Write a brief 2-3 page report about a health care economic issue that you have
identified. Address the reasons why you selected the issue you did; identify how this issue impacts the work of you, your colleagues, and your organization; and describe the gap that you see contributing to this issue.
Introduction
Note: Each assessment in this course builds upon the work you have completed in
previous assessments. Therefore, you must complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.
Health care economics has the potential to affect each of us either personally or
professionally. This impact can be viewed from a health economics point-of-view (where
we discuss the value of health care and its efficiency), or it can examine how health
care is financed (focus on how health care is funded). Health economics and health
care funding have the potential to influence health care outcomes in a variety of ways.
As you move through this course, you will work toward developing a potential solution
for a health care issue within your current or desired health care system. The goal of
this assessment is to identify an economic health care issue that you will address
throughout the course.
Context and Background
Health care economics has the potential to affect each of us either personally or
professionally. This impact can be viewed from a health economics point-of-view (where
we discuss the value of health care and its efficiency) or it can examine how health care
is financed (focus on how health care is funded). Health economics and health care
funding have the potential to influence health care outcomes in a variety of ways. The
bulleted list below outlines topics and health care issues that many institutions
encounter. Organizations often have to implement strategies or initiatives to resolve or
improve these issues and create positive patient and institution outcomes.
Examples of health care economic issues:
The influence of health care economics on community health—for example, social
determinants of health (such as access to care and health care finance).
Supply and demand: How do we in the health care environment exist when there are
more needs from communities and patients than we have the resources to supply? An
example of this would be a high number of patients and low resource levels such as
staff, supplies, and equipment.
The public’s attitude toward health, disease, and the health care system—for example,
how money is distributed has the potential to impact the health care outcomes of certain
populations. An example of this would be the lack of access and funding for
underserved and rural communities.
Other issues might include access to care, social determinants of health, senior health,
food insecurity or food desserts, inadequate staffing, homelessness, rehospitalization
environmental issues leading to chronic disease, et cetera.
As you move through this course, you will work toward developing a potential solution
for a health care issue within your current or desired health care system. The goal of
this assessment is to identify an economic health care issue that you will address
throughout the course.
Later in the course, you will (a) conduct a needs analysis to justify your focus on this
topic area using the literature of the field, (b) present an argument for change in your
organization bolstered by a cost-benefit analysis, and (c) advocate for this change at the
state level. Keep these future assessments in mind as you select your topic.
Instructions
For this assessment, you will write a brief 2–3 page report about the health care
economic issue that you have identified. In addition, you will also be asked to:
Address the reasons you selected the issue.
Identify how the issue impacts the work of you, your colleagues, and your organization.
Describe the gap that you see contributing to this issue.
Be sure to address each main point. Review the assessment instructions and scoring
guide, including performance-level descriptions for each criterion, to ensure you
understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed. In
addition, note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting
evidence.
Overall, you will be assessed on the following criteria:
Describe a health care economic issue and how it impacts a specific community or
population.
Note the data, information, or observations used to support your description.
Explain the rationale for choosing your health care economic issue.
Explain how the health care economic issue has affected your work, your organization,
your colleagues, and your community.
Identify the gap that is contributing to the need to address the economic issue.
Cite at least one piece of evidence to support your identification of the gap. This could
be public health data, a peer-reviewed journal article, or another scholarly source.
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence
and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Additional Requirements
Length of Submission: 2–3 double-spaced pages.
Number of References: Cite at least one piece of evidence to support your identification
of the gap. This could be public health data, a peer-reviewed journal article, or another
scholarly source.
APA formatting: Titles, headings, resources, and citations are formatted according to the
APA style.
Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s
Writing Support page.
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.
Explain the rationale for choosing the health care economic issue.
Competency 2: Develop ethical and culturally equitable solutions to economic problems
within a health care organization in an effort to improve the quality of care and services
offered.
Describe a health care economic issue and how it impacts a specific community or
population.
Competency 3: Justify the qualitative and quantitative information used to guide
economic decision making to stakeholders and colleagues.
Identify the gap that is contributing to the need to address the economic issue.
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.
Explain how the health care economic issue has affected your work, your organization,
colleagues, and community.
Competency 5: Produce clear, coherent, and professional written work, in accordance
with Capella writing standards.
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence
and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Scoring Guide
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.
Criterion 1
Describe a health care economic issue and how it impacts a specific community or
population.
Distinguished
Describes a health care economic issue and how it impacts a specific community or
population. Notes the data, information, or observations used to support the description.
Proficient
Describes a health care economic issue and how it impacts a specific community or
population.
Basic
Describes a health care economic issue. However, does not address, or it is unclear,
how it impacts a specific community or population.
Non Performance
Does not describe a health care economic issue.
Criterion 2
Explain the rationale for choosing the health care economic issue.
Distinguished
Explains the rationale for choosing the health care economic issue. Reflects on how
personal experiences and values informed the choice of issue.
Proficient
Explains the rationale for choosing the health care economic issue.
Basic
Lists reasons for choosing the health care economic issue, but does not provide a full
explanation.
Non Performance
Does not list reasons for choosing the health care economic issue.
Criterion 3
Explain how the health care economic issue has affected your work, your organization,
colleagues, and community.
Distinguished
Explains how the health care economic issue has affected your work, your organization,
colleagues, and community. Specifically notes ways in which the issue may be having
greater impacts on diverse or lower socio-economic groups.
Proficient
Explains how the health care economic issue has affected your work, your organization,
colleagues, and community.
Basic
Explains how the health care economic issue has affected some but not all of your
work, your organization, colleagues, and community.
Non Performance
Does not explain how the health care economic issue has affected any of your work,
your organization, colleagues, and community.
Criterion 4
Identify the gap that is contributing to the need to address the economic issue.
Distinguished
Identifies the gap that is contributing to the need to address the economic issue. Cites
at least one piece of evidence to support the identification of the gap. This could be
public health data, a peer-reviewed journal article, or another scholarly source.
Proficient
Identifies the gap that is contributing to the need to address the economic issue.
Basic
Identifies a gap, but it is unclear if the gap is contributing to the need to address the
economic issue.
Non Performance
Does not identify a gap.
Criterion 5
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence
and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Distinguished
Conveys clear purpose, in a tone and style well-suited to the intended audience.
Supports assertions, arguments, and conclusions with relevant, credible, and
convincing evidence. Exhibits strict and nearly flawless adherence to organizational,
professional, and scholarly writing standards, including APA style and formatting.
Proficient
Conveys purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence
and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards. Attempts
to use APA style and formatting.
Basic
Conveys purpose, in an appropriate tone or style. Clear, effective communication is
inhibited by insufficient supporting evidence or minimal adherence to applicable writing
standards.
Non Performance
Does not convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting
evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and writing scholarly standards.