Background
A group of eight health centers in Northeastern Vermont (the Northeast Kingdom) has decided that merging administrative and other functions into a formal network would permit the continuation of personal health and public health services that are very important to the health status of the communities they serve. Beyond survival, a merger might present opportunities for other benefits. A merger will require building a coalition of key stakeholders across the eight communities that support and promote the merger. One step in building the coalition involves understanding the interests of key stakeholders. A planning group interviewed 8 people, a key stakeholder from each community to talk about their interests and hopes for the health center in their community.
The essay must include three elements:
1. Use QTA Miner Lite to analyze interviews with key community members for the purpose of identifying areas of interest and concern with a public health program. The key steps are (1) organize the data, (2) Identify framework, (3) Sort data into framework and (4) Use the framework for descriiptive analysis. The interviews have already been placed into QTA Miner Lite as observations. Select key areas of interest and concern as the framework. Code the observation text into appropriate theme areas. Based upon the literature, we can imagine that at least seven areas of interest and concern:
• Organization of services
• Health status in community
• Quality of staff
• Access to services
• Quality of care
• Range of available services
• Prices of services
2. Present your analysis in an Appendix to the memo that identifies the key areas of interest and concern. Only a brief descriiption of methods is required. [34 points]
3. Based upon the interests and concerns, indicate the types of organizations or individuals needed to achieve the goal of merging health centers and advancing key areas of interest. Focus on a small number of important organizations or individuals, given that there are already 8 communities involved. [33 points]
4. Suggest ways in which you might bring the organizations or individuals together. [33 points]
Please present your essay in the form a Memo. There are six usual sections of a memo:
1. Heading. A memo must have a heading that specifies the sender, the addressee, the date and the subject.
2. Context and Background Section. Context – this essay is in response to a class assignment. Background – the brief descriiption provided above.
3. Tasks and Resolutions. The two tasks are presenting the interests a motion for merger.
4. Supporting Research and Ideas. Note the finding of the analysis and present rationale for why the organizations or individuals are invited and how they will get together to support the merger.
5. Conclusion and Further Discussion. Provide any further comments.
6. Documents and Other Attachments. The Appendix and any references you found helpful.
