Assessment 7

In this assessment, you will analyze a realistic financial problem within a healthcare organization, develop an economically sound solution, and communicate your proposal in formats appropriate for executive and policy-level audiences. You will apply principles of healthcare economics, budgeting, financial stewardship, and sustainability to construct a data-informed business case that demonstrates both fiscal responsibility and commitment to quality care.

This assessment is designed to simulate the responsibilities of healthcare leaders and administrators who must interpret financial data, address operational challenges, and advocate for sustainable solutions within complex healthcare systems. 

Instructions

Step 1: Review your   Assessment 07 Supplement: Healthcare Scenario .

Step 2: Review the budget for  Unit 10 East Scenario Spreadsheet [XLSX] .

Step 3: Complete each part of this assessment. There are three parts to this assessment.   

Part 1: Executive Fact Sheet and Budget Overview 

Develop a concise, leadership-focused fact sheet using the  required  Fact Sheet Budget Template [DOCX]  that: 

· Defines the economic problem using provided budget data. 

· Proposes a targeted, financially responsible solution supported by evidence. 

· Presents a structured mock budget demonstrating projected initiative costs and fiscal impact.

Your document should reflect executive-level communication. 

Part 2: Stakeholder Report 

Develop a professional stakeholder report communicating your financial analysis and proposed initiative to senior hospital leadership. This report should:  

· Clearly explain the financial problem. 

· Present supporting budget trends or data. 

· Justify your proposed solution. 

· Demonstrate projected financial impact and return on investment. 

· Address sustainability and long-term fiscal responsibility. 

You may complete Part 2 using either of the below formats:  

· Option A: Slide Presentation: Develop a professional slide presentation using the  required  Presentation Template [PPTX] .

· Note: You do not need to record this presentation. Be sure to submit speaker notes in the specified format to avoid a non-performance (see  How to Add Speaker Notes in PowerPoint Walkthrough ).  For other resources see  Guidelines for Effective PowerPoint Presentations [PPTX] .

· Option B: Written Report:  Develop a professional written report using the  required  Report Template [DOCX] .  

Part 3: Letter to a Government Official

Write a professional letter using the  required  Letter Template [DOCX]  to a real or pretend government official advocating for policy support or funding related to your initiative. Your letter should: 

· Introduce your role and organizational context. 

· You can use your current role or a future desired role .

· Describe the financial issue and its broader impact.

· Explain how your initiative supports workforce stability, patient safety, or system sustainability. 

· Request policy support, funding consideration, or regulatory action. 

· Maintain formal tone and professional structure. 

Your letter should reflect professional communication.

Requirements 

The requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for submission format and supporting evidence. 

Part 1:  Executive Fact Sheet and Budget Overview 

· Use specific financial data from the provided Unit 10 East budget to define the problem. 

· Demonstrate understanding of operating versus capital expenses. 

· Present financially defensible initiative cost estimates. 

· Calculate projected cost reductions using reasonable assumptions. 

· Demonstrate the net fiscal impact of the proposal. 

Part 2:  Stakeholder Report 

· Communicate financial data clearly and professionally. 

· Use logical structure and persuasive framing. 

· Explain projected return on investment and sustainability. 

· Demonstrate leadership presence and professional delivery. 

Part 3:  Letter to a Government Official 

· Clearly state your role and reason for writing. 

· Describe the financial issue using objective, data-informed language. 

· Connect the issue to community impact or system-level sustainability. 

· Make a clear, specific request for funding or policy support. 

Submission Format

· Use the required templates for each part that are linked above.  

· Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.   

· Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.   

· Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to source citations and references.      

Additional Requirements

What to Submit  

Using the required templates, fill out all required sections and sub-sections using APA format:   

· Executive Fact Sheet and Budget Overview (using required  Fact Sheet Budget Template [DOCX] ). 

· Stakeholder Report (using required  Presentation Template [PPTX]   OR  Report Template [DOCX] ). 

· Slides and speaker notes for the PowerPoint option (submitted in required format, see this guide  Presentation Submission Directions [PDF] ).

· Letter to a Government Official (using required  Letter Template [DOCX] ). 

Resources

· Cite at least five external sources that are not books. 

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

· Competency 1: Analyze the effects of financial and economic factors (such as cost-benefit, supply and demand, return on investment, and risks) in a health care system on patient care, services offered, and organizational structures and operation.

· Analyze the financial problem using specific budget data and explain organizational impact.

· Competency 2: Develop ethical and culturally equitable solutions to economic problems within a healthcare organization in an effort to improve the quality of care and services offered.

· Propose a solution that addresses the financial problem and demonstrates ethical, equitable, and sustainable reasoning.

· Competency 3: Justify the qualitative and quantitative information used to guide economic decision making to stakeholders and colleagues.

· Provide clear financial projections and justification for the proposed initiative.

· Competency 4: Develop ethical and culturally equitable economic strategies to address dynamic environmental forces and ensure the future security of an organization's resources and its ability to provide quality care.

· Communicate the issue clearly to a government official and advocate effectively for policy or funding support.

· Competency 5: Produce clear, coherent, and professional written work, in accordance with Capella writing standards.

· Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, and adhere to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards. Support main points, arguments, and recommendations with relevant and credible evidence using current APA style and formatting.

For this assessment, you will analyze the operating budget for Unit 10 East, a hospital-based inpatient unit within a large healthcare organization. The provided operating budget reflects one full fiscal year of expenditures across personnel, supplies, equipment maintenance, and training categories.

You have been assigned a specific financial problem area within the unit’s operating budget. While all students will use the same dataset, your analysis and proposed initiative must focus exclusively on your assigned problem category.