NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 2 Define and Analyze Your Healthcare Process Problem or Issue of Concern

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Capella university

NURS-FPX4905 Capstone Project for Nursing

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Define and Analyze Your Healthcare Process Problem or Issue of Concern

The practicum experience at The Longevity Center provides an immersive opportunity to explore integrative and regenerative medicine practices. This experience emphasizes natural treatments, holistic care, and patient-centered healing. Through hands-on involvement, the practicum supports the development of practical skills in clinical decision-making while also building an understanding of novel therapies aimed at addressing chronic conditions at their root.

This analysis examines the practicum setting, the processes guiding clinical and operational decision-making, and a key process problem that directly influences diagnosis and treatment outcomes in regenerative medicine.

Practicum Setting Overview

The Longevity Center is an integrative and regenerative medicine clinic that merges conventional medical practices with alternative therapeutic approaches. The facility emphasizes individualized, patient-focused care designed to optimize wellness and apply regenerative medicine techniques. Its patient base is diverse, ranging from healthy individuals seeking preventive or anti-aging interventions to patients with chronic illnesses requiring restorative therapies (The Longevity Center, 2024a).

The clinic’s healthcare team consists of three full-time professionals who operate in a collaborative, multidisciplinary format. Their clinical work involves developing personalized treatment plans, evaluating therapeutic responses, and making decisions that support long-term recovery. As a practicum participant, engaging in both clinical and operational discussions offers valuable exposure to decision-making processes. Additionally, The Longevity Center invests heavily in continuous learning through clinical experience, academic resources, and educational materials, cultivating an environment that encourages professional development and reflective practice (The Longevity Center, 2024a).

Clinical and Operational Decision-Making at The Longevity Center

Clinical and operational decisions play a crucial role in shaping patient outcomes. Clinical choices often involve selecting the appropriate regenerative treatment, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) or stem cell injections, determining dosage, and confirming patient eligibility through diagnostic tools such as the Longevity blood panel (The Longevity Center, 2024b). Operationally, decisions focus on managing patient scheduling, optimizing clinic workflow, maintaining medical equipment, and ensuring thorough documentation.

Table 1 outlines examples of clinical versus operational decision-making:

Table 1
Examples of Clinical and Operational Decision-Making at The Longevity Center

Type of Decision	Examples	Impact on Practice
Clinical Decisions	Selecting PRP vs. stem cell therapy; determining treatment timing/dose; interpreting diagnostic blood panels	Influences patient eligibility, safety, and treatment efficacy
Operational Decisions	Scheduling patient procedures; documenting treatment progress; ensuring stock of biological materials	Improves clinic efficiency, reduces delays, and supports continuity of care

Clinical decision-making also requires responsiveness to patient outcomes. For instance, inflammatory responses or delayed healing may necessitate modifying treatment plans or adjusting techniques in real time (Majewska et al., 2025). Outcomes from these decisions are tracked through follow-up evaluations such as pain scales, mobility tests, and satisfaction surveys, which help measure treatment success.

Identifying a Process Issue Related to Diagnosis and Outcomes in Regenerative Care

One major process issue at The Longevity Center is the delayed and inconsistent diagnostic process for patients presenting with complex conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, fatigue syndromes, or chronic pain. Unlike conventional healthcare systems, which often follow standardized diagnostic protocols, many patients at The Longevity Center arrive after visiting multiple specialists without receiving a clear diagnosis. This results in gaps in care and delays in initiating effective regenerative treatments (Dutra et al., 2025).

The diagnostic problem is further compounded by incomplete intake records and insufficient prior evaluations, which require clinic staff to repeat assessments. Although advanced testing such as regenerative blood panels is available, the process remains slow and inconsistent. These delays negatively impact patient outcomes by prolonging physical suffering, reducing trust in healthcare systems, and sometimes worsening chronic conditions.

Impact Analysis of Diagnostic Delays on Quality, Safety, and Cost

The diagnostic delays have significant implications across three domains: quality of care, patient safety, and cost of treatment.

• Quality: Without timely diagnostics, regenerative therapies may be mismatched to patient needs, reducing effectiveness. Patients may also experience frustration or dissatisfaction due to prolonged suffering (Popescu et al., 2021).

• Safety: Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis can worsen chronic inflammation, lead to tissue degeneration, or increase the likelihood of unnecessary surgical interventions (Kvarnström et al., 2021).

• Cost: Delays increase financial burdens on both the clinic and patients. Repeated testing, extended treatment timelines, and high procedure costs (e.g., PRP averaging $707–$1,797) add to overall expenditures (Charnoff et al., 2022).

Table 2 summarizes the impact of diagnostic delays:

Table 2
Impact of Diagnostic Delays in Regenerative Care

Domain	Effects of Delays	Consequences
Quality	Slower initiation of treatments; mismatch of therapy to condition	Reduced treatment efficacy; patient dissatisfaction
Safety	Prolonged chronic conditions; risk of irreversible damage	Need for more invasive procedures; higher risk of complications
Cost	Increased reassessment needs; out-of-pocket costs for patients	Financial strain; limited access to continued care

According to Slawomirski et al. (2025), diagnostic errors in OECD countries cost approximately 17.5% of healthcare expenditures. Improving diagnostic accuracy and speed could significantly reduce both financial strain and negative health outcomes.

Conclusion

The practicum at The Longevity Center highlights both the strengths and challenges of regenerative medicine. While the clinic excels in delivering patient-centered and innovative care, diagnostic inefficiencies pose a significant barrier to achieving optimal outcomes. Delayed or incomplete diagnostics negatively affect quality, safety, and cost, creating frustration for patients who already struggled with conventional systems.

To address this issue, implementing streamlined and standardized diagnostic protocols is essential. This would allow earlier interventions, reduce unnecessary costs, and improve patient trust and outcomes. Ultimately, refining this process would enhance the clinic’s mission of promoting long-term wellness through natural, regenerative therapies.

References

Charnoff, J., Rothman, R., Andres Bergos, J., Rodeo, S., Casey, E., & Cheng, J. (2022). Variability in patient-incurred costs and protocols of regenerative medicine procedures for musculoskeletal conditions in the United States. HSS Journal®: The Musculoskeletal Journal of Hospital for Special Surgery, 19(1), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316221105880

Dutra, S., Reigado, G. R., Santos, M., Sardinha, D., Hernandes, S., Marchi, B. L., Zhivov, E., Chambergo, F. S., & Nunes, V. A. (2025). Advances in regenerative medicine-based approaches for skin regeneration and rejuvenation. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1527854

NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 2 Define and Analyze Your Healthcare Process Problem or Issue of Concern

Kvarnström, K., Westerholm, A., Airaksinen, M., & Liira, H. (2021). Factors contributing to medication adherence in patients with a chronic condition: A scoping review of qualitative research. Pharmaceutics, 13(7), 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13071100

Majewska, L., Kijowski, J., & Dorosz, K. (2025). Effect of patient age on Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and fibrin treatments for skin density and thickness: A single-center ultrasound study. Life, 15(2), 308–308. https://doi.org/10.3390/life15020308

Popescu, M. N., Iliescu, M. G., Beiu, C., Popa, L. G., Mihai, M. M., Berteanu, & Ionescu, A. M. (2021). Autologous platelet-rich plasma efficacy in the field of regenerative medicine: Product and quality control. BioMed Research International, 2021, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/4672959

Slawomirski, L., Kelly, D., de Bienassis, K., Kallas, K.-A., & Klazinga, N. (2025). The economics of diagnostic safety. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Health Working Papers. https://doi.org/10.1787/fc61057a-en

NURS FPX 4905 Assessment 2 Define and Analyze Your Healthcare Process Problem or Issue of Concern

The Longevity Center. (2024a). Integrative and regenerative treatments. The Longevity Center FL – Nurturing Health at Its Source. https://www.thelcfl.com/

The Longevity Center. (2024b). PRP Injections. The Longevity Center FL – Nurturing Health at Its Source. https://www.thelcfl.com/our-services/regenerative-therapies/prp-injections/