Practicum Focus Sheet Assessment
Practicum Focus Sheet, Assessment 1
Note: Expect to spend at least 2 hours with the patient, family, or group you’ll be working with during this portion of your practicum, assessing the health problem you’ve defined from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. This includes time you may elect to spend in consultation with subject matter or industry experts. You’ll report on the results of this work as part of your next assessment.
For this portion of your practicum, consider the following:
• Identify the patient, family, or group you intend to work with.
• Think about what you hope to learn.
o What’s your rationale for choosing this particular patient, family, or group?
• Consider how you’ll present your ideas about the problem to the patient, family, or group and convince them of its significance.
• Which leadership, collaboration, communication, and change management skills will you need to apply in order to work successfully with your chosen patient, family, or group?
• Which potential barriers do you foresee in presenting the problem to this patient, family, or group?
• Which change management strategies might you employ to overcome these barriers?
o For example, you might consider creating a sense of urgency supported by data or policy requirements.
Assessment 01 – Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations
For this assessment, define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Assess the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. 
Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the following to be the problem you focus on for your capstone project:
Patient Health Problems
Mental Illness: A broad range of conditions affecting mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Treatment may involve therapy, medication, and other interventions.
Communicable Diseases (such as HIV and STDs): Diseases that are spread from one person to another through various means. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) are infections spread through sexual contact. Prevention and treatment vary depending on the specific disease.
Family Health Problems
Anxiety: A mental health disorder characterized by excessive worry, fear, or nervousness. It can affect daily functioning and relationships within the family, especially if not understood or addressed.
Depression: A mood disorder causing persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. It can lead to physical symptoms and can impact a person’s ability to function within the family unit.
Population Health Problems
Communicable Diseases (such as HIV and STDs): Diseases that are spread from one person to another. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), while STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) encompass a range of infections spread through sexual contact.
Infectious Diseases (such as COVID-19, measles, tuberculosis, or influenza): Diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi. These diseases can spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another, and can lead to outbreaks or pandemics, affecting large portions of populations.
These health problems are significant challenges for healthcare providers and public health experts. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that includes preventive measures, early detection, and effective treatment strategies. Education and awareness campaigns, community engagement, and policy changes are also essential to improving population health outcomes.
After you have selected one of the problems from the list above, return to the detailed instructions in the courseroom to complete your assessment.