DQ .1    
Hiring the Right Person to Lead HIMs Products and Workflow
For this discussion, imagine that you have been tasked with being  the hiring manager for a HIM professional to help lead and improve the  workflow and quality of the HIT within the organization. Your first task  is to examine the current state of the workflow related to HIT within  the organization, or a specific unit or team. Your second task is to  curate a brief description or list of characteristics and qualifications  that a new HIM professional would have, and to comment on the relevance  and importance of them with regards to the position and organization.
For your main post of the discussion, from your viewpoint as a hiring manager, please address the following:

Briefly describe an organization that will be the basis of your post.      

This could be your current place of practice, a former place of  practice, or any health care organization you are interested in and can  research effectively.

Summarize the current state of the HIT workflow for the organization, unit, or team.
Identify the challenges that individuals or role groups are facing within the current workflow.      

How could trainings or additional supports help to improve their work experience and efficacy?
What leadership strategies or best practices could be leveraged  to overcome these challenges and improve outcomes related to HIT?

Based on the workflow, challenges facing those working with HIT,  and the potential leadership needs, briefly describe the type of person  who would be a good fit for the HIM professional position.
Identify required and desirable qualifications (educations, certifications, experience) for the position.      

Which of these qualifications are most relevant and desirable? Why?

Briefly comment on how the personal and professional qualifications you identified compare to those in similar job postings.      

Please, use actual job postings either from the internet or  elsewhere as the basis of your comparison. Remember to cite the job  postings used for comparison.

Support your post with at least one peer-reviewed source, using  course readings or other scholarly literature. Include APA-formatted  in-text citations and accompanying, congruent APA-formatted references.
Response Guidelines
Respond your peers according to the Faculty Expectations Response Guidelines.
In your response, take on the role of an organizational leader.
Address the following in your response to your peers:

Comment on how the type of person that is being sought aligns  with the apparent workflow, training, and leadership needs of the  organization.
Comment on the degree to which the level of qualifications align with the level of job that they are being asked to do.      

To what extent do you agree with the qualifications that your peers identified as being most desirable and relevant?

Learning Components
This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify areas of need within an organization which a Health Information management professional could help.
Identify benefits to an organization of hiring a health information management professional.
Identify key job function of a health information management professional.
Identify required and desirable qualifications for a health information management professional to possess.
Apply current APA style guidelines.
Write clearly and accurately.

Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
APA Module.
Capella University Library.

DQ2.
    
Financial Impacts of New Hires and Creating Stakeholder Buy-In
For this discussion, you will be trying to illustrate how the  benefits of hiring a HIM professional outweigh the costs associated with  the new hire.
For your main post of the discussion, please address the following:

Identify the costs associated with hiring a new HIM professional. Consider costs such as:      

Advertising the position.
Time reviewing resumes and conducting interviews.
Onboarding.
Compensation package.

Identify ways that the new HIM professional will benefit the organization. Consider benefit areas such as:      

Quality.
Patient experience.
Employee experience.
Finances.

Select a stakeholder group of the organization and explain how  you could message the benefits of the new hire to appeal directly to  that stakeholder group.

Support your post with at least one peer-reviewed source, using  course readings or other scholarly literature. Include APA-formatted  in-text citations and accompanying congruent APA-formatted references.
Response Guidelines
Respond to your peers according to the Faculty Expectations Response Guidelines.
In your response, take on the role of the stakeholder group that your peer selected.
Address the following in your response to your peers:

Comment on your primary concern with regards to the costs associated with the new hire.
Comment on which benefits are most appealing to you, from your viewpoint of the stakeholder.
Comment on the strengths of your peers’ communication with the stakeholder group.

Learning Components
This activity will help you achieve the following learning components:

Identify the costs associated with hiring a new HIM professional.
Identify ways that the new HIM professional will benefit the organization.
Identify stakeholders key to hiring and evidence that will be compelling to them.
Apply current APA style guidelines.
Write clearly and accurately.

Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
Capella University Library.
APA Module.

    DQ3.
Case Study: Is That a Union Forming?
The employees in your company have stated that they are forming a union. Address the following:

Suggest first steps for HR management to take in anticipation of the unionization.
Describe why those steps are appropriate.
Discuss what information you would consider critical to gather to make your recommendation.

Reference relevant provisions of the National Labor Relations Act to support your suggestions.
Initial Post Guidelines
Initial posts should be based upon peer-reviewed, evidence-based  literature. In your post, include at least one APA-formatted in-text  citation and the accompanying, congruent APA-formatted reference. Your  source can be a course textbook, assigned reading, or other scholarly  source.
Response Guidelines
Respond to the posts of other learners according to the Faculty  Expectations Response Guidelines. If possible, respond to one learner  who has a perspective, background, or goals that are similar to yours  and then to one learner whose perspective, background, or goals are  different.
Peer responses should be substantive and must include one  peer-reviewed source (in current APA style) that aligns with the  discussion thread. You may feel free to add an additional source that is  new or provides a completely different perspective. “I agree” and  “Thanks for sharing your insights” are examples of unacceptable  responses that do not contribute content for enhanced learning. The goal  is quality, substantive feedback that demonstrates higher-order  critical thinking and evaluation of peers’ initial posts.
Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.
National Labor Relations Act.
Capella University Library.
How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles?.
APA Style and Format.

DQ4.
    
Unionizing: A Communication to Stakeholders
When a union first forms, communication is a critical component of  the process on all sides. Imagine you are a union organizer considering  your communication plan. You have decided to introduce your intention to  unionize your workplace to various stakeholders.

Identify the key stakeholders in the community, management, and  employees that should be considered when developing a communication  plan.
Draft a communication that states your intention to create a  union to one of the stakeholders that you have identified. As you craft  your communication, consider your initial objectives for the  communication as well as the audience, message, and tone.

Initial Post Guidelines
Your initial post must meet the requirements according to the  Faculty Expectations Response Guidelines and be formatted appropriately  for the type of communication described.
Response Guidelines
Respond to the posts of other learners according to the Faculty  Expectations Response Guidelines. If possible, respond to one learner  who has a perspective, background, or goals that are similar to yours  and then to one learner whose perspective, background, or goals are  different. The goal is quality, substantive feedback that demonstrates  higher-order critical thinking and evaluation of peers’ initial posts.
Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.

Respond by Day 5 to at least two colleagues in one of the following ways:

Describe two factors that might make minority groups especially vulnerable in the Medicaid policy your colleague cited. Explain why these groups may not have a voice in the policy-making process.
Offer examples of organized self-help and citizens’ groups as both support mechanisms and potentially powerful lobbies. Describe how these lobbying bodies can help in amending the policy your colleague described.

Colleague 1 Chana Smith RE: Discussion – Week 9COLLAPSEHow the evolution of health care policy has influenced programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.America health policy shifted from environmental concerns to individual. Over time we have moved from dispensaries, to marine hospitals, to focusing on check ups. “The federal government entered briefly into health provision during Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal with the Resettlement Administration’s medical cooperatives” (Popple & Leighninger, 2019).  The Depression led way for prepaid programs such as, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, due to hospitals being left with unpaid hospital bills. The government stepped back in when those who were less healthy, retired, unemployed, underemployed or self employed suffered. This is when both the Democratic and Republican parties worked together to put forth proposals that would protect the senior population that was getting left out of the employer based health plans (Popple & Leighninger 2019). Hospitals were reimbursed by Medicare however, continuously rising hospital costs, resulted in the Reagan administration developing a standardized payment based on diagnosis. Medicare became their cash cow because congress was able to take advantage of the cost reduction by transferring savings in Medicare into the general deficit reduction (Popple & Leighninger, 2019).   Specific Medicaid policy in your state that should be amended, and explain how you would amend it and why.The Medicaid policy in North Carolina that should be amended is the policy that prohibits payment for diet programs in weight loss centers. Helping recipients with their goal towards weight loss could help reduce Medicaid costs. Medicaid paying for weight loss programs could result in lowered expenses towards weight related health issues such as high blood pressure, and diabeties (dhhs.gov, 2018). The stakeholders involved in the Medicaid and Medicare health care policy in your state, and explain the role of these stakeholders in policy development for this issue.The stakeholders involved in the Medicaid and Medicare health care policy include ombudsmen, providers, and consumer health advocacy groups. The provide expertise and knowledge to contribute towards identifying solutions to meet the needs the people. They then work together towards  developing the policy (Nguyen, & Miller, 2018).
Colleague 2 

Tameka Sutton RE: Discussion – Week 9COLLAPSEIn this week’s discussion, we are to communicate the development of Medicaid and Medicare with the rationalization of how they have influenced health care policies. We are to depict a Medicaid policy in our home state that has cause to be changed.  Explain a way to satisfy change, as well as why. We are to depict the stakeholders who participate in the Medicaid and Medicare health care policy in our home state and rationalize the stakeholders’ role in policy development.Discussion- the evolution of Medicaid and MedicareIn 1945, November, President Truman discussed a plan to bring the people to hospitals to receive good quality care, addressed lack of physicians, enlightened the Congress with a proposal that would mend high cost of coverage for medical care for families and individuals (“PROPOSAL, 1945”).  President Truman proposal to Congress established the development of a Social Security pitch that would offer affordable healthcare—report as being the initial step toward socialization (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-29/site/ct-per-flash-medicare-20130929_1_affordable-care-act-health-care-health-insurance).In 1965, July 30, President Lyndon B. Johnson gave signature to the Social Security Amendment bill that became law on that day (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=27123&st1=).  This law gave life to the Medicaid and Medicare health insurance system.  It was not until 1966, July 1, that the health care policy indeed came into existence for 18 million Americans requiring programs to help establish affordable medical expertise. On this day in American history over the amount of 19 million ages (65 and older) citizens signed on to receive coverage.  This day in the history of Medicaid and Medicare programs President Lyndon B. Johnson, and his wife signed on to the Medicare plan (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=27123&1=). At this time the project had Part A (hospital coverage), and Part B (supplemental medical insurance). Medicaid health insurance covered all states with the initial date of January 1966 but was moving at a plodding pace. Amendments of additional care to the Medicare plan were – in 1967 children up to the age of 21, in 1972 the addition of long-term disabilities, in 1986 pregnant moms, the Act of Medicare Catastrophic Coverage in 1988, and in 2003 the improvement of the Medicare Drug plan that help to modernize coverage (https://revcycleintelligence.com/images/site/articles/2015/01/Medicare.jpg). In 2010, March 23, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that gave coverage of Medicaid to citizens in America numbering over 30 thousand uninsured patients. Citizens of lower and middle class received assistance through federal funds that help to secure private health insurance (https://revcycleintelligence.com/images/site/articles/2015/01/Medicare.jpg) .In 2012, June there was a verdict from the Supreme Court to allow each state to make the expansion of Medicaid services “voluntary” becoming a state discretionary plan. In America, 28 states participate in the development of Medicaid, that shows as being a benefit through the enticements of EHR incentive program (Medicare and Medicaid – Meaningful Use) provides providers with a financial gain for practicing and delivering significant medical assistance (http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index/html?redirect=/ehrincentiveprograms/). In 2015, January 26, there are goals set for the future of Medicaid and Medicare that demonstrate reform. Per the Department of Health and Human Services, there will be a 30% of fee-for-service Medicare payments “value-based payments” that will monitor the process of measurable recovery (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2015pres/01/20150126a.html).  Ultimately, the design of new payment models for a valued care system will reduce Medicare spending. Describe Medicaid policy in North Carolina that should be amended and Why?In the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services – Medicaid and Health Choice Clinical Coverage Policy No:8-A Amended Date: April 1, 2017, has requirements for and Limitations on Coverage Sec: 5.4 – Service Orders.  This Medicaid Service policy report that there must be a service order before or on the date of service to receive payment from Medicaid to the provider. It does not matter if the client has a backdated service order, the provider will not receive payment if there is not a service order in place. For example, if the client has a service plan dated for one-year, and the client goes into a substance abuse comprehensive outpatient treatment program a day after the year expired. Medicaid would not cover the outpatient treatment program until the client receives another service order. Still, would not be able to include any of the time before the service order date. Amend – the policy should have a clause reporting that “if” the client has received the same needed treatment within the one-year service order, then Medicaid should honor 72 hours of service. The 72 hour treatment time limit will give the professionals needed time to place another order while the client is being treated.  Without the funding for treatment, the client will be turned away –not receiving help. In the 72 hour time limit the client will receive value-based service while awaiting the decision of Medicaid approval.  In this amendment, there will be the inclusion of a specific department that handles renewal for Medicaid Service orders for the Medicaid and Health Choice Clinical Coverage – Enhanced Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Department. Describe Stakeholders involved in Medicaid/Medicare health policy in North Carolina and explain their roleThe Stakeholders involvement in North Carolina’s Medicaid and Medicare health policy is to promote critical factors of enhanced care management, adapt the needs of NC’s diverse communities and collaborating with the providers. North Carolina’s Proposal Program design for Medicaid Managed Care in August 2017 report that the stakeholder’s key role is to standardization promoting quality and value as well as implementing the strategy for value-based payment across the board for all providers to utilize (https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/documents/files/MedicaidManagedCare_ProposedProgramDesign_REVFINAL_20170808.pdf). 
Colleague 3

 You are correct in identifying patients as stakeholders, some of the most important ones in my opinion.  However, there are many reasons why certain groups may feel like they have no voice in the process and can’t influence decision-makers; talk more about why disenfranchised groups who have a stake in healthcare policy often don’t provide input or, as you suggest, even vote.  

ThreadsPostsLast Post
Week 4 Discussion Boar 
Discuss with your colleagues how a health care organizations can promote a culture of compliance and responsibility? Through your research, identify a specific organizational structure or program that could serve as a “best practice” for other health organizations.  What specific health care organization currently uses the program or structure you picked? Describe the program in a paragraph. Is it a training program? A handbook? An immunization program? A patient care involvement program? A financial management practice? Penalties for fraud detection and reporting in the organization? Policy development? Procedure (SOP) creation? Benchmarks? External QA/QC consultants? Is this “best practice” specific to just this setting? Peer comments should compare and contrast their findings with others presented. See Discussion Expectations and Grading for rules on discussions.
Assigned reading materials:

It is important that managers understand the responsibilities of operating within the tax-exempt structure-http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopice00.pdf
Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Compliance: A Resource for Health Care Boards of Directors (n.d)]-http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/complianceguidance/040203CorpRespRsceGuide.pdf
Facts about The Joint Commission’s Hospital Accreditation – https://www.jointcommission.org/accreditation/accreditation_main.aspx
Benefits of The Joint Commission Accreditations – https://www.jointcommission.org/benefits_of_joint_commission_accreditation/  
Joint Commission: Conflict of Interest – https://www.jointcommission.org/conflict_of_interest_policy/

There are many news items published every day that relate to infectious disease, including updates on infectious disease incidence and prevalence, newly emerging or resurging  disease outbreaks, scientific breakthroughs, and research study findings. When communicating information about infectious disease, it is important to consider culture and the appropriate strategies for engaging and communicating with diverse populations.  
              In this Assignment, you will a find a current news item on an infectious disease topic and prepare a paper describing the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health information about the risks associated with the infectious agent in the selected news item, and a strategy to communicate the risk of the infectious agent to a specific cultural group.

Find a news item published in the last 30 days that interests you and that relates to the public health burden of infectious disease. Research the pathophysiology and epidemiology of the infectious disease and a population that may be disproportionally impacted by this disease. Prepare a 4 to 5 page paper that includes the following: 

An APA style title page, including your name, date, course and section, and title 
APA style headings for each section below

Describe the cause of the infectious disease that is in the news item you chose (identify the organism, route of infection, host or environment, person to person transmission, vectors, etc) 
Describe the health risk from this infectious disease (morbidity, mortality, outcomes) and how it may be prevented
Describe the overall importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content. Support your answer 
Choose a specific cultural group that may be disproportionally impacted by this disease and explain what you believe is the most effective way to communicate risk and prevention information related to the organism and provide examples 
Describe how you would assure that your selected communication strategy is demonstrating appropriate cultural competence for this population 

Cite the sources within your text in APA style 
Include an APA formatted reference list at the end of your paper. 

Note: The title page and References page do not count towards the paper’s page requirement.