Business Case Analysis for Healthcare Improvement

1. …then your next step will be to schedule time with your preceptor to get busy on those D156 CPE’s!  When you get started on those, be sure to follow through the phase 1 directions on the CPE Record (which can be found on your “Field Experience” page). Be sure to nail down what your HIP topic will be.  What problem in your organization do you and your preceptor feel you need to address? 

 

2. You’ll also need to complete the steps necessary for the signatures that will be required on your CPE record…you will send them from your field experience page to your preceptor.  Be sure to “log” all of your CPE activities on the CPE record!  You can find information all about how to submit your CPE’s though your evaluations tab and  how your preceptor will be able to sign and submit the documentation for your CPE’s on your Field Experience page (look for the CPE Toolbox) as well!

 

3. Then complete your Phase 1 Go-React peer responses (don’t forget to screen shot them) and your own reflection video (screen shot that as well and then provide a written reflection under that screen shot).  WATCHING at least two of your peer’s reflection videos can provide motivation and direction for you to complete YOURS. You are going to learn that YOU aren’t the only one paddling this canoe!

 

After that, you and your preceptor can begin to work on your Phase 2 CPE requirements:

 

4. Begin with the Affinity Analysis through a discussion with your preceptor… Your affinity analysis has a template and it’s designed to track your discussions and assessments as you and your stakeholders choose your project topic…I’ve attached a couple of examples for you!  It includes all of the following:

 

a. Consult with experts in the field or colleagues from your former or current organization, preceptor or SME, and faculty to determine the need for a HIP by doing an affinity analysis. How did you decide upon your HIP Topic?  You can bring OUR discussion into this as well.

b. You should capture, cluster, categorize, and prioritize the needs ideas. Discuss other topics you considered and then how you determined that your final choice was a good HIP for your organization.

c. Use the results of your affinity analysis to determine which need will be the focus of your HIP.

Strategically plan to address the need that emerged from your affinity analysis by developing a set of  goals, objectives, and recommendations for a HIP. This should include a justification for the need in context of your target population and project setting. Why is your HIP’s topic important for your organization and the patients you serve? What amount of improvement would you like to see  after the project is implemented?

d.  Also include the method used to reach group consensus.  (This is important!  There are a few group consensus  methods in your course of study…but you can also use   Google to find some good ways to reach group-consensus) 

 

Once you’ve decided upon the “thing” you want to improve (student/staff safety by increasing the number and readiness of bystander responders) then you’ll want to dive into the research to find the “how”!  You will find a good “best practice” recommendation to make the improvement you want to see in the organization (your hands-only CPE/AED training sessions).  This “best practice” should be supported with at least 5 research articles attesting to its success in facilities very much like yours!

 

Then, you’ll complete the other analysis with your Preceptor’s help and recommendations:

 

5. The SWOT Analysis:  You’ve already done one of these in your core classes!  You are preparing your SWOT analysis to see if your organization needs the project you are recommending…and if your organization is in a good position to implement the project you are proposing!

 

 

Here’s an example of a SWOT analysis completed by another student…perhaps it will help you complete yours!  Notice how each criteria matches it’s aspects:

 

Internal Criteria	Strengths	Weaknesses
I. Leadership                 II. Current processes	I –A Senior and leadership staff are highly motivated and involved in improving resident care.   I – B The healthcare facility has a strong quality improvement program that the skilled nursing participates in.         II –A Nurses have strong documentation skills   II –B Consent forms meet and exceed regulatory requirements.	I –A Physician buy-in tends to be difficult to obtain.   I – B Administrative and quality staff are new to the facility and are unfamiliar with operations within skilled nursing facilities.         II – A Physicians do not document indication or duration of medications, and do not come into facility frequently enough to sign consents within time requirement set by regulations.   II –B Electronic medical record does not support the current regulatory requirements because they do not delineate psychotropic medications or have prompts additional documentation.
*External Criteria	Opportunities	Threats
II.Legislative                 II.  Geographic Aspects	I –A Regulatory guidelines make it transparent as to what is expected of the facility when psychotropic drugs are used.   I – B State and federal regulations invoke fines for noncompliance with psychotropic drug use, which is a strong motivator for change.       II –A Geographically isolated location.  Minimal competition in the area.   II – B Area is having a large growth spurt increasing the geriatric population.	I –A Laws and regulations vary between federal and state and is difficult to determine if they apply to a distinct part SNF.   I – B State and Federal regulatory organizations do not have  scheduled follow up to ensure that compliance practices are maintained with even minimal oversight.       II –A Competition from facilities outside the area   II  Regional Nursing shortage of psychiatric nurses with expertise.

 

6. The Impact Analysis:  This is designed to help you determine if the project’s benefits outweigh the risks of implementing your project.  Be sure to read the directions well!  You can find the “categories” for the Impact Analysis in your Course of Study (Pg. 46)…they are:

 

7. After you’ve completed all of that…you should do your Phase 2 Go-React activities and then you can submit your CPE’s! 

 

8. Be sure to notify your preceptor  that you’ve uploaded your CPE’s so that they can go into the Preceptor Community and electronically sign the CPE record… then they will submit it directly to the Field Experience folks.

 

D156 is  definitely the most work-intensive and has the longest time to completion of all your specialty classes!  This is because you need to build a very strong foundation for your HIP in this class…all of your following classes will be supported by D156!  There are often multiple revisions associated with your D156 tasks…it’s the norm (not the exception).  Keep going, though…it gets a little easier once you’ve passed D156!  So let’s eat this elephant one bite at a time.

 

I’ve also attached the sample completed Capstone project for you to use as an exemplar!

 

Remember, I’m right here…you are NOT alone in this (I’m with you right through graduation!) Feel free to reach out  as often and whenever you think it could help!  That’s what I’m here for!