bj edit assignment
Herzing University, 2025
Problem Statement Worksheet
NU801 Project Development and Management
Herzing University
Beverly Jordan
02/08/2026
Professor Dr. Natasha Colvin
Constructing a Problem Statement
Questions Responses
What is the
problem?
Many of the veterans who have been referred out of outpatient mental health
clinics do not follow up their referrals to specialty or community-based services.
This disjunction indicates a failure in care coordination and communication, not
mere patient noncompliance. Lapsed referrals are a system and provider failure
with the veterans.
Whom does
this
affect?
The problem occurs regarding veterans who receive outpatient mental health
services and mental health providers, referral coordinators, and the Veterans
Health Administration (VHA). Delayed or fragmented care can also affect the
families of veterans.
How does this
problem make you
feel?
This is an issue of concern that is also morally wrong in the sense that veterans
who seek care are usually motivated but have systemic problems like poor
communication, no follow-ups, transportation, and complex schedules.
When is it a
problem?
It arises as an issue whenever a veteran receives a referral to extra mental health
or specialty services and fails to attend the referral because of barriers on a
system level or the absence of follow-up services.
Why should I care?
Continuity of care, symptom management, and suicide prevention of veterans is
critically dependent on referral follow-through. In the case of missing referrals,
veterans can develop more severe mental health symptoms, overuse of the
Emergency Department, and preventable hospital stays. Enhancing this process
helps ensure that quality, safety, and value-based care objectives are achieved in
the VHA system.
How does it affect
the customer?
Veterans can be abandoned, frustrated, and confused with the healthcare system.
Late or missed services may result in the exacerbation of depression,
posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and substance use, and decrease the quality
of life and provider trust.
Herzing University, 2025
Draft Problem Statement
Write the first draft of the statement describing the current state using the information you gathered.
As per the worksheet in the problem statement, identify the gap between the current and desired states. The draft
statement is:
The existing referral procedures in outpatient mental health facilities fail to improve the referral process of veterans
and lead to incomplete follow-up referrals, which result in disjointed care and inadequate mental health services. It is
necessary to enhance referral coordination and follow-through to help veterans access timely, consistent, and
efficient mental health care.
