INSTRUCTIONS Need to edit or rewrite the yellow highlighted section in this paper!! It's the final draft for my chapter 1 prospectus. The section called stakeholders. The instructions for this new addition is the following Write new content to address the following: ► Stakeholders (follows the Introduction) Write a narrative in which you identify the people or populations that are impacted by, served by, or related to the research topic and this course domain. Examples would include individuals, patients, family members, society members, physicians, nurses, other healthcare workers, administrators, etc. Develop a list of the organizations that play a role in servicing the people or populations (i.e. providers, suppliers, governments at a national, state or local level, etc.). Develop a list of agencies, organizations, licensures, accreditations, and associations that have an influence -direct or indirect— that relates to your research topic, population, and this course's subject. In many cases, there is a population that is the primary focus, but there are also secondary and tertiary populations or organizations that play a role and have an impact on who are affected. Make sure to list all directly or indirectly involved stakeholders. ➤ Diagram/Figure (follows the Stakeholders) Analyze the relationship among the stakeholders and create a diagram or figure that illustrates those relationships. Describe the current and historical relationship among stakeholders related to your research topic and this course's domain. If needed, use more than one diagram to illustrate and explain changes in relationships over time. Terms and Definitions (follows the Diagram/Figure) Include a list of definitions and terms associated with your research area and the domain of this course. APA Format/n Streamlining Patient Appointment Scheduling: A Key to Efficient Healthcare Administration 24/SP-HIM-802-X1 WW For the Degree of Doctor of Healthcare Administration January 27, 2024 1 Introduction 2 In contemporary environments, patient-centric healthcare delivery depends on the effective scheduling of visits to patients. Making the appointment-booking process more available to patients is one of other major objectives set up by many healthcare organizations for ensuring high performance mandatory resources utilization, results in better health and patient satisfaction. It is due to these new innovations in healthcare technology that result into the creation of novel practices like online appointment scheduling systems. This chapter discusses the dynamics of patient appointment scheduling based on studies conducted in recent years, which indicate optimization models along with activities that look into online systems and quality initiatives as part of healthcare management. Background Summary In the modern times, new technologies in healthcare and more patient-driven treatment have caused traditional appointment scheduling to reevaluate. The transition to online systems may lead to a reinforcement of some outpatient scheduling biomarkers offered by researchers such as Habibi et al. (2019) multicenter study The concept of strategic appointment scheduling is supported through the use of optimization models such as those presented by Luo et al. (2019) to solve issues like patient no-shows, etc., among others Time scheduling studies in pediatric health care, including Rahim et al. (2022)'s study of clinic appointments scheduled before hospital discharge shows the very presence of an immediate requirement for these commitments.. However, the changing landscape is not limited only to scheduling and optimization models that are online. Song et al. (2023) analyzed the effect of information systems and facilitated appointment policies on patient sorting as well as hospital efficiency Additionally, programs focusing on quality like Enhanced Patient Clinical Streamlining (EPACS) within the research setting conducted by Vos et al. With the evolution of healthcare administration, plan and schedule in health care are treated as a key aspect of coordination by Youn et al. (2021). Additionally, according to Luo et al., (2019) the optimization model analysis helps to highlight continuous efforts towards moving problems such as patient absences from strategic scheduling points. Therefore, the strategic planning and technological innovations are necessary for good patient-centered health care management in this dynamic environment. 3 Significance Appointment scheduling simplification in health care management is a necessity that cannot be emphasized enough. Effective scheduling ensures a balance between optimization of patient satisfaction and efficiency/efficacy in the entire process of provision delivery, as well as economics. Therefore, healthcare systems have to adapt themselves to the growing trend of patient-centered approaches and employ advanced technology applications for improved services. The most important thing in the struggle to find a solution for no-show patients is improving appointment scheduling. As illustrated by Rahim et al. (2022), early scheduling presents the capability of supporting continuous care and improving patient results in a pediatric environment. Additionally, there are research of the search for information and appointment optimization (Song et al., 2013) that shows how technological advancements could ensure better use in hospitals through patient screening. One such instance, provided by EPACS program (Vos et al., 2021), is the quality initiatives' contribution aimed at a patient-oriented strategy in outpatient visits because of healthcare institutions striving for perfection concerning an individual's wellbeing. Building a productive and effective healthcare administration environment is also concerned with the current existing potentials & as well, challenges encountered in planning and scheduling operations within health care (Youn et al., 2021). 4 Along with the identified obstacles in patient appointment scheduling optimization, one should also bring up financial concerns faced by healthcare organizations. Moreover, scheduling is an effective tool to promote the financial sustainability of healthcare entities. Thus, cost factors are reduced proportionally with reduction in patient no-shows and improvement of workflows through resource elimination coupled staff time. Therefore, timely scheduling and use of efficient protocols enable better performance in the fields where medical workers treat patients on reduced resources. When healthcare organizations are capable of devoting resources to personnel training, technological improvements, and ongoing development; the effectiveness in which patient-focused treatment is delivered increases. Research questions or research problems 1. How does the implementation of online appointment scheduling systems impact the evaluation metrics of outpatient scheduling in healthcare settings? (Habibi et al., 2019) 2. What optimization models can be employed to determine the appointment scheduling window for outpatient clinics, especially in addressing challenges like patient no-shows? (Luo et al., 2019) 3. How can timely clinic appointment scheduling before hospital discharge positively affect healthcare outcomes, particularly in the pediatric setting? (Rahim et al., 2022) 4. What is the effect of information and streamlined appointment processes on patient sorting and hospital efficiency in healthcare? (Song et al., 2023) 5. How do quality initiatives, such as Enhanced Patient Clinical Streamlining (EPACS), contribute to improving healthcare for new surgical outpatient visits? (Vos et al., 2021) 6. What are the current challenges and future opportunities in planning and scheduling in healthcare, and how can they be addressed for better care coordination? (Youn et al., 2022). Stakeholders The major stakeholders in the healthcare system are patients, physicians, employers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms and government. Insurance companies sell health coverage plans directly to patients or indirectly through employer or governmental intermediaries (Health Care Reform: Duties & Responsibilities of Stakeholders, n.d.). Making appointments ensures that important tasks are completed on time. Additionally, making appointments creates a sense of structure and organization. Among the healthcare professionals who are essential to the delivery of services are doctors and nurses. Their workloads and resource usage are affected by scheduling practices. Administrative staff who manage appointments are crucial to the smooth functioning of the system. 5 Examples of secondary stakeholders include pharmaceutical companies, suppliers of medical supplies, and governmental bodies in charge of healthcare legislation and regulations. These organizations indirectly affect appointment scheduling by their impact on the overall healthcare environment (Pensap, 2020). Tertiary stakeholders include organizations that promote healthcare quality and management, as well as certifying authorities like the Joint Commission and the American Hospital Association (AHA Mission and Vision | AHA, n.d.. The standards and regulations governing healthcare, which include appointment scheduling, influence its practices (Al Shawan, 2021, pp. 47–61).