Presented by:
Dr. Shirley Collar, RHIA &
Sheila Newberry, M.Ed., RHIT
(Program Director)
Health Information
Management/Coding/Informatics
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Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined
process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing,
applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or
evaluating information gathered from, or
generated by, observation, experience, reflection,
reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief
and action.
It is based on universal intellectual values that
transcend subject matter divisions: clarity,
accuracy, precision, consistency, relevance,
sound evidence, good reasons, depth, breadth,
and fairness
◦ A statement by Michael Scriven & Richard Paul presented at the
8th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and
Education Reform, Summer 1987
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Robert H. Ennis, Author of The Cornell Critical
Thinking Tests
Critical thinking is reasonable, reflective
thinking that is focused on deciding what to
believe and do.
Good critical thinking is skillful and
responsible thinking in which you study the
problem from all angles, and then exercise
your best judgment to draw conclusions.
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Critical thinking refers to the thought
processes used to evaluate information and
the practice of using such conclusions to
guide behavior (Dictionary.com).
The critical thinking process is the ultimate
information filtering process in the absence of
emotional barriers (Xander Hamilton-Reeves,
www.articleflame.com).
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The Definition Game
◦ Group One
 Identify an object in the room (e.g. chair, mobile
phone)
 Ask Group Two to provide a definition.
◦ Group One is responsible for criticizing the
definition
◦ Group Two continues to modify the definition to
deal with objections from Group One.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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How do you shift your student’s thinking from
“basic” critical thinking to a higher level of analysis
and evaluation?
What is the impact of adding “What If” to a specific
critical thinking scenario?
How can you write 4 levels of the same scenario
utilizing 3 “What If’s”?
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Robert Loft is a pharmaceutical salesman for CC Pharmacy
Company. He has worked for them for twelve years. In those twelve
years, he has had glowing evaluations and was named salesperson
of the year five times. Dr. Leonard is a general medical practitioner
who has known Loft for about four years. They have a very good
relationship and play golf at the same country club. Last week, Loft
brought in approximately 30 bottles (15 pills per bottle) of an
extremely expensive children's vitamin. Dr. Leonard's practice is
about 40% low income families so Robert tries to give Dr. Leonard
as many free samples as he can. The office staff, (about 5) decides
to take home two bottles each of the new vitamins for their
children. They encourage you to do the same; you do not
participate.
Robert Loft stops by and as he is stocking the medicine shelf with
other samples, he notices 10 bottles of the new vitamins were gone.
He asked Dr. Leonard if he wanted him to bring him more vitamin
samples and was shocked to learn Dr. Leonard has not yet
dispensed any of the vitamins to his patients. When Dr. Leonard
questions his staff about the missing vitamins, the staff tells him
Robert gave them permission to take the samples for their own
personal use. You know firsthand this is a lie. Robert is now being
labeled as a thief and a liar, his job is in jeopardy, his boss
distrusts him, and his reputation is marred and smeared.
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Utilizing the ARC’s 6 step process, analyze and evaluate the scenario
Loft vs. Dr. Leonard
1) Communication: Define the problem in your own words.
2) Analysis: Compare & contrast the available solutions within the
scenario.
3) Problem Solving: Select one of the available solutions and defend it
as your chosen solution.
4) Evaluation: Identify the weaknesses of your chosen solution.
5) Synthesis: Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your chosen
solution (may use information not contained within the scenario).
6) Reflection: Reflect on your own thought process after completing
the assignment.
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Writing 4 levels of the same scenario utilizing 3 “What If’s”. Creating
a paradigm shift from basic critical thinking to a higher order of
analysis and evaluation.
Level 1 Basic: Only Robert and one of Dr. Leonard’s employee’s
knows the truth. Dr. Leonard and Robert’s employer believe he is
guilty.
Level 2 Reflection shift “What If”: Only Robert and Dr. Leonard’s staff
know the vitamins were taken. Neither Dr. Leonard or Robert’s
employer knows anything about the missing vitamins.
Level 3 Reflection shift “What If”: Only Robert, Robert’s employer,
and Dr. Leonard’s staff know the vitamins were taken. Dr. Leonard
does not know anything about the missing vitamins.
Level 4 Reflection shift “What If”: Only Dr. Leonard, Robert’s
employer, and Dr. Leonard’s staff know the vitamins were taken.
Robert does not know he is being accused of telling the staff it
is ok to take the vitamins home for their children.
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Utilizing the ARC’s 6 step process, analyze and evaluate the
scenario Loft vs. Dr. Leonard utilizing the information in
Levels 2 - 4
1) Communication: Define the problem.
2) Analysis: Compare & contrast the available solutions.
3) Problem Solving: Select one of the available solutions and
defend it.
4) Evaluation: Identify any weaknesses in your solution.
5) Synthesis: Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your
solution.
6) Reflection: Reflect on your critical thinking thought process.
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Agnes Winters is a 58 year old computer support analyst at Heller
Technologies. On January 3, 2011 Agnes went to Booker's Drug
Store to pick up her prescription for Coumadin. While at the store,
Agnes slipped and fell in front of the ice machine on ice chips that
had spilled out from a broken bag. The owner of Booker's felt Agnes
needed to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and called for
transportation. Luckily, Agnes only sustained multiple bruising on
her right upper arm, right hip, and lower right leg. She had no other
injuries or side effects from the fall. Agnes' insurance company,
Medical General, paid for the emergency room visit but is refusing to
pay for the ambulance transport to the hospital. The insurance
company did not feel Agnes presented herself as being in a lifedeath situation that warranted an ambulance. Medical General
Insurance believes that Booker's Drug Store should be responsible
for the $550.00 transport charge due to the Emergency Services
Ambulance Company.
After seeking legal advice, Agnes is trying to decide if she should
file a lawsuit against Booker's Drug Store and actually go to trial
court. Her other options would be to file the lawsuit and choose to
settle the dispute through arbitration or mediation.
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Utilizing the ARC’s 6 step process, analyze and evaluate the scenario
Winters vs. Booker’s Drug Store
1) Communication: Define the problem in your own words.
2) Analysis: Compare & contrast the available solutions within the
scenario.
3) Problem Solving: Select one of the available solutions and defend it
as your chosen solution.
4) Evaluation: Identify the weaknesses of your chosen solution.
5) Synthesis: Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your chosen
solution (may use information not contained within the scenario).
6) Reflection: Reflect on your own thought process after completing
the assignment.

Writing 4 levels of the same scenario utilizing 3 “What If’s”. Creating a
paradigm shift from basic critical thinking to a higher order of analysis
and evaluation.
Level 1 Basic: The owner of Booker's Drug Store felt Agnes needed to be
taken to the hospital by ambulance and called for transportation.
Level 2 Reflection shift “What If”: The owner of Booker's Drug Store was
not in the building at the time Agnes fell and the on-staff Pharmacist
felt Agnes needed to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and called
for transportation.
Level 3 Reflection shift “What If”: The owner of Booker's Drug Store was
not in the building at the time Agnes fell and the day shift supervisor
felt Agnes needed to be taken to the hospital by ambulance and called
for transportation.
Level 4 Reflection shift “What If”: The day shift supervisor had an
emergency phone call from home and left the building. The owner of
Booker’s drug store was in the back storage room doing his monthly
stock inventory and came out when he heard the ambulance pull in the
parking lot. One of his part-time employees felt Agnes needed to be
taken to the hospital by ambulance and called for transportation.
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Utilizing the ARC’s 6 step process, analyze and evaluate the scenario
Winters vs. Booker’s Drug Store utilizing the information in Levels 2 - 4
1) Communication: Define the problem.
2) Analysis: Compare & contrast the available solutions.
3) Problem Solving: Select one of the available solutions and defend it.
4) Evaluation: Identify any weaknesses in your solution.
5) Synthesis: Suggest ways to improve/strengthen your solution.
6) Reflection: Reflect on your critical thinking thought process.
Thank You!!!
Shirley & Sheila