MHA-FPX5014 Assessment 3 Instructions: Cost-Benefit Analysis
Instructions: Create a 5-6 page cost-benefit analysis that supports a risk financing recommendation for a selected organization.
Introduction
Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other, so you are required to complete them in sequence.
In your current and future role as a healthcare leader, you can expect to conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to determine whether the positive benefits of a proposed recommendation outweigh the negative costs.
Plowman relates that “a cost-benefit analysis is used to evaluate the total anticipated cost of a project compared to the total expected benefits in order to determine whether the proposed implementation is worthwhile for a company or project team” (2014, para. 1). Plowman also identified the three parts of a CBA to be the following:
- Identification of potential costs.
- Recording of all anticipated benefits.
- Examination of the differences to determine if positive benefits outweigh negative costs.
A pre-formatted Excel spreadsheet that can be used as a template for CBAs is a good tool to have in your personal toolbox. Inputting data is simply the first step. As you fill out templates, always consider the numbers within the context of an organizational mission, strategic direction, patient safety, risk management issues, regulatory requirements, patient and stakeholder satisfaction, and also the dynamics within the healthcare industry.
As you prepare to complete this assessment, you may want to think about other related issues to deepen your understanding or broaden your viewpoint. You are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community. Note that these questions are for your own development and exploration and do not need to be completed or submitted as a part of your assessment.
- What steps do you need to take in order to align a CBA with an organization’s mission and strategy?
- If you were to offer three alternative recommendations after a CBA, what types of elements would you consider to differentiate them from one another?
- How would you substantiate a recommendation for reducing financial risks in a healthcare setting when the quality of care is involved?
- What are the three parts of a CBA?
Reference
Plowman, N. (2014). Cost-benefit analysis: A template. https://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/58181-writing-a-cost-benefit-analysis/
Overview
Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other, so you are required to complete them in sequence.
The following resources are required to complete this assessment.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis Template [XLSX].Download Cost-Benefit Analysis Template [XLSX].
- Cost-Benefit Analysis and Example listed on the Assessment 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis reading list.
Preparation
For this assessment, continue to use the organization you selected in Assessment 1 on which to base your work.
Instructions:
Suppose an issue has emerged in your organization that presents significant risks to the stakeholders involved. Your supervisor has asked you to conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA), make a recommendation, and present it to the board of directors. You are expected to consider the numbers within the context of the organizational mission, strategic direction, patient safety, risk management issues, regulatory requirements, patient and stakeholder satisfaction, and the dynamics within the healthcare industry.
Select a relevant issue within your workplace, or one from the resources provided for this assessment, for which a CBA may be conducted. The CBA should include one of the following course-related topics:
- Quality.
- Patient safety.
- Risk management.
- Regulatory standards.
- Compliance.
- Patient and stakeholder satisfaction.
Step One: Identify Costs
Read the Cost-Benefit Analysis and Example and apply the process to identify costs:
- Make a list of all monetary costs that will be incurred upon implementation and throughout the life of the project. These include start-up fees, licenses, production materials, payroll expenses, user acceptance processes, training, and travel expenses, among others. Include the assumptions for your totals. An example would be $2,000 for licenses includes $100 for 20 providers.
- Make a list of all non-monetary costs that are likely to be absorbed. These include time, low production of other tasks, imperfect processes, potential risks, market saturation or penetration uncertainties, and influences on one’s reputation. An example would be the organization has a 60-day waiting list for new appointments. A new provider salary is $XXX,XXX and our reimbursement rate for this type of appointment is $XXX. The new provider will see XX patients per day.
- Assign monetary values to the costs identified in steps one and two. To ensure equality across time, monetary values are stated in present value terms. If realistic cost values cannot



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