Benchmark – Integrating Health Care and Public Health Systems
When considering public health and health care systems and the services they provide, it is important to think about how these systems and services are integrated. Systems thinking tools are helpful to consider the various links, feedback loops, and decision points within a system to identify opportunities for improvement and increase efficiency.
For this assignment, select a low- or middle-income country of interest (the United States is not low- or middle-income) and assess its health system. In a 1,000-1,250-word paper, address the following:
- Apply a systems thinking tool, using a causal diagram or process map, to identify opportunities for how gaps in public health services can be bridged through a strong health system.
- Describe the major components of the health system.
- Discuss core services the health system provides and who manages them (government, private sector, a mix of both, etc.).
- Discuss who is responsible for paying for those services or who funds the provided services.
- Conclude by explaining how the selected systems thinking tool can be applied to better address an infectious disease in the selected country.
Make sure to submit the system thinking tool as part of the deliverable.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
How to Write the Benchmark – Integrating Health Care and Public Health Systems Assignment (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you’re a working university student, this assignment can look manageable at first—until you realize you’re being asked to combine systems thinking, global health analysis, public health financing, APA formatting, and a visual tool in a single paper.
This is not just a discussion paper.
It is a structured analytical assignment designed to test whether you can think beyond isolated problems and evaluate entire health systems.
This guide shows you how to approach the assignment strategically—and where most students lose marks.
Assignment Overview (Confirm You’re in the Right Place)
“When considering public health and health care systems and the services they provide, it is important to think about how these systems and services are integrated…”
You are required to:
-
Select one low- or middle-income country (NOT the United States)
-
Write a 1,000–1,250-word paper
-
Apply a systems thinking tool (causal loop diagram or process map)
-
Analyze the country’s health system structure
-
Explain services, governance, and funding
-
Show how systems thinking can address an infectious disease
-
Submit the diagram/map as part of the deliverable
-
Follow APA guidelines
-
Submit through LopesWrite
-
Meet all rubric criteria
This is a high-integration assignment—not a summary exercise.
Why Students Struggle With This Assignment
Many students lose points because they:
-
Choose a country but analyze it superficially
-
Describe the health system without systems thinking
-
Include a diagram but don’t explain it clearly
-
Forget to connect systems gaps to public health services
-
Struggle to explain who funds and manages care
-
Treat the diagram as an add-on instead of a core requirement
-
Miss APA or LopesWrite requirements
This assignment rewards structure, logic, and synthesis, not length.
Step 1: Choose the Country Strategically
Pick a country where:
-
Health system information is accessible
-
Public health challenges are well documented
-
Infectious diseases are relevant (e.g., TB, malaria, HIV, cholera)
Good choices often include:
-
Kenya
-
India
-
Nigeria
-
Bangladesh
-
Uganda
Avoid countries with limited data—you’ll struggle to support claims.
Step 2: Select the Right Systems Thinking Tool
You must include one systems thinking tool:
-
Causal loop diagram (shows feedback loops and relationships)
-
Process map (shows how services flow through the system)
High-scoring papers:
-
Clearly label system components
-
Show how gaps in public health services occur
-
Highlight feedback loops, delays, or decision points
Low-scoring papers:
-
Include a diagram with no explanation
-
Use overly complex or unclear visuals
Your diagram should support your argument, not confuse the reader.
Step 3: Organize the Paper Around the Rubric
Recommended Structure
Introduction (100–150 words)
-
Brief overview of the selected country
-
Importance of systems thinking in health systems
-
Purpose of the paper
Systems Thinking Application (200–250 words)
-
Explain the chosen tool
-
Describe what it shows about the health system
-
Identify where gaps in public health services exist
-
Explain how stronger integration can bridge those gaps
Major Components of the Health System (200–250 words)
Discuss:
-
Governance and leadership
-
Health workforce
-
Health information systems
-
Medical products and technologies
Tie each component to real-world function.
Core Health Services and Management (200–250 words)
Explain:
-
What services are provided (preventive, curative, public health)
-
Who manages them (government, private, NGOs, or mixed)
-
How coordination (or lack of it) affects outcomes
Health System Financing (200–200 words)
Discuss:
-
Who pays for services
-
Role of government funding
-
Out-of-pocket costs
-
Donor or international funding
-
Impact on access and equity
This is a key systems thinking section—don’t rush it.
Applying Systems Thinking to an Infectious Disease (150–200 words)
-
Select a relevant infectious disease
-
Explain how the systems thinking tool helps identify intervention points
-
Show how integration improves prevention, treatment, and outcomes
Conclusion (100 words)
-
Reinforce the value of systems thinking
-
Summarize how it improves efficiency and public health outcomes
Step 4: The Diagram Must Be Integrated, Not Isolated
You must:
-
Submit the diagram with the paper
-
Reference it clearly in the text
-
Explain how it supports your analysis
Common mistake:
Attaching the diagram but never explaining it.
That alone can cost significant rubric points.
Step 5: APA Style and LopesWrite (Do Not Ignore)
You must:
-
Use credible, scholarly sources
-
Apply APA formatting
-
Paraphrase carefully
-
Avoid generic phrasing common in global health topics
Because many students write about the same countries:
-
LopesWrite similarity is common
-
Poor paraphrasing leads to flags
Always cite and explain in your own words.
Time Reality Check
To do this assignment well, you’ll need time to:
-
Research a health system
-
Understand systems thinking tools
-
Create a clear diagram
-
Integrate visuals into analysis
-
Write a structured academic paper
-
Format APA references
-
Check originality
For students balancing work, family, and multiple courses, this can be overwhelming.
When Getting Help Is the Smart Choice
This assignment is especially challenging if you:
-
Are short on time
-
Have never used systems thinking tools before
-
Struggle with global health financing concepts
-
Are unsure how to integrate diagrams into writing
-
Want to avoid LopesWrite issues
-
Need help aligning with the rubric
Many students seek help here not because they don’t understand public health, but because this assignment requires analysis + visualization + academic writing at once.
Need Help With This Systems Thinking Assignment?
We can help you complete this assignment accurately and confidently:
-
Country-specific health system analysis -
Correct use of causal loop diagrams or process maps
-
Clear identification of public health gaps
-
Funding and governance analysis
-
Infectious disease application
-
APA-formatted references
-
Original, LopesWrite-safe content
-
Diagram included and explained
Send us your assignment instructions and deadline, and we’ll tell you quickly how we can help—confidentially and professionally.
Final Thought
This assignment isn’t just about public health theory.
It’s about learning to see systems, not silos.
Knowing the facts is easy.
Connecting them into a system that explains real-world outcomes is what earns the grade.
And sometimes, the smartest system improvement is asking for expert support.
