NURS 6421 Week 5 Workflow Modeling Essay Assignment

Maps, diagrams, and models are useful because they can capture the intricacies of complex systems and concepts in a simple, manageable way. For example, a road map illustrates the placement of streets and landmarks in relation to each other to allow drivers to better navigate unfamiliar territory. Similarly, workflow models can be used to show the interconnected steps that relate to a specific health care process or task and enable nurse informaticists to identify and analyze gaps.

This week you explore how workflow models are created and used in the health care field. You analyze the importance of accuracy and clarity in workflow modeling, and you consider strategies for creating more effective workflow models. Part 1 of the Course Project (Gap Analysis Plan) is due in this week. In addition, you may begin working on Part 2 of the Course Project.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Evaluate a workflow model for accuracy and clarity
Analyze the importance of accuracy and clarity in workflow modeling
Formulate strategies for overcoming challenges to workflow modeling in health care
Develop a Gap Analysis Plan for a specific workflow issue
Develop a workflow model draft using Visio

NURS 6421 Week 5 Discussion: Workflow Modeling

Workflow modeling is widely used throughout many different types of businesses, including health care organizations, to visually summarize the steps of complex processes and systems. When constructing a workflow model, it is important to ensure that the model accurately reflects the actual steps in a process.

In this Discussion, you consider a case study of a health care clinic and its process for ordering medical supplies. You then examine a workflow model that is meant to reflect that process and analyze the model’s accuracy based on the information in the case study. You also analyze the importance of accurate workflow modeling and consider strategies for creating accurate workflow models for health care processes.

Case Study:

Deerborne Dialysis is a local dialysis clinic that is part of a larger health care network, Buckeye Health. Buckeye Health executives have recently been examining the processes by which organizations within the network manage their supplies. Deerborne Dialysis was identified as an exemplary model of efficient supply management, and Buckeye Health executives have requested a workflow model of how Deerborne Dialysis handles their supply management process.

Sharon is the nurse who oversees the process of ordering and stocking supplies for Deerborne Dialysis. She knows the process well and developed a description of the steps in the supply management process. First, Sharon conducts a daily check of the supplies in the storage room. If there is a supply that is running low, Sharon submits an order to the medical supplier. When the clinic receives the shipment, Sharon unpacks the shipment and cross-checks the supplies that were shipped with the supplies that were ordered. If there is a discrepancy, the entire shipment must be returned to the medical supplier, who then rushes a new shipment to the clinic to be received the next day. If there is no discrepancy, or once the new shipment is received, unpacked, and cross-checked, Sharon stocks the shelves in the storage room and gives the supply bill to the clinic’s accountant, who ensures that the medical supplier receives payment.

Sharon has created the following workflow model to reflect the steps she goes through to manage the clinic’s inventory of supplies:

To prepare:

Review the case study above and examine the workflow model that is meant to reflect the process described in the case study.
Identify problems with the workflow model. How could the model be revised to be more accurate, clear, and effective?
Reflect on the importance of creating an accurate workflow model of health care processes. What are the challenges involved in workflow modeling? What are the consequences of inaccurate workflow models?
Consider strategies that you can use to ensure that workflow models are effective and accurate.

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post a summary of at least three specific problems you identified in the workflow model. Describe how the model could be revised to address those problems. Analyze the importance of accuracy and clarity in workflow modeling, and describe at least one strategy you plan to use to ensure that the workflow models you create are accurate and clear.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days. Provide any additional thoughts you have on the issues with the workflow model from the case study and the importance of accurate workflow modeling. Offer at least one additional strategy to your colleagues’ postings that could promote more accurate, effective workflow modeling for health care processes.

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