describe and analyze a problem related to our healthcare system, based on the recent, peer-reviewed literature
For this assignment, you will write a 5-6 page policy brief in which you describe and analyze a problem related to our healthcare system, based on the recent, peer-reviewed literature. This might be some aspect of cost that piques your interest, e.g., such forms of “waste” as uncoordinated care, fraud, overtreatment, etc. Alternately, you could look at barriers to access, disparities in quality of care, overutilization, workforce issues and/or imbalances, medication errors, nosocomial infections, an analysis of the impact of some aspect of reform, medical education, or anything else you can identify that is relevant and timely. You should begin with a general statement of the problem, defining its scope and its “costs” for society, particular populations, for the medical system, etc. (Essentially you will make a case, as if to a legislator, for why we should be concerned and do something about this problem.) Draw on official statistics and recent research, and illustrate it with a few visuals (charts, tables), so that your information is clear and easy to comprehend. [unique_solution]
Next, you should discuss attempts at addressing the problem (i.e., interventions that have been attempted and evaluated), and give a sense of how effective they have been. Depending on how promising these strategies appear to be, you can discuss drawbacks, concerns, and/or barriers to broader implementation. Finally, you will end with some sort of “Recommendations/Next Steps” section: given what you’ve laid out in the rest of the brief (i.e., the problem, why we should care, most promising ways to address it based on the literature), what should be done? In other words, what policies, programs, funding, education, further research, etc. would you recommend?
Your completed policy brief will be due by or before 9:30am on Thursday, February 20th, both through Turnitin (on Canvas), and as a hard (printed) copy turned in at the beginning of class. You should draw your information from recent (2016 and later) peer-reviewed journal articles, though a few of these may be government sites, e.g., CDC, NIH, WHO, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, etc), and other reputable, non-partisan sites, e.g., Commonwealth Fund, Kaiser Family Foundation, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine & National Academy of Medicine, etc). Provide a list of sources used (a minimum of ten of the recent, peer-reviewed articles, but be as exhaustive as you can – generally, the more good sources you have, the better the policy brief). You can use APA, AMA/AJPH, or MLA style for citations.
| Possible points | Points earned | |
| Sources: Minimum 10 recent, peer-reviewed sources (2016-2020); other sources can be used, e.g., articles from older journals and non-peer-reviewed magazines, government and reputable, non-partisan organizational websites Sources should be well-cited throughout brief | 70
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| CONTENT: Statement of the problem: Problem is clearly laid out; good statistical data; good visual representation of data; (optional: factors contributing to the problem)
Solutions/Strategies to address the problem: What programmatic, organizational, educational, or policy strategies have been attempted or proposed to address the problem? What have been the effects of these interventions? Have they been successful?
Next steps/Policy recommendations: Based on what we know from the research, what are the recommendations? Is more research needed? Policy change? Culture change? Upscaling successful program interventions? All of the above? | 75
85
40
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| Organization: Information is clear, understandable, well-conveyed | 30 | |
| Total | 300 |
Please attach this form to the front of the (physical) paper you hand in.
| More Detailed Grading Rubric (no need to attach this; only for reference) |
| Sources: A range: Low A for covering the minimum (10); highest scores for numerous strong sources (i.e., going beyond the minimum), sources are cited correctly throughout the paper, including images B range: for less sources, e.g., 6-9 recent (2016-2020), peer-reviewed, or govt sources, etc.; a couple citing errors C range: 2-5 recent, peer-reviewed or govt website sources; multiple citing errors D range: One recent, peer-reviewed or govt website source and at least 5 other sources; multiple citing errors |
| Content: Part one (STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM) A range: The problem is clear, well-articulated, with statistical data to support statement and some understandable visual data (this visual data can be in this section or in pt. 2, but there should be at least a couple of tables or charts throughout the brief). B range: Makes a good attempt at articulating the problem but won’t lay it out as clearly or comprehensively, very little statistical data C range: Average job of laying out the problem, no statistical data D range: The problem is unclear
Part two (SOLUTIONS/STRATEGIES): A range: Covers (discusses & evaluates) at least 3 strategies (or more) OR 2 strategies, but does so in a very in-depth fashion (highest scores for the most comprehensive) B range: Discusses 1 strategy or 2 but not well-evaluated C range: Basic and passable, i.e. do discuss strategies but do so in a limited fashion and do not evaluate their effectiveness. D range: Strategies discussed do not address the problem presented
Part three (NEXT STEPS/POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS): A range: Policy/program recommendations are well-summarized and justified B range: A good attempt but not comprehensive, not well-justified C range: Basic summary but only minimal consideration of next steps/recommendations |
| Organization Whether the brief is in one column or two doesn’t matter. A range: Well-organized, and easy to follow/understand, very minimal to no grammatical errors B range: Good, with a few mistakes, one or two items difficult to understand C range: Somewhat disorganized, several areas difficult to understand D range: Very disorganized, mistakes make it difficult to follow |