Nursing Bj edit assignment

Herzing University, 2025

Problem Statement Worksheet NU801 Project Development and Management Herzing University Beverly Jordan 02/08/2026 Professor Dr. Natasha Colvin

Constructing a Problem Statement Questions Responses

What is the problem?

Many of the veterans who have been referred out of outpatient mental health clinics do not follow up their referrals to specialty or community-based services. This disjunction indicates a failure in care coordination and communication, not mere patient noncompliance. Lapsed referrals are a system and provider failure with the veterans.

Whom does this affect?

The problem occurs regarding veterans who receive outpatient mental health services and mental health providers, referral coordinators, and the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Delayed or fragmented care can also affect the families of veterans.

How does this problem make you

feel?

This is an issue of concern that is also morally wrong in the sense that veterans who seek care are usually motivated but have systemic problems like poor communication, no follow-ups, transportation, and complex schedules.

When is it a problem?

It arises as an issue whenever a veteran receives a referral to extra mental health or specialty services and fails to attend the referral because of barriers on a system level or the absence of follow-up services.

Why should I care? Continuity of care, symptom management, and suicide prevention of veterans is critically dependent on referral follow-through. In the case of missing referrals, veterans can develop more severe mental health symptoms, overuse of the Emergency Department, and preventable hospital stays. Enhancing this process helps ensure that quality, safety, and value-based care objectives are achieved in the VHA system.

How does it affect the customer?

Veterans can be abandoned, frustrated, and confused with the healthcare system. Late or missed services may result in the exacerbation of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use, and decrease the quality of life and provider trust.

Herzing University, 2025

Draft Problem Statement

Write the first draft of the statement describing the current state using the information you gathered.

As per the worksheet in the problem statement, identify the gap between the current and desired states. The draft statement is: The existing referral procedures in outpatient mental health facilities fail to improve the referral process of veterans and lead to incomplete follow-up referrals, which result in disjointed care and inadequate mental health services. It is necessary to enhance referral coordination and follow-through to help veterans access timely, consistent, and efficient mental health care.