WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health
Improvement Plan Exam 2026 Edition 100
Advanced Questions with Answers and
Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–25
Question 1
A community hospital identifies that adults with uncontrolled hypertension have a 30-day
readmission rate of 21%, compared with the national benchmark of 12%.
Which action should be completed FIRST when developing a population health improvement
plan?
A. Develop educational brochures
B. Conduct a community health needs assessment and root cause analysis
C. Purchase home blood pressure monitors
D. Recruit additional nurses
Answer: B
Rationale:
Before selecting interventions, the organization should assess population needs, contributing
factors, available resources, and barriers to care. Root cause analysis ensures interventions
address underlying causes rather than symptoms.
Question 2
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of population health?
A. Improve outcomes for individual patients only
B. Reduce hospital expenditures
,WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
C. Improve health outcomes of defined populations while reducing disparities
D. Increase specialist referrals
Answer: C
Rationale:
Population health emphasizes improving outcomes across groups while addressing social
determinants, prevention, equity, and resource utilization.
Question 3
Which outcome measure is the BEST indicator of intervention effectiveness for a diabetes
improvement program?
A. Number of pamphlets distributed
B. Number of nurses trained
C. Percentage of patients achieving HbA1c <7%
D. Number of clinic appointments available
Answer: C
Rationale:
Clinical outcomes directly evaluate whether interventions improve patient health. The other
options are process or structural measures.
Question 4
A nurse identifies transportation barriers as the primary reason patients miss follow-up
appointments.
Which intervention most directly addresses this social determinant of health?
A. Increase office hours
B. Provide transportation vouchers
C. Increase medication doses
,WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
D. Hire additional physicians
Answer: B
Rationale:
Transportation assistance directly targets access barriers and is associated with improved
appointment adherence.
Question 5
Which framework is MOST appropriate when planning, implementing, and evaluating
community interventions?
A. Maslow's Hierarchy
B. CDC Framework for Program Evaluation
C. Kubler-Ross Model
D. Tanner Clinical Judgment Model
Answer: B
Rationale:
The CDC Framework guides stakeholder engagement, evaluation design, evidence collection,
interpretation, and dissemination of findings.
Question 6
A county reports:
Obesity: 39%
Diabetes: 16%
Food insecurity: 24%
Physical inactivity: 34%
Which intervention would likely produce the greatest long-term population impact?
A. Increase insulin prescriptions
B. Establish community healthy food access and exercise initiatives
, WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
C. Expand ICU capacity
D. Increase emergency department staffing
Answer: B
Rationale:
Addressing upstream determinants such as nutrition and physical activity can reduce obesity,
diabetes, and related chronic diseases.
Question 7
Which stakeholder is MOST essential when designing culturally appropriate interventions?
A. Hospital finance department
B. Community members representing the target population
C. Insurance companies
D. State legislators
Answer: B
Rationale:
Community engagement ensures interventions are culturally relevant, acceptable, and more
likely to succeed.
Question 8
A SMART objective should include:
A. Broad recommendations
B. Specific measurable outcomes with a timeline
C. Unlimited flexibility
D. Financial projections only
Answer: B
WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health
Improvement Plan Exam 2026 Edition 100
Advanced Questions with Answers and
Detailed Rationales
Questions 1–25
Question 1
A community hospital identifies that adults with uncontrolled hypertension have a 30-day
readmission rate of 21%, compared with the national benchmark of 12%.
Which action should be completed FIRST when developing a population health improvement
plan?
A. Develop educational brochures
B. Conduct a community health needs assessment and root cause analysis
C. Purchase home blood pressure monitors
D. Recruit additional nurses
Answer: B
Rationale:
Before selecting interventions, the organization should assess population needs, contributing
factors, available resources, and barriers to care. Root cause analysis ensures interventions
address underlying causes rather than symptoms.
Question 2
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of population health?
A. Improve outcomes for individual patients only
B. Reduce hospital expenditures
,WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
C. Improve health outcomes of defined populations while reducing disparities
D. Increase specialist referrals
Answer: C
Rationale:
Population health emphasizes improving outcomes across groups while addressing social
determinants, prevention, equity, and resource utilization.
Question 3
Which outcome measure is the BEST indicator of intervention effectiveness for a diabetes
improvement program?
A. Number of pamphlets distributed
B. Number of nurses trained
C. Percentage of patients achieving HbA1c <7%
D. Number of clinic appointments available
Answer: C
Rationale:
Clinical outcomes directly evaluate whether interventions improve patient health. The other
options are process or structural measures.
Question 4
A nurse identifies transportation barriers as the primary reason patients miss follow-up
appointments.
Which intervention most directly addresses this social determinant of health?
A. Increase office hours
B. Provide transportation vouchers
C. Increase medication doses
,WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
D. Hire additional physicians
Answer: B
Rationale:
Transportation assistance directly targets access barriers and is associated with improved
appointment adherence.
Question 5
Which framework is MOST appropriate when planning, implementing, and evaluating
community interventions?
A. Maslow's Hierarchy
B. CDC Framework for Program Evaluation
C. Kubler-Ross Model
D. Tanner Clinical Judgment Model
Answer: B
Rationale:
The CDC Framework guides stakeholder engagement, evaluation design, evidence collection,
interpretation, and dissemination of findings.
Question 6
A county reports:
Obesity: 39%
Diabetes: 16%
Food insecurity: 24%
Physical inactivity: 34%
Which intervention would likely produce the greatest long-term population impact?
A. Increase insulin prescriptions
B. Establish community healthy food access and exercise initiatives
, WGU D517 Task 2: Population Health Improvement Plan Exam
C. Expand ICU capacity
D. Increase emergency department staffing
Answer: B
Rationale:
Addressing upstream determinants such as nutrition and physical activity can reduce obesity,
diabetes, and related chronic diseases.
Question 7
Which stakeholder is MOST essential when designing culturally appropriate interventions?
A. Hospital finance department
B. Community members representing the target population
C. Insurance companies
D. State legislators
Answer: B
Rationale:
Community engagement ensures interventions are culturally relevant, acceptable, and more
likely to succeed.
Question 8
A SMART objective should include:
A. Broad recommendations
B. Specific measurable outcomes with a timeline
C. Unlimited flexibility
D. Financial projections only
Answer: B
