Operations Management Health Policy Analyses
Health policy development and enactment is continuously in a state of flux; current health policies should be evaluated based on outcomes that meet or exceed benchmarks regarding positive health care outcomes for patients. In the United States, local, state, and federal governments often enact public health policies. Policy development is a complicated process with multiple actors, data analytics, political values, and current best practices that support evidence-based outcomes. Furthermore, health equity centers on patients’ ability to obtain quality healthcare services. It is important for the actors involved in health policy formation to focus on policy implementation; yet equally important is to realize that enactment of the health policy is not the end of the process.
This week, you are the CEO for Shady Valley Long-Term Care Center. The skilled nursing facility is a 100-bed comprehensive facility that offers long-term care, skilled care, in-house physical therapy, palliative care, and hospice services. The long-term care facility is committed to offering state of the art healthcare services with a focus on diversity, equity, and quality of care for its patients and families. You and your team will be working with multiple long-term care individuals to include both administrative and clinical managers. You are tasked with developing and presenting a PowerPoint presentation to the board of trustees. The topic of this slide presentation will focus on one health policy change of your choice within the long-term care industry. Examples center on legal issues, patient confidentiality, hospice-right to die, cost and billing, DEI, and quality care issues.
Be sure to address the following requirements in your PowerPoint presentation:
Describe the team members initiating the health policy analysis process, the specific chosen health policy issue, and what needs to be changed in relation to positive health care outcomes for patients.
Explain the specific tool or method(s) you will use to evaluate past outcomes and projected outcomes for the proposed policy change.
Describe the actors, ethical decision makers and their alignment within society to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion regarding the suggested policy change.
Discuss the importance of evidence-based outcomes in relation to labor and employment laws associated with the proposed health policy change.
Evaluate the role of leadership within the formation and implementation of the suggested health policy change.
Discuss the possible effects of the newly suggested health policy change regarding compensation and anatomy of healthcare professionals. Examples include the need for additional liability insurance, licenses, overtime compensation, and training required to implement the suggested health policy change.
Define the stakeholders involved in or affected by the newly proposed health policy change. Who will be informed, who will participate, who will be a champion of the policy, who can be an enabler, and who might be a blocker and needs to be co-opted?
Sample Answer
PowerPoint Presentation: Enhancing Dementia Care through Person-Centered Policy at Shady Valley Long-Term Care Center
Slide 1: Title Slide
- Title: Championing Person-Centered Dementia Care: A Policy Initiative for Shady Valley
- Subtitle: Focused on Quality, Equity, and Positive Patient Outcomes
- Your Name/Title: CEO, Shady Valley Long-Term Care Center
- Date: April 8, 2025
(Image: A warm, respectful interaction between a caregiver and a resident with dementia)
Slide 2: Introduction – The Need for Change
- Team Initiating Analysis:
- [Your Name], CEO: Overall leadership and vision.
- [Name], Director of Nursing: Clinical expertise and patient care standards.
- [Name], Administrator: Operational efficiency and resource allocation.
- [Name], Social Services Manager: Psychosocial well-being and family support.
- [Name], Staff Development Coordinator: Training and competency development.
- Chosen Health Policy Issue: Implementation of a comprehensive Person-Centered Dementia Care Policy.
- What Needs to Change: Current care practices, while well-intentioned, can sometimes be task-oriented and fail to fully prioritize the individual needs, preferences, and life history of residents with dementia. This can lead to: