Healthcare Management

90-721

Units: 6

Description

This course introduces students to the knowledge and skills required to strategically manage the rapidly changing internal and external environment of health care organizations. Through readings, lectures, class discussions and case reviews, the course is designed to provide students with a foundation in contemporary health care organizational structures and management practices. Students will explore problems and decisions facing health care executives in areas such as clinical quality, organizational effectiveness, efficiency, growth, stakeholder conflicts, provider incentives, margin versus mission tradeoffs, human resources, strategic planning and the like, all in a highly complex political environment.

A primary theme of this course is the application of ethical management practices as codified in the American College of Healthcare Executives’ Code of Ethics. By providing a general overview of the responsibilities of health care leaders and managers, students will have a contextual reference for the application of future coursework.

This is a hybrid course where discussion will take place both in the classroom and online via Canvas. Several lectures have been taped and should be watched before coming to class in order to ensure preparation and participation. In lieu of assignments, students will be required to respond to prompts / exercises in class and on the Canvas discussion board and interact with their fellow students. Excellent attendance and active participation are required in order to succeed in the class.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Delve into the primary components and functions of health care provider organizations
Assess the unique challenges involved in managing complex health care organizations
Appraise the motivations and interests of key internal and external stakeholders and the role of the health care executive in managing expectations and communicating with these stakeholders
Weigh common problems and decisions faced by health care managers, and explore the implications of various alternative strategic solutions
Adopt professional, ethical approaches to decision-making in order to respond to complex problems facing health care executives

Prerequisites Description

Co-requisite: 90836 Health Systems, and enrollment in the MS Health Care Policy and Management degree program.