Provides students with a sound theoretical understanding of the basic principles of scientific inquiry, sources and kinds of data, and corresponding analytical techniques. It introduces the basic principles of comparative and inferential statistics and of epidemiology and demography.
Offers an intensive analysis of issues in health economics. Particular attention is given to "market failure" in health insurance and to alternative methods of containing health care costs, including both regulatory and market approaches.
The goal of this course is to provide a broad view of the types of outcomes, the issues in defining a case or an episode of care, the techniques used to measure specific outcomes, and some approaches to quality improvement, including physician involvement.
An introduction to the structure and function of the medical care delivery system. Includes basic concepts and measures of health, disease, quality, values, needs and utilization; issues in health care manpower, institutions and system organization; general issues in policy, reimbursement and regulation; broad community, and organizational considerations in medical care organizations. The student is also introduced to the principles of epidemiology and environmental health and will demonstrate the application of epidemiology concepts to planning for the healthcare service needs of a population.
Is a survey course intended for students who will hold senior executive positions in health services organizations, enabling them to appreciate the organizational value of a well-developed HRM function, to think strategically about human resources, to understand linkages among human resource systems, and to see the relationship of the human resource function with other management functions. This is a two credit hour course.
Allows students to learn and apply the basic techniques for analysis of an organization's investment and financing decisions. Topics include risk analysis, capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure, and financial planning.
Focuses on the use and management of information as a health care resource. Students learn about current computer technologies relevant to managers for operations and decision support.
Focuses on the application of quantitative tools in decision making. Topics include linear programming, decision analysis, statistical inference, and multiple regression.
Enables students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to design and execute relationship management strategies and marketing tactics in the variety of settings and situations prevalent in health care. Discussions address accountability, planning strategic and tactical initiatives, operational improvement, communications, research, and evaluation in marketing applications.
Exposes the student to the legal system as it affects the health care industry. The course addresses the numerous legal and ethical issues raised by advances in technology, changing societal values, decreasing resources, and increasing professional liability.
This course examines the role and function of the government and interest groups in the development of health policy. An analysis of the process of federal health policy development and evaluation and related issues.
Develops the student's ability to think strategically by examining the interplay between the structure of industries/markets, the potential sources of sustainable competitive advantage, and the formulation of strategies. It draws heavily on knowledge from other courses, particularly economics, organization theory, and marketing. Students prepare a competitive analysis and strategy formulation project for a health care institution as part of the course.
Builds on the concepts, models, and techniques introduced in the curriculum to integrate them with a decision-making focus. This course includes the topic of governance and uses a major case analysis. Students provide management reports and a formal oral presentation.
Provides the executive with the background, theory, and skills in microeconomics that are essential for effective managerial decisions and are helpful in other courses in the Program. Students learn the fundamentals of marginal analysis as a basis for decision making regarding the use of society's scarce resources. This course provides the student with the tools to understand various market and governmental (regulatory) solutions to the economics of health care delivery.
Provides an overview of the concepts and techniques of managerial accounting for generalist health care administrators. These techniques are used primarily for financial planning, measurement, and control. Topics covered include financial planning, budgeting, cost measurement, cost control, breakeven, revenue and cost variance analysis, price setting, and related financial decision-making.
provides an overview of the problems associated with organizing people at work while leading the transitions demanded by the healthcare environment. Topics covered include creating and building support for a vision as well as the identification and management of barriers associated with resistance. Alternative systems and structures are examined and change management, team development, and conflict resolution processes are applied to healthcare organizations.
The Healthcare Industry and the Role of the Pharmaceutical Companies This course focuses on the understanding of the operation of the healthcare market and its relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. Topics include the nature and characteristics of competition among the pharmaceutical companies, regulatory characteristics, the role of patents, brand name vs. generic drugs, the impact of managed care on the pharmaceutical industry, cost and pricing decisions, third-party reimbursements for prescription drugs, responses to competitive pressure through mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring.
The course focuses on progressive practices pertaining to manufacturers, distributors, providers, and integrated networks. Topics to be covered include (1) information flow (integration of cost, clinical and charge systems; types of information systems do and do not work; internal communication of goals and missions; integration of distributors information with internal systems; and point of use information-data-integration); (2) Organizational Dynamics (culture; leadership, organizational structure; physician relationships, and change management); (3) Metrics (measurement of goals, cost reduction, supply chain goals vs. larger enterprise goals, and the use of reward incentives); (4) Supply Chain Relationship Management (management of cost information and improved efficiencies with manufacturers, group purchasing organizations, and distributors; and relationship among units within a system or network. This is a case based course drawing on findings from leading integrated delivery systems throughout the nation. Students will be expected to carry out a project pertaining to progressive practices in their own organizations.
A further exploration of marketing principles as they specifically relate to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The three main areas of focus will include 1) marketing research; 2) product management (examining patent-protected, generic, and competitive drugs by lifecycle, their interface between other corporate functions such as R&D and sales/promotion, regulatory issues, and greater healthcare environmental issues such as third party payers and global competition); 3) sales management (the sales force make-or-buy decision; structuring via territory, quotas, motivation, and evaluation; account management; and, emerging technologies as direct-to-consumer and e-commerce grows more influential).
This course introduces students to the theory and application of economic analysis and outcomes research in the pharmaceutical industry. Topics include: an overview of the pharmaceutical industry; the role of cost, quality of life and other outcomes research data; development and application of cost and economic data and analyses; development and application of quality of life instruments and analyses; health policy issues in the use of outcomes research. Numerous applications and examples from industry will be presented.
You may also choose from several electives that total six additional credit hours. The following courses are representative of those offered:
- Ambulatory Care Organizations -- Their Governance and Management
- Entrepreneurship in Healthcare
- Clinical Outcomes Measures
- International Health
- Transformational Leadership