Hlt 494 Capstone Project Approval Form Student Name Instruct

Hlt 494 Capstone Project Approval Formstudent Nameinstructora Profes

Hlt 494 Capstone Project Approval Form student Name: Instructor: A professional capstone project should highlight the areas in which you have gained proficiency in all your health care administration courses to date. With this in mind, you must select a topic that will address a health care barrier that is relevant to health care administration and does not focus on patient care, rather improving some focus of health care in a manner that may be accomplished, implemented, and evaluated by those in health care administration. A short description of the general proposed scope of your project (addressing technology, efficiency, access, quality, etc.): Healthcare access to specialty services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has made a huge impact on the population of patients with chronic healthcare issues, along with those who have experienced an acute events. Over the past several months we have seen an increase of patients coming in critically ill due to lack of access to routine check ups and specialty service availabilities. We have also seen a drastic increase of patients coming in critically ill due to staying home for fear of getting out and being exposed to the virus. We need to develop more telehealth / virtual access programs to allow these patients to be seen remotely to triage and present the patients with the best course of treatment for their condition. This can decrease the amount of non-emergent visits to the emergency department exposing both the patient and the staff. The anticipated health care organization (HCO) that would best benefit from this proposal (hospital, health clinic, dental office, insurance organization, etc.): The healthcare organization that would be most beneficial from this program proposal would be the local hospital and the outlying clinics associated with the organization.

Paper For Above instruction

In recent years, healthcare access disparities have become increasingly evident, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic not only strained healthcare systems globally but also highlighted significant barriers to accessing specialized medical services, which are crucial for managing chronic health conditions and preventing acute episodes. Addressing these barriers through innovative administrative policies can substantially improve healthcare delivery, efficiency, and patient outcomes.

This paper explores how healthcare administration can develop and implement telehealth programs to mitigate the impact of pandemic-induced access issues. The focus is on developing policies that facilitate remote consultations and triage processes, aiming to reduce non-emergent emergency department visits, improve resource utilization, and expand access to essential specialty services.

Understanding the Barriers to Healthcare Access

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented barriers to healthcare access, notably for individuals with chronic diseases requiring regular monitoring or those who needed specialty consultations. Lockdowns, social distancing measures, and the fear of virus exposure led many patients to postpone or cancel routine check-ups and specialist appointments. This disruption contributed to deterioration in health status, increased emergency visits, and hospitalizations.

Moreover, systemic barriers such as limited telehealth infrastructure, policy restrictions, and inadequate reimbursement models further constrained access. As a result, healthcare organizations faced the challenge of maintaining continuity of care while ensuring patient safety amidst ongoing public health concerns. Overcoming these obstacles requires strategic administrative interventions to expand virtual care options and improve operational efficiency.

Role of Healthcare Administration in Implementing Telehealth Solutions

Healthcare administrators play a vital role in designing, developing, and evaluating telehealth initiatives. A key administrative task involves establishing clear policies and guidelines for telemedicine services that align with legal, ethical, and organizational standards. This includes defining eligibility criteria, consent processes, data security measures, and reimbursement strategies.

Additionally, administrative leadership must oversee the integration of telehealth platforms with existing electronic health record (EHR) systems to facilitate seamless information exchange. This integration enhances care coordination, supports documentation accuracy, and ensures compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA.

Policy Development and Implementation Strategies

Effective policy development involves stakeholder engagement, ensuring that clinicians, IT specialists, and patient representatives contribute to designing user-friendly and equitable telehealth services. Training healthcare staff on telemedicine best practices is essential to maximize clinical effectiveness and patient satisfaction.

Furthermore, organizations should negotiate with insurers to secure reimbursement for telehealth consultations, addressing financial sustainability. Administrative policies should also include monitoring frameworks to evaluate utilization rates, patient outcomes, and satisfaction levels, ensuring continuous quality improvement.

Expected Outcomes and Benefits

Implementing telehealth policies can significantly reduce non-emergent emergency department visits, lower healthcare costs, and improve access for underserved populations. For patients with chronic illnesses, remote monitoring and consultations facilitate timely interventions, preventing complications and hospitalizations.

From an organizational standpoint, these initiatives optimize resource allocation, reduce provider workload, and enhance organizational reputation as a forward-thinking entity committed to patient-centered care.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its advantages, telehealth implementation faces challenges such as technological disparities, patient literacy issues, and regulatory variations across jurisdictions. Addressing these barriers requires tailored strategies including staff training, community outreach, and advocacy for supportive legislative changes.

Moreover, ongoing evaluation and adaptation of telehealth policies are necessary to respond to evolving healthcare landscapes, technological advancements, and patient needs.

Conclusion

Healthcare administration has a pivotal role in transforming the delivery of specialty services post-pandemic through strategic policy development and program implementation. By fostering robust telehealth infrastructures, organizations can enhance access, improve efficiency, and uphold the quality of care. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, administrative policies must remain adaptable, data-driven, and patient-centered to effectively address ongoing and future access barriers.

References

• American Medical Association. (2020). Telehealth policy recommendations. AMA Journal of Ethics, 22(9), E781-785.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Telehealth services. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth
• Dorsey, E. R., & Topol, E. J. (2016). State of Telehealth. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(2), 154-161.
• HealthIT.gov. (2020). Telehealth and Telemedicine. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• McGrail, K. M., et al. (2021). The clinical impact of implementing a telehealth program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 27(4), 255-262.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Telehealth: taking the pulse of the future. WHO Report.
• Polinski, J. M., et al. (2016). Patients’ Satisfaction With and Preference for Telehealth, Naïve or Experienced. Telemedicine and e-Health, 22(6), 533-539.
• Stewart, M., et al. (2018). Organizational Strategies to Expand Telehealth. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 24(6), 560-567.
• Williams, J., & Yamada, T. (2020). Addressing Healthcare Disparities Through Telehealth. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(4), 243-252.
• Zhao, H., et al. (2021). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Telehealth for Specialty Care. Telemedicine and e-Health, 27(2), 138-144.