The document discusses workflow modeling in healthcare, emphasizing its application in organizing and optimizing complex processes like supply management. It presents a case study of Deerborne Dialysis, which effectively manages its supply ordering process, and highlights the significance of creating accurate workflow models to reflect these processes. The discussion includes strategies for identifying model discrepancies and ensuring clarity and accuracy in workflow designs.

1. Discussion: Workflow Modeling
Workflow modeling is widely used throughout many different
types of businesses, including health care organizations, to
visually summarize the steps of complex processes and systems.
When constructing a workflow model, it is important to ensure
that the model accurately reflects the actual steps in a process.
In this Discussion, you consider a case study of a health care
clinic and its process for ordering medical supplies. You then
examine a workflow model that is meant to reflect that process
and analyze the model’s accuracy based on the information in
the case study. You also analyze the importance of accurate
workflow modeling and consider strategies for creating accurate
workflow models for health care processes.
Case Study:
Deerborne Dialysis is a local dialysis clinic that is part of a
larger health care network, Buckeye Health. Buckeye Health
executives have recently been examining the processes by which
organizations within the network manage their supplies.
Deerborne Dialysis was identified as an exemplary model of
efficient supply management, and Buckeye Health executives
have requested a workflow model of how Deerborne Dialysis
handles their supply management process.
Sharon is the nurse who oversees the process of ordering and
stocking supplies for Deerborne Dialysis. She knows the
process well and developed a description of the steps in the
supply management process. First, Sharon conducts a daily
check of the supplies in the storage room. If there is a supply

2. that is running low, Sharon submits an order to the medical
supplier. When the clinic receives the shipment, Sharon unpacks
the shipment and cross-checks the supplies that were shipped
with the supplies that were ordered. If there is a discrepancy,
the entire shipment must be returned to the medical supplier,
who then rushes a new shipment to the clinic to be received the
next day. If there is no discrepancy, or once the new shipment is
received, unpacked, and cross-checked, Sharon stocks the
shelves in the storage room and gives the supply bill to the
clinic’s accountant, who ensures that the medical supplier
receives payment.
Sharon has created the following workflow model to reflect the
steps she goes through to manage the clinic’s inventory of
supplies:
To prepare:
Review the case study above and examine the workflow model
that is meant to reflect the process described in the case study.
Identify problems with the workflow model. How could the
model be revised to be more accurate, clear, and effective?
Reflect on the importance of creating an accurate workflow
model of health care processes. What are the challenges
involved in workflow modeling? What are the consequences of
inaccurate workflow models?
Consider strategies that you can use to ensure that workflow
models are effective and accurate.
With these thoughts in mind:

3. Post
by tomorrow 9/27/16 a minimum of 550 words essay in APA
format with 3 references (References must come from the list
provided in the instruction area), addressing the level one
headings as numbered below:
1) A summary of at least three specific problems you identified
in the workflow model.
2) Describe how the model could be revised to address those
problems.
3) Analyze the importance of accuracy and clarity in workflow
modeling, and describe at least one strategy you plan to use to
ensure that the workflow models you create are accurate and
clear.
Required Readings
Dennis, A., Wixom, B. H., & Roth, R. M. (2015).
Systems analysis and design
(6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Chapter 5, “Process Modeling” (pp. 153–186)
This chapter introduces the most common process-modeling

4. techniques. In particular, there is emphasis on the data flow
diagram and how it is developed and used.
Helmers, S. (2011).
Microsoft Visio 2010 step by step
. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
Chapter 3, “Adding Sophistication to your Drawing” (pp. 69–
110)
This chapter focuses on creating a diagram that is both
professional and accurate. Topics covered include adding and
using text boxes, inserting fields, and grouping shapes.
Chapter 4, “Drawing the Real World: Flowcharts and
Organization Charts” (pp. 111–142)
The focus of this chapter is creating accurate flowcharts and
organization charts. It explains how to create and use
swimlanes. It also covers the development of organization
charts and how they can be stylized.
Chapter 5, “Adding Style, Color, and Themes” (pp. 143–170)
This chapter demonstrates how to change the color, types of
lines, and over all format of a drawing. It also covers the use of
Visio themes.

5. Benyoucef, M., Kuziemsky, C., Rad, A. A., & Elsabbahi, A.
(2011). Modeling healthcare processes as service orchestrations
and choreographies.
Business Process Management Journal, 17
(4), 568–597.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Remodeling health IT systems for optimal health care delivery
requires an assessment of both the health care organization and
the usability of the available technology. This article evaluates
ways of combining web-service-based health care processes to
best suit the needs of service-specific health care organizations.
Unertl, K. M., Weigner, M. B., Johnson, K.B., & Lorenzi, N. M.
(2009). Describing and modeling workflow and information
flow in chronic disease care.
Journal of American Medical Informatics Association, 16
(6), 826–836.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
This article evaluates how workflow and work practices in
chronic disease care can be improved through the use of
informatics tools. It also focuses on studies that discern
potential real-world benefits of health information technology
(HIT).
Vankipuram, M., Kahol, K., Cohen, T., & Patel, V. L. (2011).
Toward automated workflow analysis and visualization in
clinical environments.
Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 44

6. (3), 432–440.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
In this article, the authors offer a framework for improving
workflow analysis. It combines cognitive decision making,
movement, and interaction and communication. The authors
used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research
practices to gather the data for analysis.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012d).
A workflow diagram
. Baltimore, MD: Author.
This multimedia piece continues to build on the scenario
introduced in Week 1. In this segment, the health care facility
creates a workflow diagram with assessment that maps the
current workflow.