Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Reflective essay
Subject:
HSM401 Reflecting on Health Care Systems
Students examine the components of a health care system, building on their own experiences, to establish a
personal development framework. They investigate definitions and models of health; how health, illness and
disability are measured, particularly the determinants of health; how value can be measured and applied to different
interventions and the impacts they have on health status; and how choices are made in resource allocation.
Emerging trends linked to some complex and real issues confronting managers are considered in detail.
 be able to describe several models of health and illness;
 be able to identify, describe and analyse a variety of determinants of health;
 be able to identify, describe and analyse a model or framework of health most applicable to the health care
service they are involved with;
 be able to discuss different measures of health and illness, including morbidity and mortality;
 be able to identify and evaluate the principal statistics, including demographic statistics, required to measure
these concepts;
 be able to identify, describe and evaluate categories and examples of the typical measures currently used to
assess performance at service and system levels of delivery;
 be able to discuss the contribution of economic theory to the process of resource allocation in a health or
aged care context;
 be able to identify the role and contribution of different stakeholders to shaping the policy and delivery of
health and aged care services;
 be able to describe the relative significance of the principal components of health care system - by volume,
cost, mode of delivery, provider, funder, sector;
 be able to analyse the performance of the health and aged care systems from perspectives of equity,
accessibility, efficiency and accountability;
 be able to describe the components and characteristics of the health workforce;
 be able to evaluate the impact of gender, demographic, education, technology, economic, and industrial
conditions and issues on the health workforce;
 be able to analyse the effectiveness, efficiency and acceptability of current funding arrangements from a
Subject learning
outcomes:
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Assessment task:
Value & length:
Task description:
variety of stakeholder perspectives;
be able to discuss predictions of changes to funding models and the degree of acceptance from a variety of
stakeholder perspectives;
be able to describe health systems developments in a number of health systems other than their own;
be able to develop an ability to reflect deeply and critically to analyse experience and new information to
enhance an understanding of managerial thinking;
be able to use the approach of reflection to integrate new insights with their current understanding of health
system related issues;
be able reflect on the differences in thinking between clinicians, clinician-managers and managers on
conceptions of clinical work and accountability for the use of resources in a health or aged care context.
2. reflective essay
20%, 2500 words
Write an academic response on what you believe to be the four most important performance indicators in regard
to the core activities undertaken in your present work context. You are required to use the assessment criteria to
structure your response, guided by the weightings and implied word allocations. It may assist your thinking to rank
the activities you undertake in your work role/place in order of frequency and/or importance as you prepare for this
exercise. Please carefully read the assessment criteria as that specifies what your response will be assessed
against. This is an exercise in thinking about what is important to you, and the manner in which you construct and
justify your response given the information provided to you. You are not encouraged to "cut-and-paste"
performance indicators that might currently be used or reported on without considering all of the assessment
criteria.
Note: It is important to consider this task as a whole, and how each requirement should be met, before you
proceed. Important considerations are the context of performance measurement, and this is closely linked to your
definition/criteria for a performance indicator AND how a performance indicator can be used to allocate resources
(Hint = timeline e.g. pay-cycle). I have asked that you consider "performance indicators" and I regard them as
quite distinct from "Key Performance Indicators". Do not refer to KPIs.
1. Identify four specific performance indicators from a pool of potential PIs that you believe are the most
important in assessing the performance of the aspect of a health or aged care service you are most closely
involved with. Justify your selection and identify the specific criteria to warrant the most important designation.
(Note: It is useful, as well as important, to describe your present work context and role to enable the marker to
assess your selection and argument).
2. Justify how you would use your individual indicators to make decisions on the allocation of resources within
your work context?
3. Explain what data is required to support the construction of each of the indicators? (Hint: identify the numerator
and denominator plus the sources of your data)
4. Discuss whether you believe that the performance indicators you have identified are appropriate to all levels of
the health or aged care system.
5. Explain how the indicators demonstrate progress towards the attainment of health, or other objectives, consistent
with the prevailing formal model or construct of health or ageing that applies to the delivery of services.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
Developed by David Ritchie
Criteria
Introduction describes
work context, discusses
several definitions of a
performance indicator and
then justifies one as most
appropriate to work
context.
Identifies several specific
performance indicators
that you believe are
suitable in assessing the
performance of the aspect
of a health or aged care
service you are most
closely involved with
Explicitly identifies the
criteria used and then
justifies the selection of
the four most important
performance indicators
Explains the manner in
which the specific
performance indicators
are able to be used to
allocate resources
Identifies the manner in
which the performance
indicators can be
constructed and the data
required to support them.
HD
A clear and distinct
description of work
context and role, critically
analysing several
definitions of a
performance indicator and
identifies the criteria to
justify the selection of one
definition as the most
appropriate. 2 marks
Uses the preferred
definition of a
performance indicator to
justify the identification of
a selection of potential
performance indicators,
and explains in detail why
they are suitable. 2 marks
Clearly and succinctly
describes the process of
establishing the criteria to
justify the most important
performance indicator
designation, and then
justifies the selection of
the four most important
performance indicators. 4
marks
Explains in detail how
feedback from each
specific performance
indicator is able to be
used to allocate
resources. 4 marks
Explains in detail how
each performance
indicator is constructed,
identifying the numerator
and denominator, and
DI
A clear and distinct
description of work
context and role,
analysing several
definitions of a
performance indicator and
justifies the selection of
one definition as the most
appropriate. 1.75 marks
CR
A clear description of work
context and role,
discussing several
definitions of a
performance indicator and
selects one definition as
appropriate. 1.5 marks
PS
A clear description of work
context and role,
discussing two definitions
of a performance indicator
and selects one definition
as appropriate 1.25 marks
FL
A clear description of work
context and role but no
discussion or selection of
any definition of a
performance indicator.
0.75 marks
Uses the preferred
definition of a
performance indicator to
justify the identification of
a selection of potential
performance indicators,
and explains why they are
suitable. 1.75 marks
Describes the criteria to
justify the most important
performance indicator
designation, and then
justifies the selection of
the four most important
Performance indicators.
3.5 marks
Identifies a selection of
potential performance
indicators and explains
why they are suitable. 1.5
marks
Identifies a selection of
potential performance
indicators. 1.25 marks
Identifies four
performance indicators.
0.75 marks
Describes the criteria to
justify the most important
performance indicator
designation, and selects
the four most important
performance indicators.
3.0 marks
Briefly describes the
criteria to select the most
important performance
indicator designation, and
selects four performance
indicators. 2.5 marks
Briefly describes why the
four performance
indicators are the most
important. 1.5 marks
Explains how feedback
from each specific
performance indicator is
able to be used to allocate
resources. 3.5 marks
Explains in general terms
how each specific
performance indicator can
be used to allocate
resources. 3.0 marks
States that the
performance indicators
are able to be used to
allocate resources without
explaining how. 1.5 marks
Explains in simple terms
how each performance
indicator is constructed,
identifying the numerator
and denominator, and
Identifies the numerator
and denominator for each
performance indicator and
in general terms where
data is sourced from. 1.5
Explains in general terms
and collectively how
performance indicators
are able to be used to
allocate resources.
2.5marks
Identifies the numerator
and denominator for each
performance indicator and
collectively where data is
sourced from. 1.25 marks
Identifies the numerator
and denominator of some
performance indicators
but not where data is
sourced from. 0.75 marks
Discusses whether the
performance indicators
apply to all levels of the
health system
Explains how the selected
most important
performance indicators
relate to an identified
model or construct of
health
Assignment presentation
includes appropriate use
of learning resources
provided, as well as any
additional research,
citation and referencing
specifically where data is
sourced from. 2 marks
Presents a succinct and
critical analysis of the
relationship between the
specific most important
performance indicators
selected and their
relevance at different
levels of the health care
system. 2 marks
Presents a succinct and
critical explanation of how
the most important
performance indicators
demonstrate progress
towards expected health
or performance outcomes.
2 marks
Located, evaluated and
synthesised highly
relevant information from
subject and local sources
that substantially
supported your profile.
Accurately and
consistently adhered to
APA referencing
conventions in both in text
referencing and the
reference list 2 marks
where data is sourced
from. 1.75 marks
Discusses the relationship
between the specific most
important performance
indicators selected and
their relevance at different
levels of the health care
system. 1.75 marks
marks
Discusses the relevance
of the selected most
important performance
indicators to one other
level of the health care
system. 1.5 marks
Discusses in a summary
fashion the relevance of
the selected most
important performance
indicators to one other
level of the health care
system. 1.25 marks
Discusses in general
terms how performance
indicators are used in the
health care system. 0.75
marks
Explains how the most
important performance
indicators demonstrate
progress towards
expected health or
performance outcomes.
1.75 marks
Describes a model or
framework of health that
the performance
indicators relate to without
a brief explanation of how
they demonstrate
progress towards goals or
outcomes. 1.5 marks
Located, evaluated and
incorporated a range of
relevant information from
subject and local sources
that supported your
profile. Accurately
adhered to APA
referencing conventions in
both in text referencing
and the reference list 1.5
marks
Describes a model or
framework of health that
the performance
indicators relate to without
explaining in detail how
they demonstrate
progress towards goals or
outcomes. 1.25 marks
Located and collated
partly relevant information
from subject and local
sources that provided
some support for your
profile. Attempt made to
adhere to APA
referencing conventions in
both in text referencing
and the reference list, but
with errors. 1.25 marks
States that the selected
performance indicators
relate to an identified
model or construct of
health 0.75 marks
Located, evaluated and
synthesised relevant
information from subject
and local sources that
supported your profile.
Almost always accurately
and consistently adhered
to APA referencing
conventions in both in text
referencing and the
reference list 1.75 marks
Used information from
sources that are tenuously
related to your topic. Did
not adhere to APA
referencing conventions in
both in text referencing
and the reference list 0.75
marks