Workflow analysis aims to determine workflow patterns that maximize the effective use of resources and minimize activities that do not add value.

Order ready-to-submit essays. No Plagiarism Guarantee!

Note:  All our papers are written from scratch by human writers to ensure authenticity and originality.

Application: Creating a Flowchart

Workflow analysis aims to determine workflow patterns that maximize the effective use of resources and minimize activities that do not add value. There are a variety of tools that can be used to analyze the workflow of processes and clarify potential avenues for eliminating waste. Flowcharts are a basic and commonly used workflow analysis method that can help highlight areas in need of streamlining.

In this Assignment, you select a common event that occurs regularly in your organization and create a flowchart representing the workflow. You analyze the process you have diagrammed and propose changes for improvement.

To prepare:

·        Identify a common, simple event that frequently occurs in your organization that you would like to evaluate.

·        Consider how you would design a flowchart to represent the current workflow.

·        Consider what metrics you would use to determine the effectiveness of the current workflow and identify areas of waste.

To complete:

Write a 3- to 5-page paper which includes the following:

·        Create a simple flowchart of the activity you selected. (Review the Sample Workflow of Answering a Telephone in an Office document found in this week’s Learning Resources for an example.)

·        Next, in your paper:

o   Explain the process you have diagrammed.

o   For each step or decision point in the process, identify the following:

§  Who does this step? (It can be several people.)

§  What technology is used?

§  What policies and rules are involved in determining how, when, why, or where the step is executed?

§  What information is needed for the execution of this step?

o   Describe the metric that is currently used to measure the soundness of the workflow. Is it effective?

o   Describe any areas where improvements could occur and propose changes that could bring about these improvements in the workflow.

o   Summarize why it is important to be aware of the flow of an activity.

·        Remember to include a cover page, introduction, and summary for your paper. APA format. Must include at least 3 course reading for references and 2 additional scholarly references

Course Readings

1. McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge(Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
   • Chapter 16, “Nursing Informatics: Improving Workflow and Meaningful Use”
     
     This chapter reviews the reasons for conducting workflow analysis and design. The author explains specific workflow analysis and redesign techniques.
2. Huser, V., Rasmussen, L. V., Oberg, R., & Starren, J. B. (2011). Implementation of workflow engine technology to deliver basic clinical decision support functionality. BMC Medical Research Methodology,11(1), 43–61. 
   Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 
   
   In this article, the authors describe an implementation of workflow engine technology to support clinical decision making. The article describes some of the pitfalls of implementation, along with successful and future elements.
3. Koppel, R., & Kreda, D. A. (2010). Healthcare IT usability and suitability for clinical needs: Challenges of design, workflow, and contractual relations. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 157, 7–14. 
   Retrieved from the Walden Library databases. 
   
   This article points to many health information technology designs and workflow decisions that limit their value and usage. The authors also examine the structure of the conceptual relationships between HIT vendors and the clinical facilities that purchase HIT.
4. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.b). Workflow assessment for health IT toolkit.  Retrieved, June 18, 2012, fromhttp://healthit.ahrq.gov/portal/server.pt/community/health_it_tools_and_resources/919/workflow_assessment_for_health_it_toolkit/27865
   
   This article supplies a toolkit on the planning, design, implementation, and use of health information technology. The sections of the website provide a definition of workflow, examples of workflow tools, related anecdotes, and research.
5. Document:Sample Workflow of Answering a Telephone in an Office (Word document)
   Note: You will use this document to complete this week’s Assignment.

Running head: REPLACE THIS WITH YOUR HEADING 1

REPLACE THESE WORDS WITH YOUR RUNNING HEAD 5

Title of Your Paper

Your Name

Walden University

Course number and section

Date

Insert Title of Your Paper Here

Introduction to the Paper

Start your paper with an introduction to the process you are going to use in your diagram. Remember to include a substantive purpose statement.

Workflow Process

Insert the Workflow Chart after you introduce the process.

Politely decline services End No Record the caller’s message, name, and contact information. Forward to intended recipient. Yes Politely ask the caller to try again at a better time. No Does the caller wish to leave a message? Transfer caller to requested recipient. Inform caller and requested recipient of impending transfer. Yes Is the caller’s requested recipient available? No Yes Is the call a sales call? Identify caller and caller inquiry. Answer phone with salutation and company identification. Start

Figure 1. Workflow of Sample Process (This should occur after the figure).

Explanation of the Workflow Process

Explain the process you have diagrammed. For each step or decision point in the process, identify the following: Explain who completes this step (It can be several people.). Describe the technology used at each step. If there is no technology used in the process, please just state there in no technology used in the workflow process. Discuss the policies and rules are that are involved in determining how, when, why, or where the step is executed. Identify what information is needed for the execution of each step.

Metric used for Workflow Evaluation

Describe the metric that is currently used to measure the soundness of the workflow. Discuss whether the current metric is effective.

Areas for Improvement

Describe any areas where improvements could occur and propose changes that could bring about these improvements in the workflow.

Conclusion

Conclude your paper. Summarize why it is important to be aware of the flow of an activity.

References

Bradley, P. (2006). The history of simulation in medical education and possible future directions. Medical Education, 40(3), 254-262.

Good, M. (2003). Patient simulation for training basic and advanced clinical skills. Medical Education, 3714-21.

Gordon, C., & Buckley, T. (2009). The effect of high-fidelity simulation training on medical-surgical graduate nurses’ perceived ability to respond to patient clinical emergencies. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40(11), 491-500.

Please remember that the reference page should only include references cited in the body of your paper. You need to integrate additional resources and course readings in your paper, to earn an excellent rating you need to integrate 2 or more credible additional sources and 3-4 course resources into your application assignments.

There are several important points covered in the “Guidance for Application Assignments” I wanted to highlight:

· The use of direct quotes is discouraged and should only be used when the source material uses language that is particularly striking or notable.

· The introduction should provide an overview of the topic, the purpose of the paper, and topics that will be addressed.

· Credible sources include scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles, evidence based resources, and professional (.org), educational (.edu), and government websites (.gov). Commercial websites (.com) are not considered credible sources.

· When selecting articles for course assignments, you are advised (unless you are referencing seminal information) to focus on work published within the past five years.

Please do not include the grading rubric as it sometimes inflates Turnitin similarity scores.

Running head:

REPLACE THIS WITH YOUR HEADING

1

Title of Your Paper

Your Name

Walden University

Course number and section

Date

Sample Workflow of Answering a Telephone in an Office

Inform caller and requested recipient of impending transfer.

Politely decline offered services.

Transfer caller to requested recipient.

Politely ask the caller to try again at a better time.

End

No

Record the caller’s message, name, and contact information. Forward to intended recipient.

Yes

Yes

No

Does the caller wish to leave a message?

No

Is the caller’s requested recipient available?

Yes

Is the call a sales call?

Identify caller and caller inquiry.

Answer phone with salutation and company identification.

Start

© 2012 Laureate Education Inc.