Business Research Project Part 1: Business Problem and Research Questions Belen MacKenzie, Daniel Ivy, Kari Stormoen, Latoya Hill, Siead Hasan QNT/561 University of Phoenix April 14, 2014 Andjelka Srdic Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT PART1: BUSINESS PROBLEM 1 BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT PART1: BUSINESS PROBLEM 6 Introduction The organization chosen for this assignment is Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) in Southern California. It is a public, nonprofit acute hospital facility in addition to four offsite facilities. PVHMC serves two neighboring counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino County. The mission of PVHMC is to provide high quality, cost effective health care services to residents of the greater Pomona Valley. Over the next five years, the hospital will complete construction of a new Outpatient Pavilion and expanded Emergency services to better meet the needs of the community. Products and Services Provided PVHMC offers a wide range of products and services related to healthcare. In addition to having an emergency department, some of the services provided are oncology, women and children’s care, cardiac and vascular care, kidney stones, physical therapy, robotic surgery, and sleep disorders. Specific to women’s health, PVHMC has specialized equipment to create 3D mammograms. The robotic surgery utilizes a state of the art console that operates four robotic arms allowing for precise surgical incisions. A state of the art cardiac rehab program compliments cardiovascular services offered (Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, 2013). Addressing Problems with Research According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, one of the problems or dilemmas that healthcare facilities face daily is financial challenges. This has been an issue for the past five to ten years. PVHMC struggles on a daily basis with figuring out how the facility will gain profit. This is a problem that management and personnel can address with research by researching grants that will help support some of the programs and healthcare the facility needs to care for the people. There are other concerns that PVHMC must address with research, competition and the latest products. It is important the company keeps up with its competition in which giving the best care to patients is important. There is so much that goes into that concern as well with the highest level of customer service to pair with the hospital’s healthcare. Also, the products play a part in helping to cure pain and diseases. Hospitals must be competitive with the latest technology, equipment and treatment plans for patients. The best way to do this is through market research. Market research would provide the hospital with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions to achieve the overarching strategic plan. The quest for cutting edge medicine creates a major dilemma. The high cost of delivering care has been culprit to several hospitals closing its emergency ro ...

1. Business Research Project Part 1: Business Problem and
Research Questions
Belen MacKenzie, Daniel Ivy, Kari Stormoen, Latoya Hill,
Siead Hasan
QNT/561
University of Phoenix
April 14, 2014
Andjelka Srdic
Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT PART1:
BUSINESS PROBLEM
1
BUSINESS RESEARCH PROJECT PART1: BUSINESS
PROBLEM
6
Introduction
The organization chosen for this assignment is Pomona Valley
Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) in Southern California. It is
a public, nonprofit acute hospital facility in addition to four
offsite facilities. PVHMC serves two neighboring counties of
Los Angeles and San Bernardino County. The mission of
PVHMC is to provide high quality, cost effective health care

2. services to residents of the greater Pomona Valley. Over the
next five years, the hospital will complete construction of a new
Outpatient Pavilion and expanded Emergency services to better
meet the needs of the community.
Products and Services Provided
PVHMC offers a wide range of products and services related to
healthcare. In addition to having an emergency department,
some of the services provided are oncology, women and
children’s care, cardiac and vascular care, kidney stones,
physical therapy, robotic surgery, and sleep disorders. Specific
to women’s health, PVHMC has specialized equipment to create
3D mammograms. The robotic surgery utilizes a state of the art
console that operates four robotic arms allowing for precise
surgical incisions. A state of the art cardiac rehab program
compliments cardiovascular services offered (Pomona Valley
Hospital Medical Center, 2013).
Addressing Problems with Research
According to the American College of Healthcare Executives,
one of the problems or dilemmas that healthcare facilities face
daily is financial challenges. This has been an issue for the past
five to ten years. PVHMC struggles on a daily basis with
figuring out how the facility will gain profit. This is a problem
that management and personnel can address with research by
researching grants that will help support some of the programs
and healthcare the facility needs to care for the people.
There are other concerns that PVHMC must address with
research, competition and the latest products. It is important the
company keeps up with its competition in which giving the best
care to patients is important. There is so much that goes into
that concern as well with the highest level of customer service
to pair with the hospital’s healthcare. Also, the products play a
part in helping to cure pain and diseases. Hospitals must be
competitive with the latest technology, equipment and treatment
plans for patients. The best way to do this is through market
research. Market research would provide the hospital with the
knowledge needed to make informed decisions to achieve the

3. overarching strategic plan.
The quest for cutting edge medicine creates a major dilemma.
The high cost of delivering care has been culprit to several
hospitals closing its emergency room doors (Welsh, 2014).
Hospital closures mean communities do not have the benefit of
having emergency medical care in their community. It means
that people have to travel to another town to seek medical care.
Research Proposal
An important aspect for Pomona Valley Hospital to research
would be in the area of costs and quality of care. Quality in
healthcare is usually judged by the outcomes of the care
provided. There is an expectation to continue to advance
technologically even though the verdict is still out on long-term
results. An example is the cost to perform robotic surgery. This
approach to surgery cost more than traditional surgery. It takes
longer, uses more supplies, and is more resource intensive. A
doctor can choose to do a 3-hour robotic surgery on a 45-minute
surgery ratcheting up the cost to deliver care when the outcome
is the same. Unfortunately, the added cost isn’t fully
reimbursed depending on the insurance payer. The challenge is
balancing cost , quality and competitiveness.
Additional Research Questions
Although the first significant step has been taken towards
establishing the research objective, it is also important to
establish additional research questions that will branch off from
the primary goal of this project. This process is called
establishing the management-research question hierarchy
(Cooper and Schindler, 2011).
The first dilemma facing PVHMC is a multitude of budgetary
concerns. The primary research question proposed is whether or
not additional grants will be helpful. Some follow-up questions
that can be added to this hierarchy are: 1) Will it be necessary
to hire a team of grant writers? 2) Will it be possible to use
resources from within to give grant training to skilled writers
who are already employed? 3) Will a consulting firm be ideal

4. for taking on grant-writing while the first two questions/options
are explored and subsequently executed?
The second issue that requires additional hierarchy is dealing
with the competition. The additional questions that will need to
be researched are: 1) Will the market research to investigate the
competition be an internal project or will a consulting firm be
ideal? 2) What is the budget of this marketing research and
subsequent equipment or service upgrade? 3) What will be the
most efficient way to spend money to improve the facility based
on the results of the market research?
Summary
PVHMC is vulnerable to the effects of rising cost of
healthcare delivery. The future health and well being of the
counties it serves is also at risk. Research questions identified
pertain to financial performance, competition and quality of
care. Answers to the research questions will guide the
organization to make informed, evidence-based decisions
around strategic planning to address the three areas of concern
identified.
References
American college of healthcare executives: Research and
resources: Top issues confronting
hospitals: 2013. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.ache.org/pubs/research/ceoissues.cfm
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2011). Business research
methods (11th ed.). Retrieved from
The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
McClave, J.T., Benson, P.G., & Sincich, T. (2011). Statistics

5. for business economics (11th ed.).
Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection
database.
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. (2013). About Pomona
Valley Hospital Medical
Center. Retrieved from http://www.pvhmc.org/introduction.asp-
About Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Welsh, B. (2014). California’s hospitals emergency room
closures. Retrieved from
http://projects.latimes.com/hospitals/emergency-
rooms/no/closed/list/
Business Research Project Part 2: Research Plan Grading Guide
QNT/561 Version 6
1
Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Project Part
2:Research Plan
Purpose of Assignment
Students revise their research based on the further development
of their research plan, research questions, and purpose
statement. Students reach consensus on identifying population
and samples targets. Students must describe the target audience,
and how it will be chosen and accessed. Through the data
collection process, students will gain critical knowledge on how
to select the best format of the surveys and the basic item
content necessary to collect.
Resources Required
Ch. 4 & 5 of Statistics for Business and Economics
Ch. 1, 4, & 6 of Business Research Methods

6. Grading Guide
Content
70 Percent
Met
Partially
Met
Not Met
Comments:
Identifies population and samples for their proposed research
and includes who will be chosen and accessed
Determines the data collection process, appropriate mapping,
formatting of the survey, and basic item content to be gathered
Determines essential specifics to distribute and collect and
interpret the anticipated data
The business plan is no more than 700 words in length.
Total

7. Available
Total
Earned
2
#/2
Writing Guidelines
30 Percent
Met
Partially Met
Not Met
Comments:
The paper—including tables and graphs, headings, title page,
and reference page—is consistent with APA formatting
guidelines and meets course-level requirements.
Intellectual property is recognized with in-text citations and a
reference page.
Paragraph and sentence transitions are present, logical, and
maintain the flow throughout the paper.

8. Sentences are complete, clear, and concise.
Rules of grammar and usage are followed including spelling and
punctuation.
Total
Available
Total
Earned
1
#/1
Assignment Total
#
3
#/3
Additional comments:

9. Copyright © 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 by University of
Phoenix. All rights reserved.
BUSINESS RESEARCH PART II
1
BUSINESS RESEARCH PART II
2Business Research Project Part IISiead Hasan, Latoya Hill,
Daniel Ivy, Belen MacKenzie, Kari Stormoen,
QNT/561
April 21, 2014
Andjelka Srdic
Business Research Project Part II
Identification of Population and Samples
The population for this survey is all non-profit control hospitals
in Southern California which have emergency rooms and are
considered to be a disproportionate share hospital. According
to "California Department Of Health Services" (2014), "The
Disproportionate Share Hospital Unit (DSH) is a special
reimbursement program which is aimed at making up the short
fall for hospitals when care is provided to a patient who has
little or no funds to cover the costs of care or who is a Medi-Cal
beneficiary.” (para. 1). Based on further research, the sample
will be approximately 10 to 20 percent of the population.
Determine the data collection process (Determines the data
collection process, appropriate mapping, formatting of the
survey)
(SIEAD)

10. References
California department of health services. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/DisproportionateSha
reHospital.aspx