Abstract The paper explains that activity-based costing (ABC) allows accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services. This paper uses a case analysis to explore how ABC can help to achieve greater costeffectiveness in the healthcare industry. The paper concludes that although ABC can play an important role in reducing healthcare costs, little can be done to reduce direct costs associated with a procedure without a sacrifice of patient safety.
Outline:
Introduction
Objective of the paper
Analysis, Findings & Discussion
Suggestions, Recommendations & Conclusions
From the Paper "Activity-Based Costing (ABC) allocates the costs of production to specific products or services. It is more precise than older methods of accounting that involved adding a broad percentage of expenditures to direct and indirect costs. The definitions of direct and indirect costs varied and were often a judgement call on the part of the accountant. ABC allowed accountants to obtain a more precise view of the costs associated with specific products or services."
Abstract This paper identifies the successful cost-effectiveness practices that are in place in various health care settings in the United States. It then takes a look at how nurses and nursing fit into these practices and which cost-control factors can make a contribution to a successful nursing budget. A summary of the research on nursing administration and the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, cost-containment, and quality control issues facing the nursing profession is provided in the conclusion.
Outline
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Medicine and Cost-Efficiency
Total Quality Management Approach
Creating a Leaner Organization
Use of Technology to Increase Efficiency
Reducing Medication and Other Errors
Law and Cost-Efficiency
Theology and Cost-Efficiency
Summary and Conclusions
From the Paper "The health care reforms that have been introduced around the world, including privatization and the introduction of market-based approaches to health care, have succeeded in bringing numerous new pressures to bear on health care systems and health care workers (Clark, Clark, Day & Shea, 2001). While the crisis in health care is multifaceted, encompassing shortages of trained medical personnel, epidemics (including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria), environmental problems (air pollution, water contamination), natural disasters, the consequences of war (civilian casualties, refugees), and changing demographics, the root of the problem is ultimately economics. In today's world, developing nations cannot provide the most basic of health care to their citizens. The public and the private sectors in developed countries have difficulty keeping pace with the rapidly escalating cost of health care (Clark & Clark, 2003)."
Tags: budget, personnel, quality, control, medicine
Abstract This paper compares the Hubble Space Telescope to its potential successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), in terms of their costeffectiveness. The paper looks at the technology of both telescopes to see which will bring continue to bring back the most valuable information, their respective missions, the cost of deploying and maintaining them in orbit, and the cost of repairs, if any, of the telescopes to determine the costeffectiveness of the telescopes.
From the Paper "Ever since its launch in 1990, the Hubble telescope has been orbiting the Earth at 600 kilometers above, bringing valuable information and photos from space. Its history goes back to 1977, when the Congress approved the project funds. However, operations didn't take off until 1981, when the Space Telescope Science Institute was founded, designed especially for the production and research of the Hubble Space Telescope."
Abstract This paper examines wellness programs in the workplace in the form of a literature review on this specific subject. The paper also focuses on the impact that wellness programs have upon healthcare costs. The paper explains that the objectives of this research are specifically in making a determination of the cost-effectiveness of workplace wellness programs and particularly as related to reduction in health care costs for the organization. The paper then looks at how the literature is replete with evidence in support of development and implementation of workplace wellness programs and asserts that the significance of this work lay within the additional knowledge that this research work will add to the existing knowledge base in this subject area. The paper also explains that methodology employed in this research work is one of a qualitative, comprehensive, and interpretive nature in that the researcher will review the available peer-reviewed and scholarly literature in this subject area that is found in journals, periodicals, and other academic material appropriate to support qualitative research findings.
Outline:
Introduction
Research Aims and Objectives
Significance of Research
Methodology:
I. Wellness Program and ROI
II. Reasons for some Programs Failure
III. Important Elements for Ensuring ROI and Success
IV. Screening process is 'Key'
V. Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
VI. Components of Wellness Programs Identified
VII. WELCOA: 'Seven Best Practices' Identified
VIII. Benefits Reaped by the Organization
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "The reason stated by Holtyn for failure of many of the wellness programs is that they are not designed in a comprehensive manner and because the programs "lack standards of practice and evaluation" which limits the ability of the programs to "demonstrate their effectiveness and impact on employee health and well being." (Wellness Program Management Advisor, Health Resources Publishing, 2006) The first area assessed in the wellness programs are stated to be: '...worksite environment' and 'corporate environment'. According to Holtyn: "Working within those two [environment], you can have some pretty robust results in terms of risk reduction. A study of worksite environments includes an examination of onsite vending machines, cafeteria menus, smoking policies and other policy issues within a given company's organization..." (Wellness Program Management Advisor, Health Resources Publishing, 2006)."
Abstract The proposed study consists of a quasi-experimental research design that addresses issues of whether or not pre-planning and pre-paying for final arrangements is perceived by survivors as a cost-effective way of reducing the escalating cost of such arrangements and whether or not survivors believe that pre-paying and pre-planning effectively prevents funeral homes from capitalizing upon the vulnerability of survivors by increasing costs for final arrangements.
From the Paper "It has been theorized that survivors commonly experience a wide range and variety of emotions attendant upon the death of a loved one or significant other (Bern-Klug, Ekerdt & Wilkinson, 1999). Among those emotions are shock, denial, and disorganization. Each of these emotions can contribute significantly to the stressfulness associated with making final arrangements for another person who has been of importance in the survivor's life (Leming & Dickinson, 1990). Other studies have suggested that more often than not, the person or group of people who are directly responsible for either making or overseeing final arrangements are typically in some state of crisis and likely to be overwhelmed by grief (Clark, 1987; Scheible Wolf, 1995). "
Abstract This paper examines activity based costing (ABC) which is an effective business management tool that will enhance and support a total quality management (TQM) environment. ABC analysis provides the information necessary to make business decisions such as determining if investments in efficiency initiatives, such as just in time (JIT), are warranted. When implementing ABC, management should use proven project management methodology to minimize the risk of failure. ABC is an effective total quality management tool, and supports just-in-time manufacturing methods in several companies as detailed in the paper.
From the Paper "After developing ABC in the 1980?s, Robin Cooper and Robert S. Kaplan have written extensively about its benefits (Shih-Jen & Holinda, p. 46). ABC is defined as a "costing system that identifies the various activities performed in a firm and uses multiple cost drivers"to assign overhead (or indirect costs) to products? (Siegel and Shim 2000, p. 15). ABC seeks to accumulate and allocate factory overhead costs to products (or services) by using focused drivers, such as, quality inspecting, moving, assembly, and matching (Warren, 2002, p. 328). Proponents of ABC cite many examples where cost accuracy is superior to traditional costing methods that use cost bases such as units produced, labor, or machine hours used (Warren, p. 421). "
Abstract This paper deals with examination of the four types of unemployment - frictional, structural, cyclical, and seasonal. It also examines the issues of full employment and natural rate of employment. This is then followed by an explanation of the causes and effects of demand-pull inflation.
From the Paper "Unemployment rate is one of the indicators of the labour market and economic condition of a country. According to McTaggart et al, one is considered unemployed if they are job losers, job leavers, or labour force entrants and re-entrants (1999: 31.7). There are four types of unemployment, including frictional, structural, cyclical, as well as seasonal. Two of the many factors that lead to unemployment include the processes of job matching (a two-sided process of linking the right worker with the right job) and job rationing (the practice of paying employed people a wage that creates an excess supply of labour and a shortage of jobs ) (McTaggart et al, 1999: 31.10). Employers take time for their search process because this process is influenced by employment protection laws, which induce employers to more carefully consider any hire."
An overview of the methods of applying the "activity-based costing system" at Dakota Office Supply, in which actual costs associated with each product are established.
Abstract The paper discusses, in a detailed description, the effectiveness of an activity-based costing system or ABC and the ineffectiveness of the current costing system in use at the Dakota Office Supply (DOS) company . The paper then relates the methodology of implementing ABC at DOS and the procedures involved in its application.
Outline:
Overview
Situational analysis
Activity based costing ABC in practice at Dakota
Procedural steps of ABC
From the Paper "Before performing ABC, a baseline or a starting point is needed for business process improvement and a baseline can be expressed in some form of model. This baseline is critical for DOP because in order to establish this baseline metric the analytics just performed must be done for each individual account. If DOP performs this activity on each customer the strategic management benefits would be substantial because all the excess cost-drivers could be eliminated resulting in much wider operating margins and thus profitability without increasing costs or committing resources to gain this efficiency. Therefore, a baseline is a documentation of the organization's policies, practices, methods, measures, costs and their interrelationships at a particular location at a particular point in time (Maiga & Jacobs, 2003). Through base-lining, activity inputs and outputs across functional lines of business can be identified. ABC is the only improvement methodology that provides output or unit costs. Value added activities are those for which the customers are usually willing to pay in some fashion for the product or service. Non-value added are activities that create waste, result in a delay of some sort, and potentially adds costs to the products or services. Resources are assigned to activities so that the activities can be performed in the first place. Some of Pilgrims' resources are measured in man-hours, machine hours as well as machine maintenance and operational overhead. It is through ABC that an organization can begin to see actual dollar costs against individual activities, and find opportunities to streamline or reduce those costs, or even eliminate the entire activity thus removing the cost altogether. This is the process inherent in ABC that reduces overall expenditures of the company. "
Abstract This paper discusses the direct and indirect costs of criminal activity. The paper first explains that the direct economic impacts of criminal activity are those born by its victims, represented by the material value of stolen property, and the cost of repairing the physical
damage or destruction of property caused by the methods used to effectuate the crime. The paper then explains that the indirect economic impacts of criminal activity are those born by private
entities, necessary to prevent and insure against crime, as well as the those born by society collectively, to prevent and deter criminal activity, and to apprehend, prosecute, and incarcerate criminal perpetrators. Next, the paper takes a closer look at specific types of criminal activity and economic effects on society. The paper discusses that criminal enterprises and conduct vary substantially, ranging from low-level, "street" crimes against persons, primarily for the tangible property in their possession, to sophisticated, "white collar" crimes perpetrated against large corporations or even against entire industries.
Outline:
Introduction
Street Crime and Property Crime
White Collar Crime, Organized Crime, and Abuse of Public Assistance Programs
Computer Crime and Identity Theft
From the Paper "White collar crime encompasses a wide variety of fraud and related criminal enterprises perpetrated against individuals as well as against corporations. It includes banking and investment fraud, insurance and mortgage fraud, corporate and public corruption, money laundering, as well as the abuse of public assistance and medical care funding programs.
"In total, it is impossible to quantify the precise economic costs of white collar crime, but it is certainly in the hundreds of billions of dollars, representing direct monetary losses as well as the cost of developing, implementing and maintaining security programs and procedures to prevent future and recurrent crimes of this nature."
Discusses a costing system proposed for a computer hardware manufacturer who is also going to develop computer software to be sold along with the hardware.
Abstract This paper first recommends a costing system and then states how variances from budget would be identified. It further goes to state how the budgets for the cost centers should be set. Then it mentions some possible sources of funds for financing the project and, in conclusion, mentions how the financial ratios of the company will be affected.
Method of costing How variances can be identified
Method of budgeting
Sources of finance
Effect on ratios
Comparison with system in operation
From the Paper "There are many methods of costing that could be applied to this scenario. The current system in place is absorption costing. This is a very traditional approach, in which it is assumed that the total overhead expenses of the company are related in some way to the number of labour hours or machine hours used. In this case, all the overheads are allocated on one basis. If labour hours are used, then it the total overhead amount is divided by the total labour hours expected, and then the amount of overhead is allocated to each product based on the total amount of labour hours it uses."
Abstract This paper explains that the research studies (1) the cost of nurse practitioners which affects a significant percentage of practitioners in the endocrinology field, (2) nurse practitioners who have not yet been accepted enough to ensure that a high percentage of individuals in this field can find work in endocrinology practices and (3) the costeffectiveness of nurse practitioners in the endocrinology field must be further studied and better understood. The author points out that most patients deal with nurses much more than they deal with doctors; therefore, nurses are very important to patients and their recovery. The paper relates that the research methodology will include a review of literature and a survey of at least 100 individuals working in the field.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Importance of the Study
Scope of the Study
Rationale for the Study
Overview of the Study
Review of the Literature
Methodology
Research Design and Approach
Population and Sample
Collection and Tabulation of Data
Data Analysis Procedure
Limitations of the Study
Reliability and Validity of the Data
From the Paper "Managed care has had a large effect on the way that Medicare works and how it does business. Many of the Medicare policies were changed by President Clinton when he was still in office, but despite this, the system was still in a state of disrepair. The financial problems of Medicare were still very obvious when Clinton was in office, and that has not really changed. The financial troubles of Medicare are still very real, and it will take more than a few small policy changes to get rid of them.
Now, in order to try to help their financial troubles, Medicare is making changes in the methods that they normally used to reimburse doctors. They have changed their reimbursement system as it pertains to private practice doctors seeing patients that have Medicare insurance. Instead of paying the traditional fee-for-service that most private doctors charge, Medicare and Medicare HMOs are actually paying the doctors on the basis of what the local healthcare market will support for each type of plan. In other words, the doctors are all getting paid what Medicare thinks that they should get paid, but it is also fair market value for their services in that particular local area."
Abstract This paper explains that the new digital technology, including the ability to investigate the body and view diseases with the use of a computer-based digital microscope and other surgical and medical developments, has helped to improve immensely the medical field. The author points out that one of the most common critiques of technology in the medical field is that it depersonalizes the process of medical care and therefore makes healthcare less effective and merely a mechanical response to a set of predetermined computerized rules. The paper relates that healthcare institutions worldwide, which are under pressure from the public and governments alike to develop more efficient and cost-effective services, have adopted more efficient and time saving devices, which are digital and computer based.
Table of Contents
The Impact
The Advantages
The Disadvantages
Conclusion
From the Paper "Another area where computerization can be of great assistance in the field of healthcare is through the automation and handling of food and kitchen work in hospitals and healthcare centres. Computerized systems have already been developed that can automate the cooking process in healthcare centre and hospitals and by so doing eliminate errors that might occur. These innovations also reduce costs and streamline the process of healthcare."
Abstract This paper proposes a study to assess and compare two groups of administrators' perceptions of the philosophy of making schools more cost-effective by linking job performance with school objectives and goals. It examines how the comparison groups are a group of administrators working at schools in California and a group of administrators working at schools in Trinidad (West Indies).
Outline
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose
Rationale
Theoretical Perspective
Hypotheses
Methods and Data Analysis
Delimitations and Limitations
Definition of Terms
From the Paper "With respect to the foregoing, Douglass (2000) reports that the history of education in California is one that has strong ideological components rooted in both democracy and capitalism. On the other hand, in Trinidad, the history of school is very much linked to spiritual and religious ideologies and philosophies (see: Government of Trinidad and Tobago, 2000). It is possible that this difference in cultural background may make the notion of operating schools as a business one that is inherently more appealing to California administrators than to administrators working in Trinidad."
This paper discusses the continual debate over the benefits of vaccine for protection of the public and for prevention of the disease versus the risk to individuals who receive the vaccine for vaccine-related complications.
2,140 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 8 sources, APA, $ 66.95
Abstract This paper explains that the common end goal for parties for and against immunization is the same; both parties want their children and the public to lead safe and healthy lives. The author points out that immunizations, which have eliminated numerous diseases that used to kill thousands of children, are the most cost-effective measure in all of medical science; children not immunized against measles have a 3500% higher risk of contracting measles than others. All children deserve the benefits of immunizations unless medically contraindicated. The paper relates that some people believe that vaccines are dangerous, that the government's power to deny individual rights is wrong, that vaccination does not constitute immunity, and that vaccines contain adjuvant substances known to amplify the body's response to the vaccine, which can sometimes cause allergic and autoimmune responses.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Those in Favor of Immunizations
Those Questioning Immunizations
Stakeholders
Interview of Health Care Providers
Parents Interviewed
Summary
From the Paper "For those promoters of vaccinations, the general belief is that "vaccination is modern medicine's greatest achievement." The goal would be to have 100% compliance. This group believes that vaccinations are necessary to the basic welfare of every child. "Public health officials take the stance that they are legally and morally obligated to act out of concern for the well being of every individual child, and the reality is that any unvaccinated child remains vulnerable to serious, even life-threatening diseases." Non-medical exemptions from immunizations also lower the level of protection in the general public."
Abstract This paper presents a project proposal for finding alternative suppliers of compressed natural gas (CNG) inspections for the Kingsgrove CNG powered fleet. The proposal explores the process for assuring that the new supplier is not only more costeffective, but that it will provide adequate services for the maintenance of safety standards and protocols.
Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
Part 1: Project Proposal
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Concept
2.1 The Aim
2.2 Objectives
2.3 Stakeholder Mapping
Summary of Plan
Part 2: Project Plan
4.1 Information Gathering
4.2 Selecting A Solution
4.3 Assessment Criteria
4.4 Project Timetable
4.5 Resource Schedule
4.6 Risk Assessment
4.7 Implementation
4.8 Evaluation
5.0 Recommendations
From the Paper "Kingsgrove was the first depot to adopt the use of alternative fuel in their buses. Currently, Kingsgrove has 104 buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The fuel tanks are owned by STA and must be certified as safe and fit for their intended purpose as part of an ongoing maintenance routine. When the project first began there was only one supplier to perform these inspection services. However, due to a recent price increase, Kingsgrove now wishes to explore alternative suppliers for services. The following proposal explores the process for assuring that the new supplier is not only more cost effective, but that they will provide adequate services for the maintenance of safety standards and protocols. As maintenance manager, it is my role to assure that this process is carried out in an efficient and effective manner."
