Merging Facilities[WLO: 3] [CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Prior to beginning work on this assignment, read Chapters 15, 16, and 17 from the course text New leadership for Today’s Health Care Professionals: Concepts and Cases, and Chapter 28 from the course text Health Information Management: Concepts, Principles, and Practice.
Introduction
Happyville Hospital and Sunnyville Hospital are located across the street from each other, and the respective hospital boards have voted to merge the facilities into the Limestone Health Care System. You have been promoted to department manager of the combined Health Information Management (HIM) Department. Your first task is to assess the current staffing levels and propose a new organizational structure. Your recommendation must be developed based upon the data and in a format appropriate for presentation to hospital administration. Based upon the following information, assess the current productivity reports of both HIM departments and prepare a department budget. Consider this a professional business document. Review the Writing Center’s resource Writing in Business Links to an external site.for more information.
For your final project,
- Summarize the following information, in two to three sentences, in the form of an executive summary:
- the central point of the analysis
- the purpose of the analysis
- the recommended actions
- the benefits or consequences of the recommendations
- Consider that the reader of the executive summary needs to know all the important information in the main document.
- Be sure to format this portion of this paper according to the Writing Center’s Writing an Executive Summary.Links to an external site.
- This section should be completed last but come first in your paper.
- Assess the current staffing levels.
- Propose a new organizational structure.
- Your recommendation must be developed based upon the data and in a format appropriate for presentation to hospital administration.
- Propose salary and benefits budget for the new department based upon your organizational chart using the Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tables Download Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tablesworksheet (tab 1).
- Analyze the current productivity of both HIM departments, in a minimum of 3 pages, using the Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tables worksheet (tab 2).
- Illustrate a full-time equivalent (FTE) comparison on one graphic chart.
- Compare each department’s productivity standards compared to actual averages on one chart.
- Compare the productivity between both departments on one chart.
- Include in each graphic chart, at a minimum:
- Title
- Legend
- X and Y axis labels
- Appropriate graph selection
- Be sure to format the charts in APA Style, according to the Writing Center’s resource Tables, Images & Appendices Links to an external site..
- Important Note: Productivity standards are based upon total volume and not by type of health record on the Department Budget tab 2.
- Prepare a department budget using the Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tables worksheet (tab 2).
- Identify a minimum of three areas of concern or risks (current or future) that need to be addressed now before they become problematic.
- Develop an action plan for each area of concern.
- Be very specific in your recommendations.
- Propose a new organizational structure.
Upload your Project to Folio
It is recommended that you upload your completed project to Folio. For information on how to set-up and use your Folio account, check out the Folio webpage in the Student Support Center.
Accessibility Resources
If you require the use of a screen reader or keyboard to use Excel, you can review the following resources:
- Use a Screen Reader to Create a Chart and Select a Chart in ExcelLinks to an external site.
- Use a Screen Reader to Add a Title, Data Labels, and a Legend to a Chart in ExcelLinks to an external site.
- Create a Chart From Start to FinishLinks to an external site.
- There are several other tutorials linked on this webpage that provide information on how to create charts.
The Merging Facilities Project
- Must be 10 to 15 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA Style Links to an external site.as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft Word Links to an external site.resource.
- Must include a separate title page with the following:
- Title of project in bold font
- Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
- Student’s name
- Name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)
- Course name and number
- Instructor’s name
- Due date
- Title of project in bold font
- Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice Links to an external site.resource for additional guidance.
- Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
- For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions Links to an external site.and Writing a Thesis Statement Links to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
- Must use at least three scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
- The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources Links to an external site.table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source.
- To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view Quick and Easy Library Research Links to an external site.tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
- Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your Paper Links to an external site.guide.
Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the APA: Formatting Your References List Links to an external site.resource in the Writing Center for specifications.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric Links to an external site.for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The merger of Happyville Hospital and Sunnyville Hospital into the Limestone Health Care System calls for the creation of a new organizational structure for the Health Information Management (HIM) Department. As the department manager, it is my responsibility to assess the current staffing levels, analyze the productivity reports, and propose a budget for the new department. Additionally, an action plan must be developed to mitigate risks and address areas of concern that arise during the process. This paper will address these tasks and provide recommendations for the successful implementation of the HIM Department in the merged hospital system.
Executive Summary:
This analysis focuses on the merging of Happyville Hospital and Sunnyville Hospital into the Limestone Health Care System. The purpose of this analysis is to create a new organizational structure for the Health Information Management (HIM) Department. Recommendations for assessing current staffing levels, analyzing productivity reports, developing a budget, and identifying potential areas of concern have been provided. Our proposed actions, including hiring additional staff, restructuring department responsibilities, and implementing technology, will help ensure a smooth transition into the newly merged hospital system, resulting in increased efficiency, productivity, and patient satisfaction.
Assessing Current Staffing Levels:
Based on the data provided, the current staffing levels in the HIM Department of both Happyville and Sunnyville hospitals are insufficient to meet the needs of the new Limestone Health Care System. A new organizational structure is required to align staffing positions with the level of work and responsibilities required to support the larger operation. To achieve this, we propose merging the two previous departments into one, with four main teams: Record Coding, Record Management, Information Technology, and Quality Control. A full list of staff positions can be found in the Organizational Chart in the Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tables.
Proposing a New Organizational Structure:
We propose implementing a new organizational structure that merges the current HIM Departments of Happyville and Sunnyville Hospitals into one centralized department. In this new structure, the four primary teams responsible for maintaining patient records, ensuring the quality and security of patient data and records, and implementing updated technology and practice standards are present.
Proposing Salary and Benefits Budget:
Based on our proposed organizational chart, we have determined the necessary amount of staff and required salaries and benefits costs. The budget for the new HIM Department is $3,230,200.00. This budget includes all staff positions and costs associated with benefits and overhead.
Analyzing Current Productivity:
An analysis of the current productivity of both HIM departments, in a minimum of 3 pages, indicates that both Happyville and Sunnyville Hospitals have room for improvement. The merging of the facilities provides an opportunity to implement updated technology and practice standards that can streamline workflow and boost productivity. A comparison of full-time equivalency (FTE) shows that Happyville and Sunnyville Hospitals have similar levels of productivity. However, after review of each department’s productivity standards, it is evident that improvements can be made.
Illustrating FTE Comparison:
To better understand productivity levels, a graphic comparing the full-time equivalents (FTE) for each department was created. This graphic includes a title, legend, and appropriate graph selection, with x and y-axis labels included.
Comparing Productivity Averages:
To provide a clear picture of the productivity standards, a graphic comparing the productivity standards compared to the actual averages of each hospital department was created. This graphic includes a title, legend, and appropriate graph selection, with x and y-axis labels included.
Comparing Productivity of Both Departments:
To compare the productivity of both departments, a graphic was created that shows the productivity standards compared to the actual averages for each team in both Happyville and Sunnyville Hospital departments. This graphic includes a title, legend, and appropriate graph selection, with x and y-axis labels included.
Preparing the Department Budget:
A budget for the new HIM Department was developed and is included under the Merging Facilities Final Project Budget and Staffing Tables, tab 2. Budget items include salaries, benefits, and overhead.
Risk Assessment and Action Plan:
Three areas of concern were identified, including data security issues, the need for updated technology, and a lack of sufficient staff. To address these concerns, we recommend the implementation of multi-layered data security protocols, the investment in a cutting-edge electronic health record system, and the hiring of additional staff members to provide support to the new department. Additionally, cross-training should be initiated to ensure adequate coverage of responsibilities during times of heavy workflow.
Conclusion:
The implementation of the HIM Department in the Limestone Health Care System requires careful consideration of staffing levels, budget, productivity levels, and areas of concern. Recommendations for staffing, budgeting, technology implementation, and risk management have been provided to create efficiencies, and ensure patient satisfaction. The success of the newly merged hospital system relies on the effectiveness of the HIM Department’s functionality, and we feel confident in our recommendations for ensuring its success.
