For your final project, you will research a gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care. You should discuss the existing initiatives involving economic and regulatory

For your final project, you will research a gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care. You should discuss the existing initiatives involving economic and regulatory factors.

• Option One: A gap in quality related to care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses
• Option Two: A gap in equity related to mental health access for veterans
• Option Three: A gap in efficiency related to the rising cost of pharmaceuticals for the aging population

This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:

• Draw connections between current healthcare delivery systems and the context in which they were developed
• Describe the impact of economic and regulatory drivers on healthcare delivery systems
• Identify major gaps in access to healthcare for determining areas of opportunity for improved access to quality healthcare
• Explain initiatives targeted at maintaining or improving the health status of specific populations

The project is divided into two milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Three and Five. The final project submission will occur in Module Seven.

Prompt

After choosing the topic for your course project from the options provided in the overview, you will work to develop your healthcare delivery systems research paper. Healthcare Delivery Process Gap is defined as: the gaps in care that result from a discrepancy between the care provided to patients and the recommended best practices in healthcare. Within the final research project, you will address your chosen gap in access, including existing initiatives in place to address the gap and economic and regulatory factors that are currently in place to address the gap.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Introduction
   1. Describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare. Include the specific population affected by the gap.
   2. Briefly describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare.
   3. Explain the impact that the socioeconomic background of the population has on their access to healthcare.
   4. Describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
   5. Predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed.
2. Existing Initiatives
   1. Explain an existing healthcare initiative that was put in place to address this gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
   2. Explain the specific goals of the existing initiative in place to address this gap in access to quality, equity, or efficiency of care.
   3. Describe the circumstances around the development of the existing initiative. Consider when it was developed and what factors were considered.
   4. Describe the resources required to fund the existing initiative.
   5. Explain why the existing initiative is not meeting its intended purpose and now requires improvement.
3. Regulation
   1. Explain a current regulation regarding the existing initiative that has been identified and the context in which it was developed. Why is this regulation important?
   2.  Describe the regulatory level that the existing initiative is being addressed at. Consider the potential for multiple levels of regulation.
4. Conclusion: Explain the effectiveness of the existing initiative and associated regulations in addressing this gap in the delivery of healthcare to the target population.
   1. Does the initiative align with initiatives in place to support other gaps?
   2. Are there conflicting interests to be aware of?