Your team has been hired as consultants by Acme Health Systems (AHS), which is pursuing aggressive growth in Northern Virginia(commonly referred to

Your team has been hired as consultants by Acme Health Systems (AHS), which is pursuing aggressive growth in Northern Virginia(commonly referred to as NOVA and comprised, for the purpose of this exercise, of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, and Manassas Park). AHS intends to create a fully integrated health network across NOVA, in part by acquiring existing facilities and partially by building additional resources.

NOVA is a diverse region, representing both some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the nation and large ethnic populations, including Hispanics, Koreans, and Somalis, many of whom are recent immigrants. the region is also among the fastest growing in population in the United States.

AHS has asked that you and your team provide recommendations regarding the long-term care needs of the region. Usinginformation available on-line, including census, HHS, and resources introduced during this course, prepare a report for AHS that details:

1. The LTC market in NOVA. Is there a need for additional LTC capabilities? If so, what do you recommend, limiting any suggestion to no more than two types of provider (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home care, and hospice)?

2. Mechanisms to promote quality outcomes. Consider both policy mechanisms by payers and government as well as specific organizational programs LTC administrators can initiate on their own.

3. Traits and training that LTC administrators and staff will need to be effective in nursing homes, assisted living, and home care organizations; including addressing cultural competency. Consider the key similarities and differences within an institutional and community-based organizational environment.

4. The approach and ability to serve populations with special needs (e.g., Alzheimer's disease). What are some of the programmatic and ethical issues that a LTC administrator faces in dealing with this rapidly growing population? How can these issues be effectively integrated into optimal programs for this special population?