HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

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HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger Instructions

The hospital you work for has merged with an organization that currently has two hospitals as part of the organization. The facility you work in uses X medical records, the other two hospitals use Y medical records. All three hospitals will use Y medical records once the merger is complete. Change is needed at your hospital for continuity in the larger organization and for the best patient care possible. You will be responsible for getting your team up to speed on the new medical recording system.

In 750-1,000 words, provide the following:

  • Brief rationale as to why the change is important for the organization.
  • The steps you would take the begin implementing the change.
  • Examine what change management approach you believe would be most appropriate for your suggested implementation. Have a look at the final tasks in this class, HQS 630 Topic 8 DQ 1.

Provide three to five scholarly resources, in addition to information from your textbook.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

HQS 630 Topic 7 Assignment: Corporation Merger Example

Corporation Merger

Hospital mergers are necessitated by the need for two or more hospitals to combine and form a single hospital entity with devolved functions, as Chesley (2019) illustrates. The merger can be of two standalone healthcare facilities, one hospital buying another, or several hospitals coming under the supervision of a new entity (Chesley, 2019). Often, these mergers impact critical functions of merged hospitals, such as patient care routines and protocols, clinical decision-making protocols and timelines, compliance with legal requirements, and sometimes the whole healthcare industry (Beaulieu et al., 2020).

The primary reasons for hospital mergers include strategic plans for specific goal attainability, the need to explore the benefits of economies of scale, financial stability, and enhanced healthcare delivery in the broader scope (Walia & Boudreaux, 2019). This discussion examines why change is important, how to implement it, and the change management approach appropriate for the implementation.

The Rationale for Change

Our hospital uses different medical records systems; therefore, change is important for the continuity of operations after the merge for the best patient care practices. The prime rationale for this change is to integrate our hospital into the organizational setting to operate seamlessly with the other two hospitals. Therefore, our hospital needs to utilize the new medical records system (Y) to streamline healthcare delivery services and run with the other two hospitals as one cohesive unit. This change will enhance patient care through up-to-date patient records under Y, reducing the risk of medication errors and improving patient outcomes tracking. Moreover, integrating this change will significantly reduce the operational costs that would have spiked if the hospital management had implemented dual systems.

The steps to implementing the change

Changing from X to Y records system is meticulous since it is new to our hospital setting due to the human factor. Therefore, it will affect all employees, as is the custom of strategic change management. Stephen (2018) explains that three steps guide change implementation: unfreeze, change, and refreeze. Under the unfreeze stage, I would recognize the need to change our medical records system to the Y system and openly communicate the vision and urgency with my colleagues for collective support in the transition.

During the change stage, I would implement the actual change, which is changing the medical records system to fit that of the larger organization. I would seek the help of experts to educate and train my colleagues on how to use and manage the Y medical records system. The refreeze stage would ensure everyone in our hospital fully understands the Y medical records system and makes it the norm in recording, retrieving, and applying medical records. This way, our hospital would be ready for the merger.

Behind the three-approach implementation process is a rigorous back-end operation to ensure everything is in time and good shape for the merger. I would conduct a thorough evaluation of our X system and analyze the requirements of the Y system. The gaps identified here would help me design a detailed implementation plan for the Y system and pinpoint areas where I would find change resistance.

After allocating resources and crafting performance indicators for the change process, I would communicate openly with the stakeholders and offer them the training and support required to utilize the Y system effectively. Pilot testing would take effect before phased implementation to identify any issues or improvements that need reworking. I would then monitor and evaluate the success of the new records system, and with satisfactory success, I would signal the merging process to begin.

Change Management Approach

Identifying the need for change and outlining the steps to make the changes is incomplete until a change management approach takes the lead. One of the appropriate approaches I would use is the ADKAR (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement) approach. Ali et al. (2021) note that the ADKAR approach exhaustively addresses the staff and workplace aspects of change and is, therefore, most suitable for organizations that seek merging opportunities.

Through ADKAR, the stakeholders are aware of the need for change and the benefits therein, and the staff’s desire for change is heightened by understanding how the change aligns with their professional growth needs. Training for knowledge of system operation and adequate resource availability equip the staff for now and perpetuity under the merger. The approach would also enable me to support the staff transition process to allow them to carry out their duties normally and form a basis to reward those employees who effectively adapt to the change and drive better and improved patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Hospital mergers are an effective tool to improve healthcare delivery, patient care, and health outcomes. Nevertheless, they carry with them myriads of challenges, such as regulatory challenges and resistance to change among employees. The statement of the rationale for change implementation is vital to ensuring a smooth transition during mergers as it spells out the protocols needed for seamless hospital operations after the merger.

A structured implementation plan reduces change resistance and identifies the transition gaps that need fixing. It would include unfreezing, changing, and refreezing tactics to ensure the new change becomes the norm of operation so that after the merger, there will be uniformity and homogeneity in healthcare service delivery. Open communication, continuous support, and adaptation training are the pillars of after-merge success.

References

Ali, M. A., Zafar, U., Mahmood, A., & Nazim, M. (2021). The power of the ADKAR change model in innovative technology acceptance under the moderating effect of culture and open innovation. LogForum, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.17270/J.LOG.2021.623

Beaulieu, N. D., Dafny, L. S., Landon, B. E., Dalton, J. B., Kuye, I., & McWilliams, J. M. (2020). Changes in quality of care after hospital mergers and acquisitions. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa1901383

Chesley, C. G. (2019). Merging organizational cultures in healthcare: Lessons from the USA in differentiation among tiers in a health system merger. International Journal of Healthcare Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2019.1602367

 Stephen L. Watson (2018). Strategic Healthcare Management: Planning and Execution, Second Edition. Health Administration Press.   https://library-books24x7-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/assetviewer.aspx?site=C3VGQ&bookid=142868&chunkid=580890947&rowid=668

Walia, B., & Boudreaux, C. J. (2019). Hospital mergers, acquisitions, and regulatory policy implications: Price, cost, access, and market power effects. Managerial Finance, 45(10/11), 1354-1362. https://doi.org/10.1108/MF-07-2018-0319