Course Project Part 1—Gap Analysis Plan and Visio Draft The process of comparing the current state of a system or workflow and to the desired, future state of the workflow, and then formulating preliminary ideas about how to move from the current to the future is known as a gap analysis. There are several different ways to collect information about an identified problem and potential solution, including observations, interviews, oral surveys, questionnaires, and existing data, tests. This week you will begin crafting a Gap Analysis Plan to acquire information about a specific workflow issue in your organization or in one with which you are familiar. Note: Your workflow issue MUST be related to the implementation or optimization of electronic health records (EHRs) in the organization in order to connect to meaningful use and the HITECH Act. If the organization currently uses an EHR system, your workflow issue should be related to an inefficiency or problem with how the EHR system is used. If the organization does not yet have an EHR system, your workflow issue should be related to an inefficiency or problem that could be solved by implementing an EHR system. To prepare for Part 1 of the Course Project: Identify the workflow issue you would like to explore throughout your Course Project. This should be a specific task about which you have sufficient content knowledge and access to describe and analyze in detail. Your workflow issue MUST be related to EHRs and be significantly tied to one or more meaningful use objectives. The workflow issue may be related to either the optimization of an existing EHR system or the implementation of an entirely new EHR system. Establish your goals for conducting your gap analysis. These goals describe why you are conducting the gap analysis, the workflow issue you are pinpointing, and what you hope to accomplish in examining this issue. Determine how you will collect data about the current workflow you are exploring for the Course Project. For example, you may choose to observe people as they move through the workflow, ask people about their experiences, confer with managers and leaders about their involvement, refer to your organization’s training manual or other informative documents, etc. Be sure to use more than one data-collection method and observe or consult with more than one person to ensure that the information you gather is balanced. Note: If you are not currently working in a health care organization, you must locate an organization in your area and obtain informal permission to speak with and observe individuals. Consult your Instructor if you have questions on how to proceed. Participate in the Week 4 Discussion and review the comments made by your colleagues and the Instructor on your preliminary workflow issue. Revise your workflow issue and data-collection methods as appropriate. After you have revised your workflow issue, begin composing your Gap Analysis Plan paper using.

1. Course Project Part 1—Gap Analysis Plan and Visio Draft
The process of comparing the current state of a system or
workflow and to the desired, future state of the workflow, and
then formulating preliminary ideas about how to move from the
current to the future is known as a gap analysis. There are
several different ways to collect information about an identified
problem and potential solution, including observations,
interviews, oral surveys, questionnaires, and existing data, tests.
This week you will begin crafting a Gap Analysis Plan to
acquire information about a specific workflow issue in your
organization or in one with which you are familiar.
Note:
Your workflow issue MUST be related to the implementation or
optimization of electronic health records (EHRs) in the
organization in order to connect to meaningful use and the
HITECH Act. If the organization currently uses an EHR system,
your workflow issue should be related to an inefficiency or
problem with how the EHR system is used. If the organization
does not yet have an EHR system, your workflow issue should
be related to an inefficiency or problem that could be solved by
implementing an EHR system.

2. To prepare for Part 1 of the Course Project:
Identify the workflow issue you would like to explore
throughout your Course Project. This should be a specific task
about which you have sufficient content knowledge and access
to describe and analyze in detail. Your workflow issue MUST
be related to EHRs and be significantly tied to one or more
meaningful use objectives. The workflow issue may be related
to either the optimization of an existing EHR system or the
implementation of an entirely new EHR system.
Establish your goals for conducting your gap analysis. These
goals describe why you are conducting the gap analysis, the
workflow issue you are pinpointing, and what you hope to
accomplish in examining this issue.
Determine how you will collect data about the current workflow
you are exploring for the Course Project. For example, you may
choose to observe people as they move through the workflow,
ask people about their experiences, confer with managers and
leaders about their involvement, refer to your organization’s
training manual or other informative documents, etc. Be sure to
use more than one data-collection method and observe or
consult with more than one person to ensure that the
information you gather is balanced.
Note:
If you are not currently working in a health care organization,
you must locate an organization in your area and obtain
informal permission to speak with and observe individuals.
Consult your Instructor if you have questions on how to
proceed.
Participate in the Week 4 Discussion and review the comments
made by your colleagues and the Instructor on your preliminary
workflow issue. Revise your workflow issue and data-collection

3. methods as appropriate.
After you have revised your workflow issue, begin composing
your Gap Analysis Plan paper using the requirements outlined
below
As you write your paper, begin drafting the current-state
workflow based on your preliminary knowledge (no outside
information needed) in Visio. Include a swimlane showing, to
the best of your knowledge, who is responsible for each step in
the workflow. Use standard modeling symbols for workflow
depicted in the Dennis, Wixom, and Roth text and the
“Workflow Assessment for Health IT Toolkit” in the Week 4
Learning Resources.
Note:
The primary purpose of the draft is to ensure that you are
comfortable working with Visio. At this point, no outside
sources are needed; your draft should be based only on your
preliminary knowledge about the workflow. This exercise is
mainly for practice, so your draft should be simple rather than
detailed at this stage. In Week 6, you and your colleagues will
conduct a peer review of one another’s workflow drafts. You
will use the feedback you receive to revise and refine your draft
before your first formal Visio deliverable is due in Week 7.
To complete Part 1 of the Course Project
:
1.
Write a
3- to 4-page
Gap Analysis Plan that addresses the following:
Identify the workflow issue you will be exploring in the Course
Project (

4. Incomplete Medication Reconciliation, see attached file
). Explain how this workflow issue is tied to EHRs. Identify the
specific meaningful use objective(s) related to the workflow
issue.
List
3
goals
you have set for your gap analysis and what you hope to
accomplish by examining the workflow you selected.
Describe your methods of data collection and the individuals
you will observe, consult, and/or interview. Include any
relevant narrative statements, checklists, interview questions, or
other tools you will use to collect data.
Explain how you will minimize disruption in the workflow
during observations and how you will avoid bias as you conduct
your gap analysis.
Describe how you will record, quantify, and analyze the data
you collect. Explain how you will establish baseline metrics to
normalize data from different sources of information.
2.
In a reference list, cite a minimum of four scholarly references
(with APA citations) that you used to create your Gap Analysis
Plan
.
3.
Post a draft of your current-state workflow in Visio. Your Visio
draft should include your preliminary knowledge about the
primary steps and activities within your workflow.
In addition, include a swimlane showing who is responsible for
each step, and use the appropriate diagramming symbols within
your Visio draft.

5. Required Readings
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015).
Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge
(3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Chapter 15, “The Electronic Health Record and Clinical
Informatics”
This chapter explores the components of electronic health
records and explains their significance in patient care. The
authors evaluate the political facets of implementing these
records and project how their implementation will benefit health
care as a whole.
Dennis, A., Wixom, B. H., & Roth, R. M. (2015).
Systems analysis and design
(6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Chapter 3, “Requirements Determination” (pp. 81–115)
Adherence to business requirements is important during a
project. It is integral to plan the project with said requirements
in mind. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate the processes
of familiarizing one’s self with requirements and implementing
them in the project plan.
Helmers, S. (2011).
Microsoft Visio 2010 step by step

6. . Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
Chaper 1, “A Visual Orientation to a Visual Product” (pp. 1–36)
This introductory chapter walks the user through the basic
desktop and tools necessary to get started in using Microsoft
Visio. It provides instructions on the Visio ribbon, explores the
drawing window, and offers tips on using and manipulating the
variety of shapes available.
Chapter 2, “Creating a New Drawing” (pp. 37–68)
This chapter outlines the steps necessary for actually creating a
drawing, and covers such topics as selecting the correct shape,
connecting shapes, and using the Auto features.
Bayer, S., Petsoulas, C., Cox, B., Honeyman, A., & Barlow, J.
(2010). Facilitating stroke care planning through simulation
modelling.
Health Informatics Journal, 16
(2), 129–143.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article provides an example of how workflow can be used
to improve the level of health care being provided. In this
particular case, data analysis and modeling were used to
determine the optimal workflow for dealing with stroke
patients.
Campbell, E. M, Guappone, K. P., Sittig, D. F., Dykstra, R. H.,
& Ash, J. S. (2009). Computerized provider order entry
adoption: Implications for clinical workflow.
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 24
(1), 21–26.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article assesses the impact of computerized provider order
entry (CPOE) on clinical workflow. The mass adoption of
advanced data capture and access methods can effect change in

7. both positive and negative ways, so care needs to be taken in
the design phase to provide a user friendly system.
Crosson, J. C., Etz, R. S., Wu, S., Straus, S. G., Eisenman, D.,
& Bell, D. S. (2011). Meaningful use of electronic prescribing
in 5 exemplar primary care practices.
Annals of Family Medicine, 9
(5), 392–397.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
One benefit of the widespread use of electronic health records
(EHRs) is the opportunity to have electronic prescription
capabilities. This article suggests practices that will help ensure
e-prescribing that is high quality, efficient, and safe.
Effken, J. A., & Carrington, J. (2011). Communication and the
electronic health record: Challenges to achieving the
meaningful use standard.
Online Journal of Nursing Informatics, 15
(2).
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Transitioning into a heavier use of health IT requires the
adoption of more effective means of applying and deriving
meaning from the data available. This article addresses the
optimal relationship between user/IT communication and proper
use of EHRs for achieving high-quality patient care.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (n.d.). Workflow
assessment for health IT toolkit. Retrieved October 22, 2012,
from http://healthit.ahrq.gov/health-it-tools-and-
resources/workflow-assessment-health-it-toolkit
This web page provides a number of resources that examine
how to plan, design, implement, and use workflows and how to
analyze current systems to ensure optimum workflow.
Optional Resources

8. There are a wide variety of online tutorials available to assist
you with using Visio. Below are two you might consider, as
needed:
Microsoft. (2011). The Visio 2010 MVP sessions. Retrieved
from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/visio/
This free resource, developed by Microsoft, provides video
tutorials in the use of all aspects of Visio 2010.
Edson, D. (2011).
Visio 2010 essential training
. Retrieved from http://www.lynda.com/Visio-2010-
tutorials/Essential-Training/75921-2.html
This series of videos provides detailed instruction on all
aspects of Visio use. This resource requires a paid subscription.