Queen Essays

Working Title

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Provide a concise (aim for 12 words or fewer) working title for this study. (Be sure to include your HSO type and practice-based problem.)

Improving Access to Care Through Financial and Operational Efficiency in Community Hospitals

Section 1: Practice-based Problem

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Healthcare Services Organization (HSO) Type

HSO Problem of Interest

The problem of interest in the community hospital is the difficulty in balancing access to care with financial and operational efficiency.

Healthcare Administration Problem

In one sentence, what is your healthcare administration problem? This will be more focused than the problem of interest noted above.

The problem is identifying effective strategies to enhance patient satisfaction and outcomes within a specialized hospital system.

Health Administration Research Domains

Which DHA research domain does your healthcare administration problem align with?

Human resource management and quality improvement.

Healthcare Administration Research Problem Justification Sources

Provide a minimum of 3 sources that clearly state in the conclusion or research findings of the published source that a healthcare administration problem currently exists.

Source 1

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

O’Reilly, J. M., & McCoy, J. (2020). Improving operational efficiency in community hospitals: A case study approach. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(3), 195-205. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-19-00123

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

Explore strategies for enhancing operational efficiency in community hospitals by case studies.

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

The standardized processes and investing in staff training help improving significantly operational efficiency.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

Operational improvements that can be applied to enhance overall healthcare quality and patient outcomes in specialized hospitals.

Source 2

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Patel, V., & Bell, R. (2019). Strategies for improving access to care in community hospitals: Lessons from successful implementations. Healthcare Management Review, 44(4), 287-298. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000201

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

To identify and analyze successful strategies for improving access to care in community hospital settings.

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

Successful strategies include expanding telehealth services and enhancing community outreach programs.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

It offers evidence-based strategies for improving patient access, which can be crucial for improving patient outcomes in a specialized hospital context.

Source 3

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Lee, J. H., & Wong, A. C. (2021). Financial management practices and their impact on community hospital performance: An empirical analysis. Health Services Research, 56(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13349

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

To analyze the impact of financial management practices on the performance of community hospitals.

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

Effective financial management practices are essential for maintaining operational efficiency and improving hospital performance.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

The importance of financial management in enhancing operational efficiency, which is key to improving patient care and outcomes in specialized hospitals.

Practice Gap Statement

Now that you have identified a current healthcare administration problem you will compose a Practice Gap Statement (PGS) following the example and instructions in the appendix. Your PGS should not be longer that 2-3 sentences.

Despite various strategies to improve operational efficiency and patient access in community hospitals, there remains a significant gap in effectively implementing these strategies to enhance patient outcomes. Addressing this gap requires a broad approach that integrates financial management, operational improvements, and access enhancement to optimize overall healthcare delivery in specialized hospital settings.

Practice Gap Sources

Provide a minimum of 1 source that clearly states desired ideal state of professional practice related to your healthcare administration problem.

Source 1

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Schilling, R., & Levy, M. (2021). The future of community hospitals: Achieving excellence in patient care and operational efficiency. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 43(6), 425-436. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000245

Desired Ideal State of Professional Practice:

The ideal state involves community hospitals achieving a balance of high-quality patient care and operational excellence by integrating advanced technology, streamlining processes which meet the demand in healthcare system.

Source 2

(Optional)

Full APA Citation:

Johnson, T., & Martin, K. (2022). Standards for excellence in community hospital management: A comprehensive framework. Health Administration Journal, 58(2), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1097/HAJ.0000000000000217

Desired Ideal State of Professional Practice:

The desired state is characterized by community hospitals having right systems in place for efficient financial management, equitable access to care, and continuous quality improvement.

Section 1: Feedback and Scoring

Mentor

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Program

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 2: Purpose and Review Questions

(Click here for instructions and examples)

The research purpose and review questions must be derived entirely by the sources provided in section 1.

Research Purpose

To address your stated problem, what is the purpose of your study using no more than 1-2 sentences??

The purpose of the study is to identify and evaluate effective strategies that can help improving operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, with the aim of improving overall patient outcomes and organizational performance.

Review Question(s)

Conclude with your review question. (1 sentences)

How can specialized hospitals implement different strategies to optimize operational efficiency and patient access, thereby improving overall patient outcomes?

Section 2: Feedback and Scoring

Project mentors will provide a scoring of “Met” or “Not Met” for this section. In the case of a “Not Met” scoring detailed feedback will be included on how to successfully revise the specific elements above.

Mentor

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Program

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 3: Framework

(Click here for instructions and examples)

Framework (Conceptual or Theoretical)

What theory(ies) and/or concept(s) support (frame) your study and who are the original authors? Provide an in-text citation with your response, and the complete APA reference.

Source 1

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Donabedian, A. (1988). The quality of care: How can it be assessed? Journal of the American Medical Association, 260(12), 1743-1748. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.260.12.1743

Purpose of Framework (1 sentence only):

Comprehensive framework for assessing the quality of healthcare through evaluating structure, process, and outcomes.

Key Constructs of Framework (1 sentence only):

Structure (resources and environment), process (care delivery methods), and outcomes (patient results and satisfaction)

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

Deep approach to evaluating and improving both operational efficiency and patient outcomes in specialized hospitals.

Source 2

(Optional)

Full APA Citation:

Porter, M. E. (2010). What is value in health care? New England Journal of Medicine, 363(26), 2477-2481. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1011024

Purpose of Framework (1 sentence only):

To define and measure value in healthcare by focusing on improving patient outcomes relative to the costs of care which mainly patients concern.

Key Constructs of Framework (1 sentence only):

Value is defined as the health outcomes achieved per dollar spent, emphasizing patient-centered care and cost efficiency. Without extra charges for unnecessary tests.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

It provides a look through which to assess and improve the effectiveness of strategies aimed at enhancing patient access and operational efficiency in specialized hospitals

How do these theories and/or concepts relate to your healthcare administration problem, purpose, and review question? (no more than 2-3 sentences)

These theories and concepts provide a framework for assessing and improving healthcare quality and value, which immediately addresses the problem of operational efficiency and patient access in community hospitals. Donabedian’s framework helps evaluate the structure, process, and outcomes of care, while Porter’s value-based approach emphasizes optimizing patient outcomes relative to costs, aligning with the purpose of integrating strategies to improve both efficiency and access

Section 3: Feedback and Scoring

Project mentors will provide a scoring of “Met” or “Not Met” for this section. In the case of a “Not Met” scoring detailed feedback will be included on how to successfully revise the specific elements above.

Mentor

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Program

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 4: Significance

(Click here for instructions and examples)

Significance

How will your study address the meaningful, discipline-specific issue that you identified and therefore contribute to your field, discipline, professional practice, etc. contributing to positive social change?

The study will address the meaningful issue of how to improve operational efficiency and patient access in community hospitals by identifying and evaluating effective different strategies that can boost both aspects simultaneously. The research focus to improve patient outcomes and organizational performance, contributing to the healthcare field through enhanced quality of care and operational effectiveness, ultimately supporting positive social change by providing more accessible and efficient healthcare services with low cost.

Significance of study related to social determinants?

The significance of the study related to social determinants in its potential to address how operational efficiency and patient access improvements can mitigate disparities caused by social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, and access to resources. By enhancing these factors within specialized hospitals, the study aims to improve healthcare equity and ensure that underserved populations receive higher-quality, accessible care, reducing health disparities and promoting broader social equity in healthcare.

Section 4: Feedback and Scoring

Project mentors will provide a scoring of “Met” or “Not Met” for this section. In the case of a “Not Met” scoring detailed feedback will be included on how to successfully revise the specific elements above.

Mentor

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Program

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Section 5: Research Alignment Table

Research Design Alignment Table Video Tutorial (YouTube) | Doctoral Research Design Alignment Appointments or Office Hours

Healthcare Administration Problem

Practice Gap

Purpose

Review Question

Theoretical Framework

List the theories and/or conceptual framework.

The healthcare administration problem is the challenge of effectively enhancing patient satisfaction and outcomes in community hospitals by improving operational efficiency and access to care.

The practice gap is the disconnect between the current practices and the ideal strategies for improving operational efficiency and patient access in community hospitals.

Identify and evaluate effective of different strategies for improving operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, with the goal of enhancing overall patient outcomes and organizational performance.

How can specialized hospitals implement integrated strategies to optimize operational efficiency and patient access, thereby improving overall patient outcomes?

Focuses on evaluating healthcare quality through structure, process, and outcomes.

Section 5: Feedback and Scoring

Project mentors will provide a scoring of “Met” or “Not Met” for this section. In the case of a “Not Met” scoring detailed feedback will be included on how to successfully revise the specific elements above.

Mentor

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Program

Met ☐

Not Met ☐

Detailed Feedback:

Click or tap here to enter text.

Working Title Instructions and Example

Instructions: The working title should include the HSO type and DHA research domains. Provide a concise (aim for 15 words or fewer) working title for this study. (Be sure to include your HSO type.)

Titles should be concise (aim for 15 words or fewer), be a statement, not a question, and no colons please. The title should indicate the main topic and the variables/concepts under study and the relationship between them. A title should be fully explanatory when standing alone and include the most critical key words (a searchable statement of what the manuscript contains). Avoid words that serve no purpose (such as methods, results, a study of…, or investigation of… ), use full terms (avoid abbreviations), and capitalize any word of four or more letters, and all parts of a verb.

Section 1: Research Problem Instructions and Examples

Healthcare Services Organization (HSO) Type

Instructions: At the beginning of the DHA program students were asked to select an HSO type to research in each course in preparation for the Doctoral study. Identify and describe your selected HSO type and any unique characteristics that help provide specificity to your research.

With no more than 1-2 sentences identify and describe your selected HSO type.

Examples of HSO types can be located on the DHA Project Completion page.

Optimizing Strategies for Improved Efficiency and Patient Access in Specialized Healthcare Facilities

HSO Problem of Interest

What is the healthcare services organization (HSO) problem of interest that prompted you to search the literature to find out more? The problem of interest is a high-level problem that all HSO of the same type are experiencing.

Write only 1-2 complete sentences using a scholarly tone.

The persistent challenge faced by community hospitals in effectively balancing operational efficiency with improved patient access, which mainly impacts overall patient satisfaction and organizational performance.

Healthcare Administration Problem

Instructions: A healthcare administration problem is a focused topic of concern, a condition to be improved upon, or troubling question that is supported in published research-based articles and/or grey literature like reports (annual, research, technical, project), white or working papers, government reports, and organizational evaluations. 

In one sentence, what is your healthcare administration problem? This will be more focused than the problem of interest noted above.

The healthcare administration problem is the difficulty specialized hospitals face in implementing integrated strategies that effectively enhance both operational efficiency and patient access, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Which DHA research category does your healthcare administration problem align with?

A list of DHA research domains can be located on the DHA Project Completion page.

Quality improvement

Healthcare Administration Problem Justification Sources

Instructions: Students are required to provide at least 3 credible sources that state a healthcare administration problem exist. Students should read all sources completely but pay special attention to what the authors state the conclusion or research results are from their work. To build on the previous research in the field students must have at least three sources within the last 5 years that clearly state a problem exist. One example is provided below:

Provide a minimum of 3 sources that clearly state in the conclusion or research findings that a healthcare administration problem currently exists.

Source 1

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Smith, R. L., & Jones, A. D. (2022). Operational challenges in specialized hospitals: A review of current practices and outcomes. Healthcare Management Review, 47(2), 110-123. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000314

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

operational challenges faced by specialized hospitals and their impact on patient outcomes

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

The study concluded that specialized hospitals struggle with inefficiencies and access issues that adversely affect patient care and outcomes.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

the specific operational and access-related challenges in specialized hospitals, directly linking to the problem of integrating effective strategies to improve these areas.

Source 2

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Thompson, J. M., & Lee, C. R. (2021). Addressing inefficiencies in specialized healthcare settings: A systematic review. Journal of Healthcare Administration, 56(4), 289-300. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCA.0000000000000471

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

review the inefficiencies and administrative issues in most of the community healthcare settings

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

The research found that most of community healthcare settings frequently encounter administrative inefficiencies that hinder optimal patient care and operational performance.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

It provides evidence of how administrative inefficiencies in community hospitals, point out the need for effective strategies to improve operational efficiency and patient access.

Source 3

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Patel, S. K., & Martin, H. (2023). Challenges and solutions in improving access and efficiency in specialized hospitals. Health Services Research Journal, 58(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13456

Purpose of Research (1 sentence only):

identify and analyze the challenges and potential solutions for improving access and efficiency in specialized hospitals.

Author’s Conclusion or Results of Research (1 sentence only):

The study concluded that there is huge gap to improving access and efficiency in specialized hospitals, necessitating targeted solutions to address these issues.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

identifies specific barriers to access and efficiency in specialized hospitals, reinforcing the focus on finding integrated strategies to overcome these challenges to reach the main goal

Gap in Practice

Instructions: The need to address an identified ga p in practice must be clear and there must be current relevance to the discipline and area of practice.

In no more than 1-2 sentences what meaningful gap in practice have you identified?

Learn more about a Practice Gap Statement on the DHA Project Completion page.

The difficulty community hospitals face in effectively implementing integrated strategies to reach both operational efficiency and patient access, which can improvements in patient outcomes and organizational performance.

Practice Gap Sources

Provide a minimum of 1 source that clearly states desired ideal state of professional practice related to your healthcare administration problem.

Full APA Citation:

Johnson, T., & Martin, K. (2022). Standards for excellence in community hospital management: A comprehensive framework. Health Administration Journal, 58(2), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1097/HAJ.0000000000000217

Desired Ideal State of Professional Practice:

characterized by community hospitals having robust systems in place for efficient financial management, equitable access to care, and continuous quality improvement, ensuring both operational sustainability and high patient satisfaction.

Section 2: Purpose and Review Questions Instructions and Examples

Research Purpose

To address your stated problem, what is the purpose of your study using no more than 1-2 sentences?

Learn more about the purpose of research by Clicking Here

The purpose of the study is to identify and evaluate effective strategies for improving operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, with the aim of enhancing overall patient outcomes and organizational performance.

Review Question

Conclude with your review question. (1 sentence)

How can community hospitals implement integrated strategies to focus improving operational efficiency and patient access?

Section 3: Framework Instructions and Examples

Framework (Conceptual or Theoretical)

Instructions: The framework includes the theories and/or concepts relevant to your topic. Align the framework with the problem of interest, healthcare administration problem, purpose, and review question. This theoretical or conceptual framework is the basis for understanding, designing, and analyzing ways to investigate your healthcare administration problem. Provide the original scholarly literature (citing original authors) on the theory and/or concepts, even if it is more than 5 years old. Please do not cite secondary sources.

What theory(ies) and/or concept(s) support (frame) your study and who are the original authors? Provide an in-text citation with your response, and the complete APA reference.

To locate additional information on DHA Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks on the DHA Project Completion page.

Source 1

(Required)

Full APA Citation:

Porter, M. E. (2010). What is value in health care? New England Journal of Medicine, 363(26), 2477-2481. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp1011024

Purpose of Framework (1 sentence only):

define and measure value in healthcare by focusing on improving patient outcomes relative to the costs of care.

Key Constructs of Framework (1 sentence only):

Value is defined as the health outcomes achieved per dollar spent, emphasizing patient-centered care and cost efficiency.

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

It provides a lens through which to assess and improve the effectiveness of strategies aimed at enhancing patient access and operational efficiency in specialized hospitals.

Source 1

(Optional)

Full APA Citation:

Purpose of Framework (1 sentence only):

Key Constructs of Framework (1 sentence only):

How this relates to my study (1 sentence only):

How do these theories and/or concepts relate to your healthcare administration problem, purpose, and review question? (no more than 2-3 sentences)

Donabedian’s Quality of Care Framework and Porter’s Value-Based Healthcare Framework are directly relevant as they provide comprehensive approaches to evaluating and improving healthcare quality and value. Donabedian’s framework helps assess operational processes and outcomes, while Porter’s framework focuses on optimizing patient outcomes relative to costs. These theories support the study's purpose of enhancing efficiency and access in specialized hospitals and align with the review question of integrating strategies for optimal results.

Section 4: Significance Instructions and Example

Significance

Instructions: Here you explain how your study addresses the meaningful, discipline-specific issue that you identified and will therefore contribute to your field, discipline, professional practice, etc. contributing to positive social change. Detail how your findings might support professional practice or allow practical application (answer the So what? question).

How will your study address the meaningful, discipline-specific issue that you identified and therefore contribute to your field, discipline, professional practice, etc. contributing to positive social change?

The study will address the meaningful issue by identifying and evaluating effective strategies to improve operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, aiming to bridge the gap between current practices and ideal outcomes.

Significance of study related to social determinants?

Improve how specialized hospitals address factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, and access to resources.

Section 5: Research Alignment Table Instructions and Example

Research Design Alignment Table Video Tutorial (YouTube) | Doctoral Research Design Alignment Appointments or Office Hours

Healthcare Administration Problem

Practice Gap

Purpose

Review Question

Theoretical Framework

List the theories and/or conceptual framework.

The healthcare administration problem is the challenge of effectively enhancing patient satisfaction and outcomes in specialized hospitals by improving operational efficiency and access to care.

The practice gap is the disconnect between the current practices and the ideal strategies for improving operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, leading to suboptimal patient outcomes and organizational performance

Identify and evaluate effective strategies for improving operational efficiency and patient access in specialized hospitals, with the aim of enhancing overall patient outcomes and organizational performance.

How can community hospitals implement integrated strategies to optimize operational efficiency and patient access, thereby improving overall patient outcomes?

Focuses on evaluating healthcare quality through structure, process, and outcomes.