Student Name: Weight: 10%

Student ID: Marks: /15

Assignment 1: Case-Based Problem

Introduction
Health-care quality and performance is vital to patient experience. There may be differences
between what patients know about high-quality health care and what they expect when they are
sick and require care. Assessing the quality of health care in Canada is difficult because each
province and territory is responsible for health delivery. Socio-economic status can also create
inequities in a patient’s ability to access high-quality health services across the country.

Systemic health inequities can be addressed by focusing on health quality and performance
using evidence-based actions at a health systems level. In this individual assignment, you have
the opportunity to create a case-based problem with the view to improve an aspect of health-
care quality, then apply the six dimensions of the Institute of Medicine’s framework (safety,
effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity) to this problem. Your
goal is to form a solution strategy for quality health and performance.

Required reading for this assignment:

Dhalla, I. A., & Tepper, J. (2018). Improving the quality of health care in Canada. CMAJ,
190(39), E1162-E1167. (https://www.cmaj.ca/content/cmaj/190/39/E1162.full.pdf)

Instructions
1. This is an individual assignment.
2. Choose one of the following topics to research:
a. Expand public funding for treatments proven to be cost-effective
b. Invest in primary care
c. Use information systems that make it easier for clinicians to work with patients
d. Standardize and embed quality-improvement tools into practice
e. Ensure health education supports high-quality care
Note: To avoid duplication, let your instructor know which topic you have chosen.
3. Create a case-based problem describing the six dimensions of the Institute of Medicine’s
framework in application to your case-based problem. In a 1500-word paper, explain
how the six dimensions of the Institute of Medicine’s framework can address quality
assurance given the specific ecological and situational context of your problem.

© 2021, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology 1

 What measures can be put into place to ensure your case-based problem is safe, timely,
effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centred? Your goal is to form a solution strategy
for quality health and performance.
3. Assignment is to be double-spaced and follow APA referencing.
4. Submit your work to D2L.

Marking Criteria
Categories Needs Improvement (1) Adequate (3) Excellent (5) Marks

• Information is lacking in • Substantial • Rich in content;

parts; attempts made at
Critical analysis, synthesis and
Analysis evaluation; limited
connections drawn
information; clear insightful analysis,
evidence of analysis, synthesis and /5
synthesis and evaluation; insightful
evaluation; clear connections drawn
connections drawn

• Essay problem lacks • Clear problem • Clearly outlines

clarity; argumentation statement included in problem in
and evidence provided the essay; portions of introduction; all
but not entirely argument and headers present;
Organization effective; superficial evidence support effectively organized /5
conclusion missing both problem; sufficient argument and
future impact or conclusion missing evidence; effective
limitations either future impact conclusion speaking
or limitations to future impact and
limitations

· References and · Most references and · All references and

citations are not citations are citations are provided
provided in APA format provided in correct in correct APA format
· Less than two APA format · Use of five relevant
references used · Use of three relevant references published
Spelling & · Obvious grammatical references published within the last ten
within the last ten years /5
References or stylistic errors that
make the essay difficult years · An occasional
to understand · Few grammatical or grammatical or
stylistic errors that stylistic error have no
have limited impact impact on the
on the content’s content’s clarity
clarity

Total /15

Comments:

© 2021, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology 2