HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays

This Post covers all the assignments and discussions to be completed in this course. Students are expected to be prompt with classes and assignments.

GC HLT540 week 1 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Why do you think many healthcare practitioners are often unwilling to change practice patterns, based on research findings? Some practitioners criticize evidence-based practice as “cookbook care.” Considering these perceptions, how would you utilize your education and experiences in planning the implementation of a major change?

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dq 2

Consider the question: “Why do physicians and nurses kill more people than airline pilots?” Apply your critical thinking skills to this argument and critique the statement. First, do you think it’s true? If it is, what do you think about their rationale? How would you address it if the question were posed to you in a forum?

GC HLT540 week 2 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

What kinds of extraneous variables (not cited in the studies) do you think could have affected the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variables in both the Messina et al. and Coyne et al. studies?
dq 2
How effectively do you think the Coyne et al. study and the Messina et al. study both used their review of literature to help the reader understand why the research question was asked? How could they have done it more effectively?

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – HLT540 week 3 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Given that there is a documented advantage to the use of an experimental and control group design, discuss why other designs are frequently used, and the situations that may prompt the use of one.

dq 2

Discuss your understanding of the concept of internal validity in a research study, and the impacts of several errors or biases that can reduce the study’s validity.

GC HLT540 week 4 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Why do you think so many people have problems with using, interpreting, or applying statistics in making business decisions?

dq 2

As you have learned to evaluate different research studies, what elements seem the most important to you for evaluation of the research’s quality? Why?

GC HLT540 week 5 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Discuss the concept of the normal distribution, why it is important, and what you think it means.

dq 2

When students talk about “grading on the curve,” how does that apply to the normal distribution?

GC HLT540 week 6 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Discuss the differences between the concepts of correlation and causality, and why it is critically important to make sure that the differences are understood?

dq 2

What are the indicators for using a t-test? Create a research scenario in which it would be correct to use a t-test, including the research question, sample size, and dependent and independent variables.

GC HLT540 week 7 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

What are the indicators for using an ANOVA? Create a research scenario in which it would be correct to use an ANOVA, including the research question, sample size, and dependent and independent variables.

dq 2

What are the indicators for using a regression analysis? Create a research scenario in which it would be correct to use a regression analysis, including the research question, sample size, and dependent and independent variables?

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – HLT540 week 8 dq 1 & dq 2

dq 1

Re-visit the roadmap that you began at the start of your program of study. Complete information regarding this course. In the discussion, reflect on how this course meets your career goals. What have you gleaned from the course that will help you in your career path? Respond to at least two other classmates.

dq 2

Discuss your thoughts about the ethics of using informed consent vs. blinding the subjects to the expected outcomes of the intervention. Should they be told? How much should they be told? How would the placebo effect be impacted if subjects are told which intervention is being applied to them?

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 2 Evidence-Based Research Interview Assignment

Details:

Identify, analyze, and discuss the components that comprise a valid evidence-based research study.
Based on the information compiled above, interview a health care leader about his/her experiences related to using evidence-based research to drive changes in practices in his/her facility.

Write a report (1,000-1,250 words) of your findings. Include the following in your report:

1) The changes that the health care leader has been involved in implementing.
2) How strong did the leader feel the research on the topic was? Why?
3) Have they ever rejected research findings? Why or why not?
4) Include any concerns they have had or resistance they have experienced when implementing changes based on research.
5) Analyze your findings as they apply to the components of evidence-based research.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 3 Assessing a Research Study Assignment

Details:

1) Choose a research study article of interest to you.
2) Refer to the study you choose and complete “Assessing a Research Study.”
3) Identify an article that directly references your chosen study and compare it to your findings. Does this article refute or confirm the study’s findings?
4) Write a paper (750-1,000 words) that analyzes and summarizes your findings.
5) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
6) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Assessing a Research Study

Review the study components in the left-side column of the form below. Refer to the study you chose, and complete the data in the right-side column with the key components in that study.

Research Question:

How did the research question emerge from the review of literature in the article?
Independent Variables Type:
Dependent Variables Type:

Identify and Define the Study Design Elements: 1. Quantitative vs. Qualitative:
2. Sample Size
3. Method of sample selection: Explanation.
4. Identify and define the experimental and control groups?
5. Reliable and valid data instruments? Explain.
Describe analysis. What statistics were used?

Did the researchers’ conclusions make sense, did they answer the research question, and did they appear to flow from the review of the literature? Did they explore control of extraneous variables?

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 3 Coyne and Messina Articles, Part 1 Analysis Assignment

Details:

1) In a paper (1,000-1,250 words), compare and contrast the major elements of the reports by Coyne et al. and Messina et al., listed in the Module 2 Readings.
2) Complete the “Coyne and Messina Articles Analysis.” Study the information in the right-side column related to the Coyne, et al. study, which identifies the required elements as found in the reading. Complete the information for the Messina et al. article by identifying the required elements from the article.
3) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Coyne and Messina Articles Analysis

As an example guideline, review the study components in the left-side column of the table below. Read the study by Messina et al., and build the data in the right-side column with the key components in that study.

Research Question: Coyne:Do size and ownership type make a difference in the efficiency and cost results of hospitals in Washington state? (Highlight p.164, second column, starting 15 lines from bottom to seven lines from bottom.) Messina:

How did the research question emerge from the review of literature in the article? Coyne:Built on an earlier study by Coyne on performance differences between multi-facility systems and independent hospitals using two cost measures. Cited studies that used a range of variables to measure differences in hospital performance, and noted that prior findings have been inconclusive in regard to hospital size, although economies of scale were found. Messina:

Independent Variables Type: Coyne: Hospital size and hospital ownership structure. Categorical
Messina:
Dependent Variables Type: Coyne:Efficiency measures – continuous variables. Cost measures – continuous variables.
Messina:
Design Elements 1. Quantitative vs. Qualitative
2. Sample Size
3. Method of sample selection
4. Experimental vs. control group?
5. Reliable and valid data instruments? Coyne: Quantitative
96
Picked all hospitals in state, except investor owned hospitals.
No
Used data that are commonly used to measure hospital efficiency and performance with high degrees of accuracy (reliable), and data that are historically used and make sense to other hospital users (valid).
Messina:

Describe analysis. What statistics were used? Coyne:Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Messina:
Did the researchers’ conclusions make sense, did they answer the research question, and did they appear to flow from the review of the literature? Did they explore control of extraneous variables? Coyne:They concluded that size and ownership type make a difference in reported levels of efficiency. Not for profits seem to achieve higher performance levels, and medium and large not for profits operate more efficiently than industry average. The same results were found for cost levels, in that size and ownership type do make a difference, with medium sized hospitals reporting lower costs than large or small hospitals. Yes, when they called for national studies that controlled for case mix, scope of services, and payer mix, all of which could have affected the results in this study in an unmeasured way.
Messina:

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 4 Coyne and Messina Articles, Part 2 Statistical Assessment Assignment

Details:

1) Write a paper of 1,000-1,250 words regarding the statistical significance of outcomes as presented in Messina’s, et al. article “The Relationship between Patient Satisfaction and Inpatient Admissions Across Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals.”
2) Assess the appropriateness of the statistics used by referring to the chart presented in the Module 4 lecture and the resource “Statistical Assessment.”
3) Discuss the value of statistical significance vs. pragmatic usefulness.
4) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
5) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Statistical Assessment

Use the chart in the Module 4 lecture to complete the table below to assess the appropriateness of the statistics used, and determine the statistical significance of outcomes in Messina’s, et al., article “The Relationship Between Patient Satisfaction and Inpatient Admissions Across Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals” . Refer specifically to the discussion on pages 189-90 of the article.

Messina, D., Scotti, D., Ganey, R., Zipp, G., & Mathis, L. (2009). The Relationship Between Patient Satisfaction and Inpatient Admissions Across Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals. Journal of Healthcare Management, 54(3), 177-89, discussion 189-90. Retrieved from.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=1752526601&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=48377&RQT=309&VName=PQD”>http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=1752526601&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientId=48377&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Statistic Data type Sample Size Research Question

Statistical Significance:

There were three errors in Table 4 on page 185. In your identification of significant findings, can/did you find them?

The chart from the Module 4 Readings:

Statistic Data Type Sample Size Research Question

Mean and Standard Deviation Interval or ratio >2 What does the data set look like?
Frequency Distribution Nominal-Ratio >2 What does the data set look like?
Chi-Square Nominal-Ordinal >4 Is the variance of one variable equal to or different from another variable

Correlation Coefficient Interval-Ratio >4 What is the relationship between two variables?
t-Test Interval-Ratio <30 Is there a significant difference between two groups? May be intrinsic or may be experimental
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) Interval-Ratio >30 Is there a significant difference between 2 or more groups?
Regression Analysis Interval-Ratio >30 How much of the change in the dependent variable is predicted by the independent variable or variables?Refer to the Module 4 Readings for explanation of the chart.

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 5 Broyles Textbook Practice Exercise Assignment

Details:

Complete “Practice Exercise 11” (page 157) and “Practice Exercise 11” (page 180) in the textbook. For the data set listed, use Excel to extract the mean and standard deviation for the sample of lengths of stay for cardiac patients. Use the following Excel steps:

1) Enter the data set into Excel.
2) Click on the Data tab at the top.
3) Highlight your data set with your mouse.
4) Click on the Data Analysis tab at the top right.
5) Click on Descriptive Statistics in the analysis tool list.
6) Find the mean and standard deviation of the data sets.
7) Send the results to instructor via e-mail, along with your analysis of the description of the data set.
APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

HLT540 week 5 Coyne and Messina Articles, Part 3 Spearman Coefficient Review Assignment

Details:

1) Write a paper (750-1,000 words) regarding the use of the Spearman rank correlation coefficient by Messina, et al. in “The Relationship between Patient Satisfaction and Inpatient Admissions Across Teaching and Nonteaching Hospitals,” listed in the module readings.
2) Comment on what variables were used; whether it answered the research question; and whether the Spearman rank correlation coefficient is appropriately used, given the requirements of the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.
3) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 6 Yeung Analysis Assignment

Details:

1) Refer to “The Use of Electro-Acupuncture in Conjunction with Exercise for the Treatment of Chronic Low-Back Pain” by Yeung, Leung, and Chow.
2) Complete “Yeung Analysis Worksheet.”
3) Examine the question the researchers were trying to answer and write an essay (500-750 words) that explains why you feel the t-test was chosen. Choose one of the other tools studied so far in this course and explain why it would not provide relevant findings.
4) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
5) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Yeung Analysis Worksheet

Yeung, C., Leung, M., & Chow, D. H. K. (2003). The Use of Electro-Acupuncture in Conjunction with Exercise for the Treatment of Chronic Low-Back Pain. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9(4), 479-490. Retrieved from http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=10555113&site=ehost-live&scope=site

What was the research question?
What were the independent variables?
What was the dependent variable?
What was the sample size and how was it chosen?
What was the experimental design and use of control group?
Were the instruments of measurement shown to be reliable and valid?
What data types were included?
Describe the statistics used, what they were used for, and the results.
What were the researchers’ conclusions? How did they answer the research question(s)?
How was error controlled?
Did you see any concerns with the research study? If so, what?

HLT540 week 6 Correlation between Two Variables Assignment

Details:

Use Excel to do a correlation between the following variables:
1) X – 2,5,5,6,6,7,8,9
2) Y – 1,2,2,3,4,4,5,5

HLT540 week 6 T-Test for Two Samples Assignment

Details:

A drug company is measuring levels of oxygenation in patients after receiving a test medication. As the researcher, you are interested in whether Group I, which received the medication, has the same oxygenation levels as Group II, which did not.

1) Group 1: 2,3,3,4,4,7,8,9
2) Group 2: 1,2,2,3,4,4,5,5,6,8
Use Excel to run a t-test for two samples, assuming equal variances, with an alpha value of 0.05. Run the t-test and note:
1) Are you doing a one-tailed test or a two-tailed test (Excel will give you both)?
2) What is the probability that Group I is different from Group 2, using the p value? Is it significant against the benchmark of p < .05?

APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 7 Broyles Textbook Exercise 7 Assignment

Details:

1) Use Excel to complete “Exercise 7” on page 208 (ANOVA) in the textbook.
2) Answer the questions at the end of the exercise.
3) APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Details:

1) Use “Roddy and Ganz Worksheets” to complete an assessment of the research studies: “Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines: A New System to Better Determine True Strength of Recommendation” by Roddy et al., and “ICU Nurses’ Oral-Care Practices and the Current Best Evidence” by Ganz et al.
2) In a paper (1,000-1,250 words), analyze and support whether you believe that the changes recommended are statistically valid and sound enough to make practice changes in a hospital.
3) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

Roddy Analysis Worksheet

Using the worksheet below, complete an assessment of the following article.

Roddy, E., Zhang, W., Doherty, M., Arden, N. K., Barlow, J., Birrell, F., et al. (2006). Evidence-based clinical guidelines: A new system to better determine true strength of recommendation. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 12(3), 347-352. Retrieved from.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=20870724&site=ehost-live&scope=site”>http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=20870724&site=ehost-live&scope=site

What was the research question?
What were the independent variables? What was the dependent variable?
What was the sample size and how was it chosen?
What was the experimental design and use of control group?
Were the instruments of measurement shown to be reliable and valid?
What data types were included?
Describe the statistics used, what they were used for, and the results.
What were the researchers’ conclusions? How did they answer the research question(s)?
How was error controlled?
Did you see any concerns with the research study? If so, what?
Ganz Analysis Worksheet
Using the worksheet below, complete an assessment of the following article.

Ganz, F., Fink, N., Raanan, O., Asher, M., Bruttin, M., Nun, M., et al. (2009). ICU nurses’ oral-care practices and the current best evidence. , 41(2), 132-138. Retrieved from.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=1780947491&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=48377&RQT=309&VName=PQD”>http://library.gcu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.library.gcu.edu:2048/pqdweb?did=1780947491&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=48377&RQT=309&VName=PQD

What was the research question?
What were the independent variables? What was the dependent variable?
What was the sample size and how was it chosen?
What was the experimental design and use of control group?
Were the instruments of measurement shown to be reliable and valid?
What data types were included?
Describe the statistics used, what they were used for, and the results.
What were the researchers’ conclusions? How did they answer the research question(s)?
How was error controlled?
Did you see any concerns with the research study? If so, what?

HLT540 week 7 Broyles Textbook Exercise 1 Assignment

Details:

1) Use Excel to complete “Exercise 1” on page 247 (Regression Analysis) in the textbook.
2) Answer the questions at the end of the exercise.
3) APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.
4) This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

HLT 540 Healthcare Research Methods, Analysis and Utilization Essays – Week 8 Proposal Development Paper Assignment

Details:

Write a proposal paper (1,250-1,500 words) for a major change project that you would like to lead.
Identify a health care issue that interests you and explain why.

Develop a rationale using evidence-based research, including:

1) The background.
2) Statistical findings.
3) Probable stakeholders.
4) Logical conclusions.

Design an implementation plan for the project, including:

1) A communications plan.
2) Creation of a design and implementation team by roles.

List the strategies you would use to lead the team to success and identify potential obstacles that may be faced, along with plans to deal with them.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.

HLT540 week 8 Stakeholder Scenario Assignment

Details:

1) Read and complete “Stakeholder Scenario.”
2) Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Stakeholder Scenario

Goal: To convince a group of people to use a specific, new type of antibiotic for patients pre-operatively in order to decrease surgical wound infections.

Scenario:You are a healthcare administrator that is trying to introduce a change in practice to a group of stakeholders. Your goal is to help them understand the rationale and need for the change, and to get a sense of the areas of resistance to the change. The change under discussion is to implement a new antibiotic to be given one hour before surgery starts as a way of reducing post-op wound infections. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies (CMS) have indicated that timely pre-op application of specific antibiotics is becoming a requirement and will be a publicly reported indicator on the CMS Web site for your hospital. Thus, institution of this new procedure is something you really need to pull off.
As the administrator in this scenario, you will hear the initial responses of each of the stakeholders. You will then be presented with several options for your response. Select the option you think is most effective.

Review the stakeholders’ responses to the option you selected. According to their own perspectives and prerogatives, the stakeholders will respond in different ways to each choice. Your goal is to achieve some level of buy-in to the change.

Issues:

The antibiotic is new and people aren’t familiar with it.
Requires administration within one hour of the actual surgery start time.
Requires administration by IV.
Adds a step to the busy pre-op nurse’s work load.
Saves the hospital $28,000 per year.
Research shows wound infections down 47% with this new antibiotic if it is administered in a timely fashion.

Players:
Pharmacist: He’s learned about the new antibiotic through his research studies, and is excited about using it.
Pre-op Nurse: She is worried about having one more thing added to the pre-op activities list she must complete before the patient goes to surgery, but she’s very interested in doing the right thing for her patients.
Surgeon: He hates government mandates, doesn’t like to be told what to do, generally has a pretty good track record for his patients’ outcomes after surgery, but has no idea what his actual rates of wound infection are.
Finance Analyst: It’s all about the money. Don’t make it harder by concentrating on anything other than the dollars.

Stakeholders’ Background Thinking

Pharmacist: I really like this idea, because this antibiotic is better and cheaper too. If we can standardize to this antibiotic, I can save money by stocking only one antibiotic for surgery. It will save my staff time in preparation also. This is a great idea for me and my department.

Pre-op Nurse: I am just worn out trying to keep up with all the changes they keep hitting us with. It’s hard enough to do my job and remember to do things differently and use different items. Why can’t they give me a break? Now I’ll have to start an IV as well as give a drug, and they are already pressuring me to get the patient ready for the OR faster. Sometimes I just want to go home!! But I got into nursing to help people, and if this really makes a difference, I guess I can suck it up.

Physician: The government makes me crazy! Those bureaucrats think they know how to practice medicine better than I do. The last thing I need is some ivory tower academic telling me what antibiotics to give! I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and I know what works and what doesn’t. The stupid hospital better shut up and let me do what I know is right and stop telling me how to be a doctor. My patients like me and that is what counts. I’m sure voting Libertarian in the next election!

Financial Analyst: I have been tasked to save this hospital hundreds of thousands of dollars this year, and this one change will save us a bundle. Why are they all arguing? This change could save their jobs! Don’t they get that it’s all about the money? I wish they’d just shut up and approve the change so we could go get lunch.

First Responses of Stakeholders

Pharmacist: “This is really important. All the research on this new antibiotic shows that it makes a big difference in reducing wound infections. We could get our rate from 13% presently down to 2%. We need to do this.”

Pre-op Nurse: “This is going to take much more time. We’ve always been able to give our patients pill antibiotics, and now you want me to have to start an IV and administer the drug that way? What happens if I give it and the surgery is delayed? There is already so much I have to do to get the patient to the OR.”

Surgeon: “What a bunch of horse hockey! I’ve been using the same antibiotic for 25 years and its fine. No need to make silly changes just to keep the government happy. What do they know about medicine anyway? All they want to do is make us follow some stupid ‘cookbook’ and it’s ridiculous. They should just leave all that up to the doctor.”

Finance Analyst: “It saves money. Just do it.”

Administrator’s Response Options

Select one:

1) “Well, we have to do this because it’s a government requirement.”
2) “You all raise valid points of concern. The evidence shows a significant benefit to our patient care.”
3) “What could be done in the implementation that would relieve some of your worries?”
Responses to Option 1

Pharmacist: “We can make this switch as soon as you are ready.”

Pre-Op Nurse: “We’ll have to tell the patient to come in four hours before the surgery to do this. What a pain.”
Surgeon: “The heck with this. You can’t make me do it.”
Finance Analyst: “It saves money. Just do it.”

Responses to Option 2

Pharmacist: “There is a real benefit. Surgical site infections drop like crazy. It’s the right thing to do.”
Pre-op Nurse: “I want to do the right thing. If Pharmacy can get the drugs up to the unit in the morning, maybe I can start the IVs faster.”
Surgeon: “I’m all about patient care, but why can’t I use what I’ve always used?”
Financial Analyst: “It saves money. Just do it.”

Responses to Option 3

Pharmacist: “It would help me to know how many drug doses to stock in the OR each morning so I can make sure they have what they need on hand.”
Pre-op Nurse: “That would sure help me. We can begin by having the IVs pre-prepared so we just have to put the needle in the patient.”

Surgeon: “Can I see the data about wound infections? How do I stack up against other surgeons?”
Financial Analyst: “Great, you all see it. It saves money. Let’s do it.”

Assignment

As is usually the case, it is possible to achieve some measures of acceptance of changes. The way you respond will affect your ability to do this. However, in real life, it rarely happens this quickly.

When involved in negotiations, key elements to remember include:

Pay close attention to the reasons people give for their resistance. You will gain a better insight into their thought processes and can tailor your responses to their perspectives.

You may have to ask questions several times to dig into the real reasons why people may oppose something. The opposition sometimes can be driven by fears and anxieties, but those are not usually expressed initially. However, if you keep asking questions and listening carefully, they will begin to emerge.

Once you have a sense of the perspectives of the various stakeholders about the change, you can begin to address them and use them to overcome any objections to the change.

Sometimes the best you can get in the initial conversations is a willingness to move away from “I’m not gonna.” to “Let me see the data.” That’s a big step toward willingness.

Based on this initial scenario, develop an implementation plan. It should include:

The administrator’s initial statement of what is being implemented and why.
(Review the stakeholder’s background thinking and first responses.) The administrator’s (your) response option choice.
How to communicate with the stakeholders (especially if they need further convincing).
What evaluation criteria are needed?
Time frames.
Other items you think would be valuable to include.