D158 Force Field Analysis Template

Grace J.
January 3, 2026January 3, 2026
D158, MSN, Western Governors University

Student Name

Western Governors University

D158 Strategically Planning the Execution of a Healthcare Improvement Project

Prof. Name

Date

Leadership and Management E-Portfolio Template

Phase 1 Task Overview

Task	Estimated Time to Complete	Date Completed
CPE Table	1 hour	2/11/2025
Project Report Template	4 hours	2/12/2025
GoReact Videos	2 hours	2/14/2025
GoReact Video Summary	1 hour	2/14/2025

Project Report Plan

Project Aim

The purpose of this project is to design and implement a structured telehealth follow-up process in which nurse case managers contact psychiatric patients within seven days of discharge from an acute inpatient setting. The initiative seeks to reduce avoidable psychiatric rehospitalizations while strengthening patient engagement and adherence to outpatient psychiatric care. By ensuring timely post-discharge contact, the project supports continuity of care and early identification of patient needs.

Project Leadership

Amanda Howell serves as the Project Manager for this initiative. In this role, she is responsible for coordinating project activities, monitoring progress, ensuring adherence to timelines, and overseeing data collection and analysis to evaluate project outcomes.

Essential Data for Analysis

To accurately assess the effectiveness of the telehealth intervention, several key data elements will be analyzed. These include demographic characteristics of psychiatric patients discharged from the behavioral health unit, rates of rehospitalization within 30 days of discharge, and compliance rates for outpatient follow-up appointments completed within seven days of discharge. Collectively, these data points provide insight into patient outcomes and system performance.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

Patient information will be accessed exclusively through a secure organizational database. Data access will be controlled by the project manager to ensure that only authorized project team members can view sensitive information. All data sharing will occur via encrypted Excel files restricted to the project team, maintaining compliance with privacy regulations and organizational data governance standards.

Presentation of Results

Project findings will be communicated through a combination of tables and graphical displays. These visuals will compare baseline and post-implementation data related to 30-day rehospitalization rates and seven-day follow-up appointment compliance. Presenting results in this format will facilitate clear interpretation of trends and highlight the impact of the telehealth follow-up process.

Project Team Roles and Responsibilities

The project manager will lead ongoing oversight of the initiative by conducting weekly reviews of data reports. These reviews will focus on monitoring rehospitalization trends and follow-up compliance rates to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention and identify areas for improvement.

Targeted Performance Metrics

Metric	Target Outcome
Staff Training	100% completion prior to project launch
Audit Frequency	Weekly audits conducted by the project manager
Psychiatric Rehospitalization Rates	Measurable reduction in rehospitalizations
Follow-Up Appointment Compliance Rates	Increased attendance at outpatient appointments

GoReact Video Summary – Phase 1

This phase emphasizes the development of a telehealth follow-up process for psychiatric patients after discharge. Amanda Howell oversees the project as manager. Key data elements include patient demographics, 30-day rehospitalization rates, and seven-day follow-up compliance. Data security is maintained through restricted access and encrypted file sharing. Progress is tracked through weekly data reviews and visual reporting tools, with success measured by full staff training, consistent audits, reduced rehospitalizations, and improved outpatient engagement.

Phase 2 Task Overview

Task	Estimated Time to Complete	Date Completed
CPE Table	1 hour	2/11/2025
Data Management Plan Template	4 hours	2/13/2025
GoReact Videos	2 hours	2/14/2025
GoReact Video Summary	1 hour	2/14/2025

Data Management Plan

Primary Data Elements

The project will focus on three primary data elements: the number of project team members educated on the telehealth follow-up process, psychiatric patient rehospitalization rates within 30 days of discharge, and compliance rates for outpatient follow-up appointments completed within seven days.

Data Sources

The electronic medical record (EMR) system will serve as the primary data source for evaluating project success. Relevant data will be extracted from the EMR and transferred into a secure Excel spreadsheet that is accessible only to authorized project team members to preserve confidentiality and data integrity.

Key Performance Indicators

KPI	Description
Staff Training Completion	100% of staff educated on the telehealth process before project launch
Weekly Audits	Ongoing weekly monitoring of rehospitalization and follow-up compliance

SMART Benchmarks

The project aligns with SMART goal principles by targeting a 5% increase in seven-day outpatient follow-up compliance and a 2% reduction in 30-day psychiatric rehospitalization rates. These benchmarks are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Quantitative Data Collection

Quantitative data will be collected by the project manager through systematic extraction from the EMR. Data will focus on psychiatric patients discharged from inpatient care and will track rehospitalization within 30 days and attendance at outpatient follow-up appointments within seven days.

Data Security Measures

To protect organizational data, strict access controls will be enforced. The project manager will oversee data sharing, which will occur only through encrypted Excel files, ensuring adherence to organizational privacy policies and regulatory requirements.

Data Collection Parameters

Quantitative data collection will include admission and discharge dates, patient age, psychiatric diagnosis, scheduled outpatient follow-up appointments, and insurance or payer source. These variables support comprehensive evaluation of patient outcomes and care transitions.

Analysis of High-Priority Data

Data analysis will prioritize accuracy, completeness, and consistency. The project manager will ensure data cleanliness before analysis and will focus on predefined project objectives to determine the effectiveness of the telehealth intervention.

Interpretation of Results

Results will be interpreted within the context of patient care processes and system limitations. Potential biases and data gaps will be acknowledged, and objective analytical methods will be applied to support valid and reliable conclusions.

Potential Challenges and Limitations

Challenges that may influence results include delays in insurance claims reporting and incomplete follow-up data when patients receive care outside the organization’s network. Because access is limited to internal data sources, some follow-up encounters may not be fully captured.

GoReact Video Summary – Phase 2

Phase 2 centers on structured data management and evaluation. Key data elements include staff education, psychiatric rehospitalization rates, and follow-up compliance. Data is sourced from the EMR and secured in encrypted files. KPIs emphasize staff training completion and weekly audits, while SMART goals target improved follow-up compliance and reduced rehospitalization. Data analysis prioritizes accuracy and contextual interpretation, acknowledging challenges related to external care and reporting delays.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2023). Best practices in telehealth follow-up care. https://www.ahrq.gov/telehealth

Smith, J., & Jones, L. (2022). Reducing psychiatric rehospitalizations: Evidence-based interventions. Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, 36(4), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2021.12.005