correction #2

Section #2

To be completed by Learner

2.1 Project

Write approximately one paragraph that describes the action research project and the basis for it being addressed.

The action research project seeks to explore pertinent leadership effectiveness issue such as accountability created by the healthcare reform process in healthcare institutions across the United States. The reform process has created a dynamic environment that is in a constant flux. Essentially, healthcare reform institutionalization has proven to be very beneficial when it comes to reducing the rising cost of healthcare. For instance, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act strive to provide improved healthcare quality, expand access to care and control the various healthcare costs. The healthcare reform process also helps ensure that effective delivery of primary care is achieved so as to diminish the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac-related health problems. The shift towards preventive care for the reduction of chronic illnesses requires more engagement between the patients and the doctors and closer monitoring of patient outcomes. This requires effective leadership when it comes to the creation of a workforce that is responsive to long-term patient needs. This means the healthcare professionals such as the physicians and nurses need effective leadership in hospital management so as to ensure they are motivated and engaged in the change process through teamwork and partnerships within hierarchical structures. Nonetheless, the purpose of this action research is to assess Micheal E. DeBakey VA Medical Center of Houston’s current administrative structure so as to construct a leadership model that includes the most compatible qualities to be adopted so as to create a dynamic healthcare environment. Essentially, the action research project will involve a qualitative analysis of case studies related to leadership mechanisms within the institution and how they influence employee and patient outcomes. Based on the findings of the studies conducted, the possibility of using the proposed leadership model to improve outcomes could be gauged.

Reference

Thompson, J.M. (2007). Health Services Administration. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Dageling, P. and Carr, A. (2004). Leadership for the systemization of health care: the unaddressed issue in health care reform. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 18(6), 399 – 414.

2.2 Contribution to Society

Using citations, answer the following questions in order:

1. How does your project improve a current practice?

2void . If your action research project is successful, how could your project impact your field of interest?

3. What are the practical implications of your project? For example, what will be the impact of this project on your sample, your site location, or your workplace?

Leadership is a dominant issue in healthcare reform, not only in the United States but also in other countries where health reforms are being implemented. Dageling and Carr (2004) conducted a study on the improvement in performance in reform implementation in Australia and England, and they found out that the absence of appropriate leadership models that include subcultures within the leadership framework contribute to a disconnect between expectations and outcomes. Through an in-depth investigation of case studies on healthcare reform in various settings, the researcher anticipates to suggest the appropriate leadership models that fail to take into account the importance of social constructs that end up producing less than optimal results. For similar reasons, the action research process hopes to change the hierarchical model of leadership in implementation in most healthcare institutions through the shared leadership model that takes into account horizontal social dynamics in leadership effectiveness. This is similar to Dageling and Carr’s (2004) suggestion that leadership should pass authority to the subcultures that exist within an organization’s management hierarchy.

1. If the action research project is successful, it could provide an excellent framework for the leadership of Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and other healthcare organizations to enhance the delivery high quality care outcomes to patients and favorable working environment for employees.

2. Successful completion of the research should identify and determine the best solutions to some healthcare malpractices. These malpractices include corrupt insurance claims and misdiagnosis, which could lead to increased effectiveness of service delivery to patients when addressed effectively.

3. The research intends to provide an action plan for the organization to develop actionable strategies that can be employed to enhance employee recruitment and development. Therefore if the data supports the hypothesis, then necessary strategies could be implemented by the organization to recruit physicians who practice the tenets of affordable, high quality care, particularly in line the Affordable Care Act.

Reference

Dageling, P. and Carr, A. (2004). Leadership for the systemization of health care: the unaddressed issue in health care reform. Journal of Health Organization and Management, 18(6), 399 – 414.

2.3 Need and Evidence to Make Change

Provide current information on your needs assessment or analysis for change. Include the cost-benefit analysis if indicated by design.

The American Hospital Association (2013) highlights the need for change in human resource planning through workforce planning. This is the process of estimating current and future workforce needs and developing a workforce plan to reduce the gap between the current and future needs. Workforce planning is necessary because the healthcare system is increasingly dynamic and subject to change. Institutions need to ensure that there are adaptive systems for the change process. Additionally, it would increase the need for workforce deployment and engagement to deal with the change process, which can be accomplished through effective communication and training.

The benefit is the improved adaptation to the dynamic healthcare system and speedy implementation of healthcare reforms that facilitate the delivery of quality of care to patients. Moreover, it would standardize a leadership model being utilized the organization. This standardized model assists in training, retention of staff and accreditation.

Reference

American Hospital Association. (2013). Developing an Effective Health Care Workforce Planning Model. Retrieved July 16, 2015, from

http://www.aha.org/content/13/13wpmwhitepaperfinal.pdf

2.4 Theoretical Foundation

Describe the theory or theories that serve as the backbone of your project. Provide references for each theory.

Shared leadership is the theoretical approach adopted for improving leadership effectiveness in the healthcare system. This model of leadership includes a systems thinking of the organization as an organism that is influenced by internal and external factors (Thompson, 2007; Luckett & Grossenbacher, 2003) that charts its course towards patient and employee outcomes such as improved employee and patient satisfaction, as well as high quality care based on reduced number of readmissions. Other important aspects of the proposed leadership model that makes it relevant to the dynamic healthcare environment include transformational leadership (Atkinson, 2011), improvement of human resource management (Robbins & Davidhizar, 2007), and the creation of teamwork in horizontal hierarchies in organizational subcultures (Wood, 2005).

References

Atkinson, S. (2011). Are you a transformational leader? Nursing Management, (September, 2011).DOI:10.1097/01.NUMA.0000403279.

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Luckett, S. & Grossenbacher, K. (2003). A critical systems intervention to improve the Implementation of a District Health System in Kwa Zulu-Natal. Systems Research and Behavioral Science 20,147–162.

Wood, M. S. (2005). Determinants of shared leadership in management teams. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 1(1), 64-85.

2.5 Researcher Positionality:

· Insider

· Insider w/collaboration

· Reciprocal collaboration

· Outsider, collaboration w/ insiders

Define your role, position, and how positionality will impact your research study.

The researcher position is more like a combination of both outsider and insider collaboration to improve the knowledge base as well as widen the scope of the action. In order, to accomplish this goal, the researcher intends to collaborate with the human resource, physicians, and the staff at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. As an outsider, this position should allow for objectivity since the researcher will not have any conflict of interest between the research needs and the organizational influence. Collaboration with insiders intends to enhance the acquisition of crucial information, including the formal and informal organizational mechanisms that can help in obtaining a clear picture of the leadership structures and practices in the organization.

2.6 Research Questions and Project Goals/Objectives

List the research questions or project goals. These should align with the need for organizational structure or activities/ outcomes of the project.

Research questions:

· How could the outcomes as a result of the changes in the healthcare financial environment be sustainable?

· How conducive is the hierarchical leadership model used in the hospital with regards to best practices in human resource?

· How does the hierarchical leadership model impact physicians’ delivery of patient care?

· How do employees rate their level of satisfaction at the selected organization? (This will be measured based on the responses obtained from an interview with the members of staff at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center). Principally, the level of employee satisfaction determines the quality of services that they offer.

· How do business considerations take precedence over the quality of care for patients?