TOPICS FOR MODULE 3

Choose one of the following health care related areas and answer the questions. Post your responses on the conference for the week and be sure to respond to others who have posted. Try to ensure that by the end of the week all of the areas have been discussed, so choose a topic early! Check the webboard before choosing your topic and then post the one you have taken so others can choose a different area.

• the emergency room of an acute care general hospital
• the medical records department of an ambulatory care center
• the enrollment management section of an HMO
• the patient billing function in a long-term care institution
• the nurse scheduling function of a home health agency
• an outpatient rehabilitation utilizing occupational and physical therapy
• the patient registration process of a medical group practice

1. Use cybernetic theory to describe the operation and management control of the area you have chosen in systems terms.
2. Develop a list of information elements that would be needed for your system to operate effectively.

Once you have gathered your thoughts, please post your response on the bulletin board prior to 5pm on Friday, January 31st. Also, you are responsible for responding to the postings of other students. All students must participate in the student webboard discussion for the week before the deadline to receive credit for participation. This will make it necessary for you to visit the bulletin board several times during the course of the week. Your participation grade will depend on the quality of your initial responses as well as your interaction and responses to the postings made by other students.