The final paper for this course is a report on an interview you will conduct (either by phone or face-to-face) with one of the following health care professionals:
a manager in a local health care organization (either for-profit or not-for-profit)
an administrator in an agency within your local public health system
You may interview a health care administrator or manager you already know, or you can search online for a health services organization you think may be suitable. Once you've identified the organization, you should call to introduce yourself and request to speak with an administrator.
Make sure that the administrator or manager you choose is able to speak knowledgeably about the organization and his or her role in facilitating or managing change in the organization.
Different health care organizations that you may wish to contact include:
Hospitals
Managed care organizations
Medical group practices
Ambulatory care facilities
Long-term care facilities
Home health care agencies
Health insurance companies
Pharmaceutical companies
Health care consulting firms
Government agencies
Nonprofit organizations The more familiar you are with important principles and concepts, the more you will get from the interview.
When you do conduct the interview, you'll want to explore the ways in which the organization has changed in recent years. Be sure to discuss the primary forces behind this change and the methods used to determine what to change and how to change it.
If you choose to conduct more than one interview, meet with the same person each time in order to develop an in-depth understanding of the organization.
Note that you are encouraged to modify the questions and/or develop your own, which will enable you to tailor the interview appropriately and honor the time constraints of the person with whom you will speak.
To complete the final paper, write a 3- to 4-page report that summarizes the interview. Your paper should be written in APA format and include the following headings:
Introduction
The Purpose of This Paper
The Interviewee and His or Her Organization
(Include whom you interviewed and his or her role in the organization, as well as why you chose to interview that person.)
Interview Questions and Answers
Question #X: [insert question]
Response to Question #X
Question #X: [insert question]
Response to Question #X
Question #X: [insert question]
Response to Question #X
Question Analysis
Summary of the Responses
How the Answers Relate to the Course Content