Professional Context
Health care systems around the world provide useful models for analysis. Familiarity with
different models and approaches to health care enables leaders to identify what works
and what does not, as the basis for proposing a change. As we continue to evaluate the
complex and fragmented system in the United States, it is important for nurse leaders to
become familiar with the programs and systems that provide evidence-based quality care
that is affordable and focused on continual improvement.

This assignment provides an opportunity for you to examine a local or regional health care
issue from a global perspective. By successfully completing this assignment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assignment
criteria:
Competency 1: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing health care.
Identify an aspect of a local or regional health care system or program that should be a
focus for change.
Competency 2: Compare the effects of different health care finance models and policy
frameworks on resources and patient outcomes.
Define desirable outcomes, including who will pay for care and factors limiting
achievement of those outcomes.
Analyze two non-U.S. health care systems or programs that offer insight into a proposed
change for a health care system or program in the United States.
Competency 3: Evaluate the positive and negative influences of leaders on health care
processes and outcomes.
Determine the financial and health implications of making—and not making—proposed
changes to a health care system or program.
Competency 4: Develop proactive strategies to change the culture of the organization by
incorporating evidence-based practices.
Explain why specific changes will lead to improved outcomes.
Competency 5: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible
evidence.
Scenario
Your organization, in collaboration with key stakeholders from the community, is funding
an initiative to investigate potential improvements in the local or regional health care
system. As a nurse leader attuned to the effects of health care policy and finance on the
provision of affordable, high-quality care, you have been asked to join the task force
conducting the study.
You know that an examination of other countries’ health care systems can provide a solid,
evidence-based foundation for evaluating outcomes and identifying benchmarks.
Consequently, you have decided to undertake a comparative analysis of selected, nonU.S. health care systems and compare them to each other and to the current local or
regional U.S. system to help inform decision making as the task force considers proposed
changes.
Instructions
Complete this assignment in three steps:
Propose a change to one aspect of your local or regional health care system or program
that would improve outcomes.

Conduct a comparative analysis of different health care systems, focusing on that one
aspect of the system you are proposing to change.
Summarize your proposed change and the results of your comparative analysis in a report
to executive leaders.
The summary report requirements outlined below, correspond to the grading criteria in the
scoring guide for Proposing Evidence-Based Change, so be sure to address each point.
Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be
assessed. The Guiding Questions: Proposing Evidence-Based Change document linked
in the Resources provides additional considerations that may be helpful in completing your
assignment. In addition, be sure to note the requirements below for document format
and length and for citing supporting evidence.
Identify an aspect of a local or regional health care system or program that should be a
focus for change.
Define desirable outcomes, including who will pay for care and factors limiting
achievement of those outcomes.
Analyze two non-U.S. health care systems or programs that offer insight into a proposed
change for a health care system or program in the United States.
Choose one of the following options for selecting the two systems or programs:
Option 1: Select two systems at opposite ends of the scale in terms of desirable outcomes
for the issue reflected in your proposed change.
Option 2: Select two systems that both produce positive outcomes but take unique or
innovative approaches to the problem.

Compare the outcomes in each non-U.S. system with each other and with present
outcomes in your local or regional health care system.
Explain why specific changes will lead to improved outcomes.
Determine the financial and health implications associated with the proposed changes.
Address the implications of making the changes.
Address the implications of not making the changes.
Write clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible
evidence.
Document Format and Length
Use the Summary Report Template, linked in the Resources. An APA Style Paper Tutorial
is also linked in the Resources to help you in writing and formatting your report. If you
would like to use a different template or document format for your report, obtain prior
approval from your instructor.
Your summary report should be 4–5 pages in length, not including the title page and
references page.
Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to all source citations and references.
Supporting Evidence
Cite 3–5 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry
publications to support your comparative analysis.

Be sure to delete all directions from the template before submitting your summary report.
In addition, proofread your report to minimize errors that could distract readers and make
it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your analysis.