Course Project

Course Project Overview

A Quality or Risk Scenario Case Study (graded)

Objectives

The Course Project paper consists of a research paper focusing on quality or risk scenarios. It is recommended that you work with a local area healthcare facility for your paper-related research, in addition to your Internet and textbook research. Plan to interview a health information professional and, if possible, observe their job functions related to healthcare quality and compliance.

Milestones—Requirements

1. Identify 
three scenarios that put a hospital at risk for financial liability, and identify how that risk might be minimized.

· Describe one scenario related to patient safety.

· Describe one scenario related to the environmental safety.

· Describe one scenario related to staffing.

· Describe how an HIM practitioner might serve as a clinical quality assessment resource and as a team member.

2. Perform a literature search to identify sources of accreditation and regulatory requirements for quality and risk management. Review the Joint Commission standards and identify the standards that pertain to quality and risk management.

3. Use case studies from local or regional healthcare organizations or arrange interviews or site visits.

4. Use examples of the types of healthcare organizations that may be appropriate subjects for this type of project, including hospitals, hospital systems, integrated healthcare systems, multispecialty medical clinics, physician group-practice offices, ambulatory surgical centers, mental health service providers, public health clinics, and rehabilitation or long-term care facilities.

5. Choose situations that are complex enough to offer sufficient challenge and are realistic, in terms of information available at a level needed to complete the project in the required time frame.

6. Avoid accessing any confidential patient information in order to complete the project; there is no need to, and it is inappropriate to do so.

Requirements

· The title and description of the Course Project paper, including the table of contents and the outline, are to be submitted for approval in Week 3 (required).

· Submit the content outline that indicates how you plan to address the above criteria and names the primary sources of information you will use for your paper.

· Feedback on your topic selections and Course Project paper outline will be provided by the instructor.

· The completed Course Project paper is due by the end of Week 6 (graded).

· The paper must be 8 to 10 pages in length, double spaced (in 12 point font), and it must include a title page, table of contents, thesis statement, introduction, body of the report, summary, and works cited. 

· Even though this is not a scientific writing assignment, references are required. At least seven (7) authoritative, outside references are required (
anonymous authors and web pages are not acceptable). These should be listed on the last page titled Works Cited.

· APA format and citations are required in the body of the paper for all statements that are not your original thoughts and for the Works Cited page.

· All DeVry University policies are in effect, including the plagiarism policy.

· Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the Course Q & A Forum.

· This paper is worth 140 total points and will be graded on quality of research topics, quality of overall paper, use of APA citations, grammar, and sentence structure.

· No late papers will be accepted.

APA Style Tutorial

APA Guidelines for Citing SourcesLinks to an external site.

This video will give you a quick introduction to APA guidelines for citing sources. Highlights include the purposes of citing, guidelines and examples of how to cite sources in text and at the end of a paper, and how to format a reference list for an entire paper.

Grading Rubrics

Best Practices

The following are the best practices in preparing this paper.

· Cover Page: Include who you prepared the paper for, who prepared it, the course title, and the date.

· Table of Contents: List the main ideas in this section of your paper and the pages on which they are located.

· Introduction: Use a header on your paper to indicate that you are introducing it.

The purpose of an introduction or opening is to

1. introduce the subject and why it is important;

2. preview the main ideas and the order in which they will be covered; and

3. establish a tone for the document.

Include in the introduction a reason for the audience to read the paper. Also, include an overview of the material you are going to cover in your paper and its importance. This should include or introduce the questions you are asked to answer on each assignment.

· Body of Your Report: Use a header titled with the name of your project. Then break out the main ideas. State the main ideas, state the major points in each idea, and provide evidence. Break out each main idea you will use in the body of your paper. Show some type of division, such as separate sections that are labeled, separate groups of paragraphs, or headers. Include the information you found during your research and investigation.

· Summary and Conclusion: Summarizing is similar to paraphrasing; it presents the gist of the material in fewer words than the original. An effective summary identifies the main ideas and major support points from the body of your report. Minor details are left out.

Additional hints on preparing the best possible project follow.

1. Apply a three-step process to writing: plan, write, and complete.

2. Prepare an outline of your research paper before you go forward.

3. Complete a first draft and then go back to edit, evaluate, and make any changes required.

4. Use visual communication to further clarify and support the written part of your report: graphs, diagrams, photographs, flowcharts, maps, drawings, animation, video clips, pictograms, tables, and Gantt charts.

5. Include a Works Cited that uses APA format.

Your Course Project is due by Sunday, end of Week 6.

Don’t forget to submit your assignment.