Writing Workshop: Option 3
Discussion Instructions
Brainstorming the Business Case
As a nurse, you may be accustomed to wearing many hats, including healthcare provider, educator, counselor, and confidant. The hat that may be a less familiar fit is that of “salesperson”: Writing Workshop: Option 3.
A nurse’s drive to advocate for their patients often leads to the development of creative solutions to improve care. Bringing these solutions from idea to reality often requires the development of a business case, which will sell leadership on the idea. As any salesperson will advise, a key to an effective sales pitch is to clarify the benefits to the buyer.
An effective business case must clarify the benefits of the proposal, highlighting what is to be gained by the organization if the proposal is pursued. This often includes financial, competitive, and strategic benefits, among others.
For this Discussion, you share ideas for a healthcare product or service that addresses gaps or provides opportunities within your healthcare organization.
To Prepare
- Review this module’s Resources focused on business plans and systems thinking in healthcare organizations.
- Identify one or more individuals within your organization to act as “finance counselor” with whom you can consult on financial and budget items, such as costing, estimating, and budget request processes.
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 3 of Week 1
Post a statement describing at least one gap and/or opportunity for enhanced services or approaches within your healthcare organization. For each gap or opportunity, identify one possible solution, applying systems thinking to your approach. Be sure to address financial (including budgetary) impacts of your solutions, consulting as needed with your finance counselor.
Writing Sample
Brainstorming the Business Case
A major gap in my health organization is the lack of a formal post-discharge follow-up system for chronically ill patients at high risk, like heart failure and diabetes patients. Most of these patients end up being readmitted within 30 days due to a lack of proper post-discharge care coordination. This issue is detrimental to patient outcomes and contributes to hospital readmissions, which trigger financial penalties under value-based care reimbursement models, as stated by López-Luis et al. (2024). Bridging this gap is an opportunity to improve the quality of care, decrease unnecessary hospital readmissions, and improve patient satisfaction overall.
Notably, one solution is the adoption of a telehealth-based post-discharge follow-up program. This includes virtual visits with a nurse or care coordinator within 48 hours of discharge and weekly follow-ups for high-risk patients. As per Haimowitz et al. (2023), the intervention program would employ RPM technology, including wearable monitors for vital sign tracking and an education module on patient self-management to enable competency in self-care. Through the use of a systems-thinking design methodology, the intervention enables seamless interdisciplinary collaboration among the departments, that is, nursing, case management, and finance, to promote continuity of patient care and ideal resource utilization.
Financially, the program would need to have an upfront investment in telehealth equipment, staff training, and remote monitoring devices. To be cost-effective, I spoke with a finance counselor within my organization about budgeting and possible reimbursement models. Leao et al. (2023) suggest that through value-based care incentives, readmission penalty avoidance, and better patient outcomes, the long-term financial gain of the program would exceed the initial expense. Furthermore, the use of Microsoft Excel in financial analysis would enable cost estimation, budgeting, and return-on-investment calculation.
In conclusion, the creation of a telehealth post-discharge follow-up program is a viable solution for closing gaps in care coordination, enhancing patient outcomes, and decreasing preventable hospital readmissions. By employing systems thinking and budget planning, the program supports the organization’s quality improvement and savings goals, rendering the initiative a worthwhile and sustainable investment.
References
Haimowitz, R., Halley, T., Driskill, C., Kendall, M., & Parikh, K. (2023). Implementing a post-discharge telemedicine service pilot to enhance the hospital to home transition. Hospital Pediatrics, 13(6), 508–519. https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2022-006989
Leao, D. L. L., Cremers, H.-P., van Veghel, D., Pavlova, M., & Groot, W. (2023). The impact of value-based payment models for networks of care and transmural care: A systematic literature review. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 21(3), 441–466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40258-023-00790-z
López-Luis, N., Rodríguez-Álvarez, C., Arias, A., & Aguirre-Jaime, A. (2024). Discharge follow-up of patients in primary care does not meet their care needs: Results of a longitudinal multicentre study. Nursing Reports, 14(3), 2430–2442. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14030180
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Question
Week 2: Assignment 1
Writing is more than just one step. It is a process that involves drafting and revising.
Writers often benefit from having a strong support network where they can share their work. For this Assignment, you’ll do just that! By sharing a piece of writing from your other class, you’ll gain even more perspective on your work. You can also use this feedback as you continue to strengthen your writing skills beyond this course.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

Writing Workshop: Option 3
To prepare for this Assignment:
Choose ONE of the following options:
- Option 1: Select an upcoming assignment or discussion from the program course you’re currently taking (such as Foundations). Write a first draft of at least 1 page of the assignment or discussion.
- Option 2: Select a previously submitted assignment or discussion from the program course you’re currently taking (such as Foundations). Choose a 1-page sample from the assignment or discussion to submit for feedback.
- Option 3: Select an assignment or discussion you submitted in a previous course. Choose a 1-page sample from the assignment or discussion to submit for feedback.
BY DAY 2
- Submit 1 double-spaced page (around 250 words) of your writing sample.
- Be sure to paste the assignment instructions into your draft so that your instructor understands the purpose of the assignment.
- Your instructor will provide feedback by Day 6.
- The feedback will focus on the writing aspects only.
Note: If you chose to submit an upcoming assignment or discussion from the program course you are currently taking, remember to review your writing instructor’s feedback after grading so you can improve the draft for final submission in your other course.
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Before submitting your final assignment, you can check your draft for authenticity. To check your draft, access the Turnitin Drafts from the Start Here area.
Article
- Gredler, J. (2018). Postsecondary online students’ preferences for text-based instructor feedbackLinks to an external site.. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 30(2), 195-206
Websites
- Oyler, B. (2014, April 21). Breaking down the MEAL plan: Beginning with the main ideaLinks to an external site.. Walden University Writing Center. http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2014/04/developing-paragraphs-with-meal-plan.html
- Wentworth, H. (2020, February 24). Critical reading for evaluationLinks to an external site.. The Savvy Student. https://waldenacademicskills.wordpress.com/2020/02/24/critical-reading-for-evaluation/
- Walden University, LLC. (n.d.-b). Reading research articles: 4 approaches Download Reading research articles: 4 approaches[Infographic]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Documents:
- Document: Feedback Journal Download Feedback Journal(Word document)
