D545 Healthcare Administration Evolution, Systems, and Leadership - Set 2 - Part 1

Correct Answer: Human Relations Model

Human Relations Model specifically examines how workplace conditions and policies affect employee satisfaction, morale, and retention rates.
Option a is incorrect because PEST analysis focuses on external political, economic, social, and technological factors rather than internal workplace dynamics.
Option c is incorrect because financial audits examine monetary transactions and accounting practices, not the human factors affecting turnover.
Option d is incorrect because compliance checks verify regulatory adherence rather than analyzing relationships between policies and employee retention.

Correct Answer: Balanced scorecard system

Balanced scorecards integrate multiple performance perspectives including financial, customer, internal processes, and learning dimensions comprehensively.
Option a is incorrect because single metric dashboards cannot capture the multidimensional performance requirements of accountable care organizations effectively.
Option c is incorrect because financial statements alone miss critical quality and satisfaction metrics essential for ACO success.
Option d is incorrect because clinical reports exclude financial performance and patient satisfaction measures needed for comprehensive ACO evaluation.

Correct Answer: Creating care gaps alerts

Care gap alerts proactively identify patients needing preventive services, directly supporting quality metric achievement under value-based contracts.
Option a is incorrect because parking improvements affect patient convenience but don't directly impact preventive care delivery or quality metrics.
Option b is incorrect because billing software manages revenue cycle rather than clinical quality improvements required for value-based success.
Option d is incorrect because waiting room renovations improve patient experience but don't systematically improve preventive care delivery rates.

Correct Answer: Continuous flow improvement

Continuous flow reduces waiting and bottlenecks by moving patients smoothly through care processes, addressing boarding without compromising safety.
Option a is incorrect because bulk ordering addresses supply costs rather than patient flow issues causing emergency department boarding problems.
Option c is incorrect because batch processing actually increases waiting times contrary to lean principles of continuous patient flow.
Option d is incorrect because inventory stockpiling addresses supply availability but doesn't improve patient movement through emergency departments.

Correct Answer: Controlling compliance processes

The controlling function establishes monitoring systems, audits performance, and corrects deviations to prevent regulatory violations proactively.
Option a is incorrect because planning focuses on setting objectives and strategies rather than monitoring ongoing compliance with regulations.
Option b is incorrect because leading influences behavior but controlling specifically establishes systems to monitor and ensure compliance.
Option d is incorrect because organizing structures resources and responsibilities but doesn't monitor ongoing regulatory compliance performance.

Correct Answer: Telemedicine specialty consultations

Telemedicine connects rural patients with remote specialists, overcoming geographic barriers without requiring physical specialist recruitment locally.
Option a is incorrect because retail clinics typically provide basic primary care rather than specialty services needed by rural communities.
Option c is incorrect because mobile units provide periodic screening but don't offer ongoing specialty care access communities need.
Option d is incorrect because urgent care addresses acute episodes rather than providing the specialty expertise rural areas lack.

Correct Answer: Statistical process control

Statistical process control identifies and eliminates variation sources, enabling consistent processes that achieve near-zero defect rates systematically.
Option a is incorrect because team building improves collaboration but doesn't provide the statistical rigor needed for defect elimination.
Option c is incorrect because leadership development supports implementation but doesn't directly provide defect reduction methodology Six Sigma offers.
Option d is incorrect because marketing communicates achievements but doesn't actually reduce medication errors or improve process quality.

Correct Answer: Standardize care protocols

Standardized protocols ensure consistent quality regardless of location, reducing disparities while maintaining local access to care services.
Option a is incorrect because centralization would worsen access disparities for rural populations needing local healthcare services available nearby.
Option c is incorrect because closing rural locations eliminates access entirely rather than addressing quality disparities between locations.
Option d is incorrect because increasing urban capacity doesn't address quality issues at rural facilities or improve geographic equity.

Correct Answer: SWOT analysis framework

SWOT analysis specifically identifies internal weaknesses like coordination gaps alongside external opportunities like population health markets.
Option a is incorrect because root cause analysis investigates specific problems rather than comprehensively analyzing strategic position and opportunities.
Option c is incorrect because time series analyzes trends over time rather than matching internal capabilities with market opportunities.
Option d is incorrect because regression analysis examines variable relationships rather than strategic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Correct Answer: User engagement planning

User engagement ensures buy-in and addresses workflow concerns, preventing workarounds that undermine technology implementation effectiveness significantly.
Option a is incorrect because technology selection may be appropriate even when users resist due to poor engagement during implementation.
Option c is incorrect because adequate budgets don't ensure user adoption without proper engagement and workflow integration planning processes.
Option d is incorrect because vendor contracts establish terms but don't address the human factors determining implementation success.

Correct Answer: Service excellence culture

Service excellence culture ensures consistently positive patient experiences that generate favorable public scores, maintaining competitive market position.
Option a is incorrect because marketing cannot compensate for poor satisfaction scores when results are publicly reported and accessible.
Option c is incorrect because facility appearance contributes to satisfaction but culture drives consistent service delivery affecting scores.
Option d is incorrect because technology infrastructure supports operations but doesn't directly determine patient satisfaction with care experiences.

Correct Answer: Local decision autonomy

Independence preserves local control over strategic decisions, enabling rapid responses to community needs without system-level approval processes.
Option a is incorrect because economies of scale actually favor joining larger systems for cost advantages through consolidated purchasing.
Option c is incorrect because larger systems typically have stronger negotiating leverage with insurers than independent hospitals possess.
Option d is incorrect because systems have greater capital access for technology investments than independent hospitals can typically generate.

Correct Answer: Process mapping exercise

Process mapping visualizes actual workflow versus intended protocols, revealing gaps and bottlenecks preventing fast-track effectiveness systematically.
Option a is incorrect because individual performance reviews don't reveal systemic process issues preventing protocol effectiveness across departments.
Option b is incorrect because complaints identify dissatisfaction but don't systematically analyze why processes fail to work properly.
Option d is incorrect because benchmarking shows what others achieve but doesn't identify specific internal process failures needing correction.

Correct Answer: Stakeholder balance approach

Stakeholder approach weighs resident wellbeing, regulatory requirements, and organizational sustainability for ethical decision-making in complex situations.
Option a is incorrect because profit optimization may compromise both quality of life and compliance when these require resource investment.
Option c is incorrect because regulatory minimums may not provide optimal quality of life that ethical care requires for residents.
Option d is incorrect because competition focus may prioritize market position over resident wellbeing and appropriate regulatory compliance balance.

Correct Answer: Social determinants barriers

Social determinants like transportation, work conflicts, and childcare create access barriers that reminder calls alone cannot overcome.
Option a is incorrect because provider schedules affect availability but don't explain patient no-shows when appointments are already scheduled.
Option c is incorrect because parking issues would be consistent rather than showing increasing patterns over time as described.
Option d is incorrect because insurance delays prevent scheduling rather than causing no-shows after appointments are already confirmed.

Correct Answer: Post-discharge coordination programs

Coordination programs actively manage transitions, medication reconciliation, and follow-up appointments, significantly reducing preventable readmissions systematically.
Option a is incorrect because written instructions alone don't ensure patient understanding or address post-discharge barriers to recovery.
Option c is incorrect because extending stays increases costs without addressing post-discharge factors that drive readmission rates.
Option d is incorrect because review committees analyze problems retrospectively rather than preventing readmissions through active intervention.

Correct Answer: Human relations theory

Human relations theory emphasizes employee participation and satisfaction through involvement in decision-making, supporting shared governance models.
Option a is incorrect because scientific management emphasizes efficiency through standardization rather than participative decision-making by employees broadly.
Option c is incorrect because classical management maintains traditional hierarchical structures rather than shared governance participation models used.
Option d is incorrect because bureaucratic management relies on rules and procedures rather than employee participation in governance decisions.

Correct Answer: Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officers oversee technology infrastructure including cybersecurity strategies, policies, and incident response for healthcare organizations.
Option a is incorrect because medical officers focus on clinical quality and physician relations rather than information technology security management.
Option c is incorrect because financial officers manage fiscal resources but information officers specialize in technology security requirements.
Option d is incorrect because nursing officers oversee nursing practice and patient care rather than information system security infrastructure.

Correct Answer: Standardized clinical pathways

Standardized pathways limit individual physician discretion in treatment decisions, representing the primary autonomy concern with integration.
Option b is incorrect because improved resources actually enhance physicians' ability to provide comprehensive care to their patients effectively.
Option c is incorrect because shared services reduce administrative burden, potentially increasing time for clinical decision-making autonomy preservation.
Option d is incorrect because enhanced negotiating power with payers benefits physicians rather than threatening their clinical autonomy directly.

Correct Answer: Implement surge staffing

Surge staffing flexibly adjusts resources to match demand patterns, maintaining access while managing capacity during peak periods.
Option a is incorrect because eliminating walk-ins defeats the open-access purpose of improving patient convenience and care accessibility.
Option b is incorrect because extended hours spread demand but don't address peak time capacity when most patients need care.
Option d is incorrect because reducing appointment types limits services rather than managing the capacity to meet variable demand effectively.