a positive and a negative impact for health care providers and other stakeholders, such as patients? Has technology changed the role of the health care administrator? Explain your answer.

8. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 5 DQ 1 Special Populations (Ash) HCA 497 Week 5 DQ 2 Health Care Policy Initiatives (Ash) Describe the impetus for this policy and identify any special population groups that were especially affected. Was the group affected in a positive or negative way? Identify some of the key stakeholders who were involved in initiating the policy or program and their roles in the process. • Special Populations. Identify three special population groups in the U.S. and explain some of the major health care issues that are unique to each group. Providing examples, analyze the efforts of the U.S. health care system to address the needs of these special population groups. Do you think that the U.S. health care system is doing a good job? Why or why not?

9. HCA 497 Course Material HCA 497 Week 5 Final Paper (Ash) • In an eight- to ten-page paper, address the following: • 1. Describe general policy making viewpoints that exist today on each of the following health care issues: • a. Access to Care • b. Cost of Care • c. Quality of Care

10. HCA 497 Course Material