Health and Medical Administration Commons^™

Impact Of State-Led Surveillance Programs On Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Patricia Lewis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) has been costly for the healthcare system, for every 24 minutes a baby was diagnosed in 2020. Uniform programs to diagnosis, track and prevent NAS have not been implemented previously. The NCBDDD worked with 6 states to implement a uniform surveillance program. By tracking the NAS incidence rate, the Apgar scores of infants with NAS, the length of stay for those infants, the cost of care for those infants and the percentage of mothers of infants with NAS were participating in Medication Assisted Treatment the effectiveness of the surveillance programs may be assessed.

Methodology: This …

The Epidemic Of Opioid Usage In West Virginia, Kendra Lester, Carrington Hatfield

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The opioid epidemic in West Virginia is a complex interplay of factors, including poverty, low education, and high unemployment rates, which contribute to higher rates of substance use and opioid-related deaths. The number of people injecting drugs has risen from 36% in 2005 to 54% in 2015. WV recorded 871 overdose deaths from all drugs in 2019 with 76.8% involving at least one opioid. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to investigate and analyze the circumstances that contributed to West Virginia's opioid epidemic to determine if sociocultural factors, such as lifestyle, education, and demographics, influenced the epidemic as …

Understanding Hospital Chargemasters : Impact On Healthcare Finance, Alesia Moorman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: This research delves into the critical examination of hospital chargemasters, exploring their intricate role in the complex landscape of healthcare finance. As the healthcare industry grapples with the challenges of balancing medical care and fiscal responsibility, the hospital chargemaster emerges as a dynamic entity, reflecting the interplay between healthcare providers, insurers, and patients. Beyond being a mere ledger of prices, the chargemaster influences the entire Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), impacting financial stability, patient satisfaction, and the effectiveness of healthcare delivery. Originating from the necessity to navigate reimbursement complexities, the chargemaster has become central to hospitals' financial strategies, shaping and …

Impact Of Medicaid Expansion On Substance Abuse Treatment, Kyle Chapman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The Medicaid expansion has insured millions of Americans since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Among this newly insured population, many of the enrollees have been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder. Patients who have a substance use disorder diagnosis typically have multiple conditions that are treated simultaneously. When these patients have to seek healthcare services they are often uninsured. Unfortunately, since the patients are uninsured, the most frequent healthcare access points have been through admissions to more expensive areas of healthcare delivery such as the emergency department and subsequent inpatient services. The goals of the …

The Impact Of Big Data Utilization On Quality Improvement In Inpatient Facilities, Lakyn Hare

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Poor quality in healthcare has resulted in avoidable patient complications, including readmission rates. Big data in healthcare can be analyzed and built into a tools, with machine learning, to aid in reduced readmission rates and overall positive patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study: The intention of this study was to evaluate the ways that big data can be analyzed to improve healthcare, specifically readmissions, patient outcomes, and show cost savings. This study examined different ways that big data could be used in concordance with machine learning, including predictive analysis, to make these improvements.

Methodology: The hypothesis was the …

Effects Of Burnout Amongst Primary Care Providers, Summer Payne

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

INTRODUCTION: Physician burnout within the United States has been deemed an epidemic within the healthcare system with nearly 63% of physicians reporting burnout. The rate of burnout amongst Primary Care Providers (PCPs) is higher than other provider types at 70%. The presence of burnout affects the likelihood of medical errors, provider retention, and patient-provider communication. Fifty-six percent of PCPs that reported burnout also associated this burnout with their reason for leaving the practice. Physicians that are burnt out are less likely to find nonadherence in their patients, more likely to refer to specialists, and more likely to prescribe medications unnecessary. …

Chargemasters In The Age Of Hospital Price Transparency, Anthony Drumm

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The cost of health care services in the United States (U.S.) varies from state to state and facility to facility. The compilation of such costs and their associated codes is referred to as a chargemaster, or charge description master (CDM), and each is unique to an individual facility. . The implementation of the 2019 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Hospital Price Transparency Rule was an initial step toward consumer empowerment by making services more shoppable but published CDM data failed to present the information most pertinent to patients: total out-of-pocket costs and the availability of lower-cost alternatives. Initiatives …

The Effect Of Magnet Hospitals On Nursing Burnout, Jonathan Settle, Michael Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Burnout has been a problem in health care for many years and it has particularly affected nurses. Nurse burnout was associated with worsened outcomes for nurses such as increased turnover or quitting and lower job satisfaction. There was a question as to how work environment and governance style influenced burnout.

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this research was to examine Magnet-designation status in U.S. hospitals, specifically shared governance and structural empowerment, and its effects on the rates of nurse burnout, nurse turnover, and job satisfaction of nurses.

Methodology: This study utilized a literature review. Four databases as …

Costs And Length Of Stay Associated With Treating Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Kimberly Stanfield, Kylie Day

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome has been costly for the healthcare system, for every 19 minutes a baby was diagnosed in 2021. Costs and Length of Stay both had been increased for newborns diagnosed. Medically Assisted Treatment for expecting mothers has shown to decrease costs and length of stay for newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Methodology: This study utilized a literature review and a semi-structured interview. Three databases were used to collect 126 total sources. These sources were reviewed and reduced to 30 total sources that were used in the written research. Of these, 14 sources were used in the results …

Impact Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy On Military Suicide Rates, Madison Lett, Jamia Bird

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Suicide has been labeled a serious public health dilemma in the United States. Military personnel have suicide rates greater than non-military individuals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been used as a means to help military personnel to overcome suicidal thoughts and feelings.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on military patients’ mental health and how it affects the rate of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and deaths by suicide in military patients.

Methodology: This study utilized a literature review and a semi-structured interview with a Veteran Affairs social worker. …

Childhood Obesity And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Role Of Medicaid Expansion, Sonya Dunlap

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Obesity was defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over the 95th percentile as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Childhood obesity has been a worldwide concern, but has disproportionately affected the socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial/ethical minorities, and rural children. The presence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) contributed to social and health problems. ACEs included the areas of domestic violence, mental illness, neighborhood violence, parent or guardian death, divorce or separation, parent or guardian incarceration, and substance misuse.

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this research was to compare the ACEs scores with childhood …

Covid-19 Financial Consequences In United States Hospitals, Hannah T. Osburn, Murat Mert Solakoglu, Gretel Toloza Alvarez

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Since the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, United States (U.S.) hospitals have struggled to stay financially afloat amid the constant battle with unprecedented circumstances and financial consequences from the pandemic. The purpose of this research was to analyze the financial consequences of COVID-19 for U.S. hospitals to determine the impact on the number of inpatient cases, length of stay (LOS), surgeries performed, and operating expenses. The hypothesis was that U.S. hospitals were financially affected by the consequences of COVID-19, having more inpatient cases, increased LOS, fewer surgeries performed, and higher operating expenses.

Methodology: The methodology for this …

Sars-Cov-2 And Its Impact On Emergency Medicine, Abby Fowler

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted hospitals and healthcare workers throughout the world. This research sought to determine how the pandemic affected the mental health of healthcare workers in critical care, primarily because of hospitals’ focus on finances instead of healthcare workers’ mental well-being. This research included extensive literature review as well as a semi-structured interview with an emergency medicine physician in Ashland, KY, who worked before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that as hospitals attempted to focus primarily on recovering financial losses incurred from the pandemic, the mental health of clinicians fell through the …

The Financial Effect Of Covid-19 On Children's Hospitals Without Pediatric Psychiatric Units, Patricia Tran

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Boarding of pediatric psychiatric patients in emergency departments and inpatient medical units while awaiting placement in psychiatric facilities was common before the COVID-19 pandemic and was associated with significant hospital cost. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a mental health crisis in the pediatric population. This study looked at the how the COVID-19 pandemic affected pediatric psychiatric boarding and the effects of pediatric psychiatric boarding on hospital finances.

Methodology: The methodology of this study utilized a literature review with semi-structured interviews of local subject matter experts. The literature review analyzed the effects of the COVID-19 precipitated pediatric mental health …

Social Media By Providers And Patients In Healthcare, Madison K. Howell, Jirakamon Silapabanleng

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have been used in various industries to create direct-to-consumer interactive opportunities. 74% of the US population were social media active users. Around 40% of adults gather their health information from Facebook, a free social networking site, which has been available on various devices and can help many organizations advertise their services as well as communicate with their patients. Social networks had a powerful influence in making health decisions because it could be used as a means to spread either positive or negative health information.

Purpose of study: The …

Do Needle Exchange Programs Cause More Harm To Injection Drug Users And Compromise The Safety Of The Communities In Which They Are In Place?, Amber L. Payne

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Needle Exchange Programs (NEP) are put in place in regions in the US, where illegal injectable drug use is prevalent, in order to decrease the amount of blood borne diseases by at least 10%, such as Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), being spread throughout the drug-using community. People and Healthcare Professionals in these communities have questioned if NEPs have caused more harm to the drug users and if they have compromised public safety due to incorrect disposal of syringes.

During a study in 2011, the spread of blood borne diseases in areas where NEPs were present, decreased among …

Association Of Electronic Prescription In Controlled Substances Used, Archana Suwal, Jemima Akinyi Okonjo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Controlled substances have been described as pharmaceuticals or illegal medicines that act primarily on the central nervous system and could cause physical and mental dependence, eventually leading to addiction. Prescription opioids were a significant contributor to the opioid epidemic, accounting for more than 70,000 opioid-related overdose deaths, including illicit and prescription opioids, between 2018 and 2019. The Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances (EPCS) initiative recently aimed to reduce rates of prescription opioid addiction, abuse, diversion, and death. The system for controlled substances had become more widely used as providers and governments trying to combat the opioid problem. Because …

Effects Of The Needle Exchange Program Implemented In West Virginia, Amber Graves, Anthony B. Uriarte, Katherine Duty

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: West Virginia has had a recent spike in infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis due to increased rates of injectable drug use. The rising costs associated with such diseases have been a cause for concern in the sector of healthcare and public health. In the state, the exchanging of dirty needles has resulted in the spread of bloodborne pathogens, however, the implementation of needle exchange programs has sought to decrease the rates of infection, improve health outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. However, there is a question as to the effectiveness of such programs.

Purpose of Study: …

United States Medicaid And Pharmacy Fraud: An Unintended Consequence Of The Affordable Care Act, Sean Mcdaniel, Drew Blakely

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased access to health insurance throughout the United States. To date, an estimated 20 million previously uninsured individuals have gained access to coverage since the expansion. As a result, the number of fraudulent schemes reported has been on the rise. Among the many fraudulent activities in the healthcare sector, abuse of pharmacy benefits has been the most prevalent. The misuse and abuse of opioids, and opioid related overdoses has created a widespread epidemic throughout the country, thus extending opportunities for potential fraud within the pharmaceutical industry.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose …

Pediatric Opioid Endemic, Olivia Maynard, Molly Watson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: As of 2017, 54 out of every 1,000 children born in West Virginia were affected by opioid use. NAS Centers provided care to infants who have been diagnosed with, or have been vulnerable to develop, NAS. The purpose of this research study reviewed the Pediatric Opioid Endemic happening in West Virginia and determined if NAS programs and prenatal opioid maintenance therapy would increase access to NAS patients and decrease the cost of treatments.

Methodology: The methodology was a literature review. Thirty-nine sources were referenced for this literature from 2010-2020.

Results: This review examined sources of the Pediatric Opioid Endemic …

Opioid Epidemic In West Virginia, Brianna Cole

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: One of West Virginia’s most prominent public health issues and concerns has been the opioid crisis. The opioid epidemic has taken the lives of so many of the West Virginia population. The purpose of this research study was to determine if the opioid epidemic had caused an increase of Hepatitis C among the West Virginia population and access treatment options.

Methodology: The methodology was a literature review. Twenty-five sources were referenced for this literature review from 2007-2020.

Results: This literature review has examined several sources of the Opioid Epidemic in West Virginia. The Opioid Epidemic in West Virginia have …

Medical Tourism: The Impact Of Cost And Wait Time In Relation To Cardiac Surgeries Among Individuals In The United States, Karen Eberechukwu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Medical tourism has been defined as consumer movement whereby individuals travel abroad to get treatment, incur out-of-pocket and third-party payments. As American health care continues to face extraordinary increases in cost and long wait time. Medical tourism has made it possible for cardiac patients to do their surgeries at a more affordable rate with shorter wait times while achieving quality care.

Methodology: The methodology of this study was a literature review used to examine the research. 5 electronic databases and government websites were utilized, with Only 42 sources referenced in the literature review.

Results: The research …

Future Trends Of Nursing Homes, Thomas Wade Martin, Kristopher Clark

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Nursing homes are a major part of the long term care sector and have provided services to elders and the disabled population for years. Regulation change and new demands from the market have forced nursing homes to adapt. The purpose of this literature review was to analyze current regulation in place in the nursing home sector and determine how nursing homes will adapt and continue to provide quality care to patients in the future.

Methodology: The methodology of this research was a literature review. Overall, there were 4 databases used to gather research and 35 sources were used …

Financial Consequences Of Covid-19 For U.S. Hospitals, Laura Petty, Trevor Mullins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic has caused many financial issues for many businesses including putting a substantial strain on hospitals in the U.S. The impact of COVID-19 on the financial well-being of hospitals has been evaluated and the severity is still being measured as the pandemic is ongoing. The purpose of this research was to assess the financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for hospitals in the United States.

Methodology: A literature review with a semi-structured interview with an expert from a local hospital was used for the methodology of this qualitative study. Five government websites and five databases …

Impact In Hospitalization Of Mental Health Patients With Dual Diagnosis As It Pertains To Medicaid And Treatment With Mat Services, Amanda Akmentins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction

About 17.5 million Americans over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with a mental illness, and about 4 million of those individuals have also been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Medicaid requirements made to those receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) services provide access to quality care to reduce re-hospitalization by focusing on behavioral changes and accountability. The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of hospitalization rates to determine unmet needs and barriers to receiving treatment for those that have a dual diagnosis.

Methodology

The methodology was a literature review. Thirty-two sources were referenced for …

The Scope Of Telepsychiatry On Health Care Services In The United States, Abdulmajeed Alropaish, Itzamna Kukulkan Castaneda Medina

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background and purpose: A fifth of the U.S. population suffers from some mental illness, and their need for attention is increasing, new technologies have permitted telepsychiatry to allow remote attention to this population. This study explores the impact of telepsychiatry on the cost and access of community patients to mental health services.

Methods: A review of the literature in different electronic databases such MEDLINE, PubMed and ScienceDirect was carried out to investigate the scope of telepsychiatry in the community care of patients with mental illness, identifying 479 related articles, of which 35 were included in this study. The …

Impact On Hospital Profitability Due To Covid Safety Guidelines, Khaja Umair Shariff, Anna Noel Franklin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The pandemic of COVID 19 presented a unique challenge to hospitals and healthcare systems that they have been struggling to function in. Operating costs had increased with new protocols, planning, operating space, supplies, and staffing. This coupled with the loss of revenue has led to approximately 10% - 20% salary reductions, furloughs, and loss of benefits such as PTO and vacation days to employees. Hospital’s cash reserves are being depleted due to increased operations costs and reduced revenue. Government funding, such as the CARES Act provided by the sanction of the Department of Health and Human Services Office, …

Utilization Of Telepsychiatry To Combat The Opioid Crisis In The United States, Haley Tallarico

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: In the past five years, the United States (U.S.) has experienced an unprecedented epidemic of opioid misuse, abuse and overdose related death, leading to a national public health crisis. Telepsychiatry along with medication-assisted treatment has been proposed as a viable solution. The purpose of this research was to examine the field of telepsychiatry as a practical means to combat the rapidly increasing opioid epidemic facing America and to determine the effect of telepsychiatry utilization on access to treatment received in an outpatient medical setting.

Methodology: The methodology for this study was a literature review including the use of …

340b Program Utilization In Rural Us Clinics, William Finley, Heather M. Kruel

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The 340B program was an effective strategy in reaching more potential patients, providing more comprehensive services, and limiting the gap between affordability and healthcare. The uninsured and underprivileged often are unable to receive medications at the high market price due to the financial situation they face and inflation. The 340B program seeked to mend this issue to help the public and healthcare organizations. The main purpose of this research was to search and evaluate if the 340B program lived up to its purpose of decreasing the cost of medications in rural based clinics.

Methodology: The research strategy developed …

Charge Master And The Effects On Hospitals, Whitney Layton, Katie Lemmon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The hospital charge master, has been the heart of the healthcare revenue cycle, as it has served as the hospitals’ starting point for billing patients and payers. The CDM was made as an extensive breakdown of the cost of the care provided and in order for a hospital to correctly bill a patient for care received as every chargeable item in the hospital must be included in the master.

Methodology: The methodology for this study utilized a literature review. It consisted of academic sources, five electronic databases, academic journals, and government websites. Thirty- six sources were referenced for this …