Saint Leo University

HCA303

Term Paper: Professional Development Exercise

This term paper applies the Buchbinder & Shanks (2017) textbook to lead HCA303 students

through a process of self-reflection, personal assessment, and professional development

planning. The term paper is designed to engage students in better understanding and

articulating professional interests, strengths, and areas for further learning and

development in preparation for managing and leading health care organizations in the

future.

The term paper is structured into nine sections, with word count guidelines provided in each

section. APA formatting is required. Term paper milestone deadlines, by module, are as

follows:

• Read and familiarize yourself with the term paper assignment in Module 1

• Begin researching and organizing non-textbook references for the term paper in

Module 2

• Proposed non-textbook term paper reference list is due to the Dropbox by no later

than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 4

• A draft of the first four sections of the term paper is due to the Dropbox by no later

than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 5

• The final term paper is due to be submitted no later than Sunday 11:59 PM

EST/EDT of Module 8. Students who do not submit the assignment will receive a

zero. This is a key program assessment; the results are used to ensure students are

meeting program goals. Video and PDF instructions can be found on the course

home page. PDF instructions are also located in the Start Here folder.

Section 1: Organizational Settings

Below are 25 categories of organizational settings in the health industry. In about 250

focused and concisely written words, (a) select one according to your interest for the

organization setting of a future health care management position and (b) explain why you

choose such an organization.

• Community hospitals

• Pharmaceutical/biotechnology

• Health systems/integrated delivery companies networks

• Medical devices/equipment

• Academic medical centers

• Physician practices

• Federally qualified health centers

• Outpatient diagnostic facilities

• Home health care

• Surgery centers

• Hospice care

• Urgent care centers

• Dental offices

• Health information systems

• Government agencies

• Insurance/managed care companies

• Public health

• Continuing care retirement communities

• International health care

• Nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities

• Assisted living facilities

• Consulting

• Higher education

• Professional associations

• Entrepreneurship

Section 2: Leadership

Apply the leadership concepts in Chapter 2 (e.g., competencies, models, styles, protocols,

responsibilities) in answering the following three items in a total of about 400 words.

Incorporate at least two references above and beyond the textbook, and cite both the

textbook and your external references using APA style.

(a) Think about a situation where you (or an organizational leader you are familiar with)

were highly effective as a leader. Apply leadership concepts from Chapter 2 in explaining

your (or the selected leader’s) effectiveness. You may write about yourself, a leader in

the health industry, or a leader from outside the health industry.

(b) Think about a situation where you (or an organizational leader you are familiar with)

were ineffective as a leader. Apply leadership concepts from Chapter 2 in explaining

your (or the selected leader’s) ineffectiveness. You may write about yourself, a leader in

the health industry, or a leader from outside the health industry.

(c) State and describe three personal leadership development goals.

Section 3: Motivation

Apply the motivation concepts in Chapter 3 in answering the following three items in a total

of about 400 words. Incorporate at least two references above and beyond the textbook,

and cite both the textbook and your external references using APA style. The external

references cited in this section will very likely be different from those in the previous

section.

(a) What motivates you?

(b) What demotivates you?

(c) As a health care manager, what will be your approach to increasing employee

engagement and motivation in your organization?

Section 4: Cognition and Organizational Behavior

Apply the concepts in Chapter 4 in answering the following item in a total of about 150

words. Incorporate at least one reference above and beyond the textbook, and cite both the

textbook and your external reference(s) using APA style.

Discuss the role of cognition (thinking, reasoning) in promoting organizational change and

learning. In what ways could you, as a manager, use cognition to improve communication

and teamwork?

Section 5: Strategic Planning, Marketing, Health Information Technology, Financial

Management, and Human Resources Management

Strategic planning (Chapter 5), marketing (Chapter 6), health information technology

(Chapter 8), financial management (Chapters 9 and 10), and human resources

management (Chapter 12) are fundamentally important areas of management focus in

health care organizations. Answer the following two items in a total of about 500 words.

Incorporate at least two references above and beyond the textbook, and cite both the

textbook and your external references using APA style.

(a) Assess your level of knowledge, experience, and interest in strategic planning,

marketing, health information technology, financial management, and human resources

management.

(b) Using the top-ranked health industry setting from Section 1 as the organizational

context, present and discuss a set of seven personal professional development goals you

would like to achieve in the next 3-10 years. These goals identify desired experiences,

activities, and responsibilities for your professional growth and career development in the

areas of strategic planning, marketing, health information technology, financial

management, and/or human resources management. For example, a practicing nurse may

have the career goal of becoming involved in leading organizational efforts to apply health

information technology to further improve the work done by nurses and other caregivers.

Section 6: Health Care Professionals

The number of different job categories and titles in the health industry is very large

(Chapter 11). In about 200 words, (a) identify five health industry job titles with whom

you’ve never worked in a significant way and (b) propose a personal professional

development plan to better acquaint yourself with the roles and responsibilities held by

individuals in these positions. For example, someone currently working in the billing and

coding area might arrange to spend several days with a home health nurse in order to

experience and learn more about home health care services delivery. Incorporate at least

one reference above and beyond the textbook, and cite both the textbook and your external

reference(s) using APA style. To assist in thinking about the range of job categories and

titles in the health industry, the following U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics link provides

information on a sampling of health care occupations:

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm.

Section 7: Quality Improvement and Teamwork Address the

following scenario in about 500 words:

Shortly after graduation, your new boss asks you to organize and lead a cross-

departmental, multi-disciplinary team to improve coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness

in the care of patients with multiple chronic conditions. Apply the concepts and tools of

Quality Improvement (Chapter 7) in combination with those of Teamwork (Chapter 13) and

Motivation (Chapter 3) to outline your approach to organizing and managing a quality

improvement team. Incorporate at least three references above and beyond the textbook,

and cite both the textbook and your external references using APA style.

Section 8: Health Disparities

In about 250 words, apply the Saint Leo University core value of Community in a

brief proposal for a community health improvement initiative to address a health disparity

or health inequity in a location of your choosing. Incorporate at least two references above

and beyond the textbook, and cite both the textbook and your external references using

APA style.

Section 9: Health Ethics

Answer the following two items in a total of about 300 words. Incorporate at least two

references above and beyond the textbook, and cite both the textbook and your external

references using APA style.

(a) Assess your level of knowledge and experience with key health ethics principles such as

respect, autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

(b) Why are ethical behavior and decision making so important for health care managers?

(c) Describe three personal professional development goals that will further prepare you in

becoming a health care manager characterized by ethical behavior and decision making.