IPHA - (IPHA)

This course expands students' understanding of the various healthcare system components as they relate to the United States and global healthcare industries. This semester's work will focus on health and pharmaceutical economics, managed care and population health models, political and governmental issues, lobbying and advocacy, and international health systems.

This course familiarizes the student with the concepts of quality and outcomes management with a special emphasis on the introduction of quality improvement processes across the healthcare continuum. The relationship of quality improvement to customer satisfaction is discussed in detail. Students will utilize databases from AHRQ and IOM to evaluate quality outcomes.

 Organizations are rapidly adapting to change, with significant implications for leadership and organizations. Teams are essential to effective healthcare systems. Leaders find they must also be able to operate in a virtual environment. The course covers the essentials of successful human resources management illustrated through exercises in team dynamics and effective leadership in a team-based environment. The course has the goal of enhancing the teamwork skills of each participant.

This course introduces students to planning options and integrated delivery operating processes designed specifically for healthcare organizations. Building on the systems approach, students learn models appropriate for health delivery organizations regardless of site, size, and complexity (medical health complexes, community hospitals, urgi-care centers) and become familiar with best practices for clinical operations management. Applications of logistic theories to hospital-wide productivity metrics and ethical constraints in health care services supply and demand decisions are covered. Students apply the various decision tools used to assess impact of strategic alternatives appropriate for healthcare settings.