Health Administration - Courses

This course introduces the history and evolution of our health care system. The structure and function of health care organizations, internally and with one another, is examined in depth. A systems approach to administration and management is covered within the health care context. The organization of health services is reviewed with an overview of the interaction among, and the integration of, the major health care subsystems: primary; secondary; tertiary; long-term; palliative; special populations/disorders. Delivering health care in a systematic and integrated framework is stressed throughout the course.

This course examines organizational leadership; the role that visionary leaders play in empowering employees, providing the environment for effective work units; and harnessing diversity (organizational, cognitive, and physio-cultural) for competitive advantage.

This course is an introduction to quantitative research methods in general, and health care research methods in particular. First, an overview of research is given with attention to various purposes and approaches. Next, the components of the quantitative research process are studied, including the research problem, review of the literature, methodology, human subjects concerns, collection of data, analysis, results of the data, and conclusions. Statistical software is introduced as a tool to analyze, interpret and present data. Emphasis is on understanding the concepts of statistical analysis, choosing appropriate tools, and procedures to use in a given context, using the computer to carry out the procedures, and then interpreting the computer results within the given context.

This course introduces all of the fundamental elements of informatics; health information systems, health records systems, and information technology. The clinical and administrative information needs and use of computer tools of a health care organization are covered. Students will study the interrelationships between administrative data and clinical systems. Students will study the differences between and Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Electronic Health Record (EHR), and a Personal Health Record (PHR). The course also covers the role and function of Health Information Exchanges (HIE) such as a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO).

This course reviews the current state of human resource management and labor relations in the health care system. The course examines human resource planning, recruiting, retention, job analysis/descriptions, performance appraisal, and orientation. Current employment and labor law is examined for its impact on health care organizations and employees. Students will explore the status of organized labor and health administrator roles/responsibilities when interacting with non-unionized orunionized units.

This course addresses Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement and Risk Management in health care from a systems thinker's point of view. The conceptual framework for the course is threefold in nature: 1) Continuous Quality Improvement/Total Quality Management (CQI/TQM) and Outcomes Assessment, currently the most comprehensive and well-established framework for Healthcare Quality Management, 2) Risk Management, which is the most effective way of preventing adverse quality of care issues, and (3) Lean Six Sigma. Topics included in the course are 1) the history of Quality Management in healthcare from 1900 to the present, including the roles of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), 2) a brief introduction to the principles of systems thinking and their application in the healthcare setting, 3) the Principles, Processes and Tools of Quality Management with an emphasis on Lean Six Sigma, 4) an overview of other approaches to Quality Management (e.g., Re-engineering, ISO 9000) and how they fit into the CQI/TQM framework, 5) the history of Risk Management in health care, 6) Risk management techniques such as risk reduction, informed consent, the medical record as evidence of quality care, reporting adverse occurrences, implementing a service recovery plan to address patient/family concerns and grievances, and 7) the introduction and use of these concepts and tools in real healthcare settings today.

Because health care administration is increasingly complex, many leaders are turning to a tool that has long been used successfully by business leaders and sports figures – professional coaches. Leadership coaching is about becoming the most effective leader you can be. It’s not about fixing your weaknesses; it’s about embracing who you really are. It’s about tapping into your strengths, your gifts, and your unique abilities – why you have been so successful so far. Effective coaching builds employee skills, addresses shortcomings, develops leadership capability, and enhances executive performance. Surveys show that employees at multiple organizational levels find coaching very useful and are calling for more coaching and better quality coaching. Effective coaching requires developing a distinct set of competencies. This course builds on the Organizational Leadership module and will help you build the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to coach effectively and enhance leadership and performance.

This is an overview course that will provide an in-depth introduction of healthcare accounting and finance. This course is intended to give those who seek to manage healthcare organizations the accounting and financial management foundation they need to ensure that their organizations produce information that will support their responsibility to make necessary and sound decisions. The course will focus on the operations of healthcare organizations such as not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals, physician groups and other healthcare agencies, including how these organizations use accounting and financial systems for decision making. In this course, we will examine the healthcare organization as a management function and the basic principles of accounting followed by financial statement analyses, cost accounting, cost shifting, budgeting, managing accounts receivable, materials management and healthcare economics. We will examine these topics and their use in planning, control, evaluation and “real life” work examples. The course covers all the essential functions in health care accounting and financial operations that would be experienced throughout the healthcare industry, except for the insurance business and those entities which have special and additional requirements for being for-profit. During the course the participants will carefully construct what the accounting and finance department is expected to accomplish. The course objectives are reinforced through the lecture presentations and supplemental readings, significant group discussion forums, homework problem sets, a case study, article abstract, and a final paper and presentation. Prerequisites: Modules 1-3.

This course covers the current state of the health insurance industry and reimbursement for services in the United States. The status of managed care and its continuing evolution is examined in depth. Private and public reimbursement structures and functions are studied in detail as well as application of reimbursement management principles.

This course presents a review of the ethical and legal dilemmas faced by health care providers and administrators. The values underlying the development of the health care system in the United States are explored in depth. The formation of governmental policy, state and federal, is reviewed. Health policy’s impact on and regulation of health care delivery in the United States is examined. Application of ethical decision-making is explored.

This is the capstone research course in the health administration program. All other required courses must be completed before registering for this course. This course reviews strategic thinking and planning from a systems perspective. Students will integrate the knowledge and information from their previous course work and employ strategic planning tools, techniques, and data for the development of an integrative research experience. The course culminates in the development of a comprehensive business plan in a health care industry sector selected by the students. Students may work independently or petition the instructor to produce a team-developed business plan.

This course prepares health care professionals to lead change and drive the transformation of health care organizations in the 21st century. The elements studied are an achievement orientation, managing ethically, values-based leadership, community service, innovation, relationship building, accountability, process, and project management.