This document presents a mock action research proposal to address the problem of excessive patient wait times at a medical practice. The population involved includes patients ranging from infants to 90 years old, two physicians, two clinical personnel, and two administrative staff. The purpose of studying this population is that they are directly impacted by long wait times. Research questions focus on how to better prepare patients and staff for appointments. Developing a solution would require observing processes, planning changes, and retraining staff on new procedures. The presenter feels passionate about reducing wait times because it would improve both the work environment and patients' experiences at the office.

1. Mock Action Research
Proposal Presentation
Richelle Bernardini
EDU 671 / The Fundamentals of Educational
Research
Dr. Holley Prescott
June 26, 2014

2. Area of Focus
Develop a strategy that will reduce patient wait
time in a medical practice and/or create a plan
where unavoidable wait times can be productive
for the patient.

3. Explanation of Problem
• Extensive patient wait times
• Poor scores on the Press Ganey patient surveys
due to patient wait time
• Running late leads to employee overtime which
leads to running over budget on payroll

4. Population
• The population involved in this is my patient
base whose age group will vary from infants to
90’s
• Two physicians
• Two clinical personnel
• Two administrative staff

5. Population Choice
• The purpose for this population choice is
because these are the people that are directly
involved in the problem and will ultimately be
affected by the resolution and outcome. Each
member listed has some responsibility for the
development of the problem

6. Research Questions
• 1. How can we assist the patients to be better
prepared for their appointment to make the
most of the time allotted for them with the
physician?
• 2. What plan can we implement to help the
clinical staff better prepare for the patient load
each day?
• 3. How can we assist the administrative staff to
better allocate appropriate time for a given
appointment?

7. Teaching and Learning
• In order to address the problem and facilitate a
solution some observation and planning will be
required and whenever a change is introduced
into any process that is already in place there is
re-teaching and a learning process involved
before the new process can take hold. It is
similar to attempting to change a habit and build
a better habit which requires a period of re-
learning.

8. Locus of Control
• I one half of the administrative staff previously
mentioned and I am also responsible for
assisting and teaching clinical staff how and
where to locate needed information, testing, and
results for appointments. It is therefore within
my locus of control evaluate the problem, form
ideas, implement the change and reevaluate for
further improvement

9. Passion
• I feel excessively passionate about due to the fact
that developing a solution to this problem would
not only improve my personal work
environment but also serve to improve the
overall quality of my patients experience within
our medical office.

10. Inspiration
• If we can generate a solution to this problem it
will lead to a more successful experience and
that feeling of success will inevitably lead to and
encourage further ideas for improvement.