CASS Europe MBA Healthcare Management Specialization Program Structure First Semester Core Modules Class Hours ECTS* Credits Fundamentals of Healthcare Management 45 6 Fundamentals of Public Health 45 6 Healthcare Economics 45 6 Healthcare Marketing 45 6 Healthcare Accounting and Finance 45 6 Total 225 60 Second Semester Specialized Modules Applied Epidemiology 35 4 Quality Management in Healthcare 35 4 Legal Aspects of Healthcare 35 4 Global Healthcare Management 35 4 Collaboration, Organizing & Financing of Healthcare 35 4 Healthcare Management Research project - 15 Total 175 35 *ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System Individual Module description Fundamentals of Healthcare Management MBAHC581 1
Number of ECTS: 6 Have an understanding of the functions and processes required to manage an effective health care organization. Discuss the role and expectations of managers in healthcare organizations. Analyze healthcare organizations and their functions in order to facilitate change and performance improvement. Evaluate the technical and management challenges of managing healthcare organizations through the use of case studies. Apply management theories and tools to the analysis of healthcare issues in an organization. Understand and discuss various aspects of management in healthcare. Understand the principles of effective management in healthcare organizations. This course introduces the students to the basic framework for the management of healthcare. The course starts by introducing the student to the basic tools of management following which specific issues related to healthcare management will be addressed. The course will explore the issues that healthcare managers face in working in an organization where professionals influence decisionmaking and where a growing demand for services can compromise financial sustainability. The course will enable students have an understanding of how to manage in healthcare organizations including management processes, organizational structures, types of governance models and management issues related to healthcare delivery systems. Also considered are the social and ethical issues encountered in trying to balance the interests, needs and rights of individual citizens against those of society. Shortell, S.M., and Kaluzny, A.D., Essentials of Healthcare Management, William Brutmiller, N.Y., 1997. Ginter, P.M. et al, Strategic Management of Health Care Organizations, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2013. 2
Fundamentals of Public Health MBAHC582 Number of ECTS: 6 Asses health status of the country for larger administrative units and for specific groups at higher risk than the general public Analyze trends in socio-demographic variables related to public health Identify current and potential threats to public health Identify resources and assets to support public health, etc. This course provides an introduction and historical overview of public health and the core concepts that represent the foundation of the current public health field. Students will also be able to examine some fundamental ethical issues in public health research and practice. The course provides the student with fundamental insight into essential public health functions and how they are performed; surveillance, research and control of risks and threats to public health. The student will also learn about health promotion, development of policies and institutional capacity for public health planning and management; strengthening of public health regulation and enforcement capacity; as well as human resources development and training in public health 3
Scutchfield, F.D., and Keck, C.W., Principles of Public Health Practice, 3rd edition. Delmar Thompson Learning, 2009. Detels, R., et al, Oxford Textbook of Public Health, 5th. Ed., Oxford University Press, 2011. Healthcare Economics MBAHC583 Number of ECTS: 6 Utilize basic economic analysis to answer questions about issues concerning the healthcare industry. Apply economic theory to examine historical and current data from health related markets. Develop a detailed demand and supply model of the healthcare industry to predict the consequences of various possible changes in health markets, such as changes in third-party financing of health care. Compare and contrast healthcare market and institutions in a selected number of countries internationally. Discuss the roles of both public and private sector financing of health care and the division between public and private health care goods and services. Analyze the role of professional education, training and licensing in physician and allied health professions, and their effects on quality and cost of health care. Compare and contrast the market and the public sector as organizing forces in the structure, conduct and performance of the health industry. Examine the structure of health care markets and the public and private institutions that make up the competitive environment for the health care. 4
This course shall address issues related to the supply and demand for health services; markets for health professionals and healthcare provider organizations. In addition the course will discuss the roles of insurance, managed care, organizations in the healthcare sector, as well as information problems in healthcare markets. Regulation, government financing of health care reform issues will all be addressed. Jackson, D., Healthcare Economics Made Easy, Scion Publishing Ltd., Oxford shire, 2012. Mills, A., and Lee, K. eds., Health Economics for Developing Countries, N.Y., Oxford University Press, 1992.. Healthcare Marketing MBAHC584 Number of ECTS: 6 Have an understanding of marketing and the marketing planning process in the healthcare sector. Have an understanding of the essential components of marketing strategy formulation in the healthcare environment. Identify the environmental forces on organizational strategy and their implications for marketing decisions in the healthcare sector. Have an enhanced understanding of the effect that marketing has on a healthcare organization s long-term success. Understand the internal and external factors that influence consumer decision making related to healthcare. Have a basic understanding of the nature of the marketing research process in healthcare. Be familiar with internet marketing and the opportunities it presents for the healthcare sector. 5
This course introduces the student to fundamental marketing concepts as applied to health services organizations. Consumer behavior, market segmentation, target marketing, marketing research, management, and control of marketing mix variables. The course will also provide program participants with marketing knowledge that will enhance their ability to lead through changing and challenging times in healthcare. Berkowitz, E.N., Essentials of Healthcare Marketing, 3 rd. ed., Jones & Bartlett Learning, London, 2011 Kotler, P. et al, Strategic Marketing for Healthcare Organizations: Building a Customer Driven Health System, John Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, 2008 Fortenberry, J.L., Jr., Cases in Healthcare Marketing, Jones & Bartlett Publishing, Sudburry, MA, 2011. Healthcare Accounting and Finance MBAHC585 Number of ECTS: 6 Appraise the importance and uses of financial information in health care organizations. 6
Explain the financial functions within an organization. Explain the common ownership forms of healthcare organizations, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Describe factors that influence the financial viability of a healthcare organization. Respond to a compliance audit or investigation, particularly when the subject of that inquiry includes financial records. Understand how legal and regulatory issues shape and define good financial management of a healthcare organization. Explain the primary financial objective of a healthcare organization, and the critical drivers of financial performance. List and describe the requirements for effective financial planning and policy-making in healthcare. Describe how cost information relates to the three key activities of management: planning, budgeting, and control. Calculate a healthcare project s net present value, profitability index, and equivalent annual cost. The course is designed to enable the student become aware of both accounting and finance that have become part of the everyday life of most healthcare executives. The course attempts to cover types of financial decisions that healthcare executives are most likely to be involved with, and has provided materials that will help the understand the conceptual basis and mechanics of financial analysis and decision making as they pertain to the healthcare sector. The course will enable the student have a better understanding of three crucial elements which constitute the basis for sound financial decisionmaking in any business unit, namely: 1. Most financial decision are based upon the use of accounting information, 2. All business units operate within an industry, and 3. Both accounting and finance are in many ways a subset of economics. The course shall address these issues particularly as they relate to the healthcare industry. Capenski, L.C., Healthcare Finance: An Introoduction to Accounting and Financial Management, Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Chicago, 2012. 7
Specialized Courses in Healthcare Management Applied Epidemiology MBAHC591 2 nd Number of ECTS: 4 Following completion of course the student will be able to: Gain a fundamental understanding of measures which are generally used to describe the health of populations or groups of people within a given population. Be acquainted with the scientific methods and procedure used to assess potential associations different personal and social characteristics, exposure and the occurrence of diseases and other relevant health issues. Have an enhanced understanding of the core principle of epidemiology. Gain an understanding of the impact of microbial diseases on the health of a population. Gain an understanding of epidemiology and prevention of chronic diseases in a population or groups within the population. The course is an introduction to the principles of epidemiology, including: 1. the use of descriptive measures to describe the health of populations or groups of people within the population, 2. approaches to assessing potential associations between personal characteristics, behaviors, or exposures and the occurrence of disease or other adverse health outcomes, 3. the basics of study design, including case-control studies and cohort studies and attendant approaches to defining case or exposure status. Students will be able to examine core principles of epidemiology and statistical evaluation of the impact of microbial diseases on the health of community- and clinic-based populations. The epidemiology and prevention of chronic diseases will be emphasized. 8
Brownson, R.C. & Pettiti, D.B., Applied Epidemiology: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press, 1998. Quality Management in Healthcare MBAHC592 2 nd Number of ECTS: 4 Understand major quality improvement initiatives that focus on populations or communities, including those used by managed care organizations and public health agencies. Discuss the role of research and public policy in improving quality Apply quality management methods and skills in a case analysis. Describe major principles and concepts used in defining and measuring quality. Identify the role of leadership, organizational culture and teams in effective quality improvement. Examine principles and processes in total quality management, including continuous quality improvement and Six Sigma. Analyze the use of outcomes and outcomes measurement in quality management. Understand information management and technology in quality improvement. Analyze factors that influence and improve consumer and patient satisfaction. Summarize the legal and regulatory environment pertinent to quality improvement, including current issues of medical errors and patient safety. Examine methods and initiatives to improve quality in hospitals, nursing homes, and physician practices and available information to compare providers. 9
The course examines methods and tools for managing quality in healthcare, including developments in quality improvement, and outcomes measurement in hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, managed care and public health, as well as legal and policy issues. The course focuses on the effects of sophisticated quality and health outcome measures as used by individuals, employers and insurers to compare the results of various providers. The course will cover the forces of the smarter external customers and internal pressures to justify costs, continuous quality improvement, risk management, and changes demanding creative healthcare marketing techniques. Lighter, D.E., and Fair, D.C., Quality Management in Health Care: Principles and Practices, Jones & Bartlett Publishing, Sudbury, MA, 2004. Legal Aspects of Healthcare Management MBAHC593 2 nd Number of ECTS: 4 Explain the structure of the legal system, and the sources of laws, regulations, and guidelines and how these affect various healthcare environments, and healthcare workers, management, and allied professionals. Appraise the many legal issues that confront professionals working in healthcare organizations. Evaluate various contracts, legal reporting requirements, and risk-reduction strategies. Demonstrate an awareness of the rights, responsibilities, and duties of various health care professionals. Demonstrate a strong foundation of health law knowledge that is essential while working in the health care industry. Employ a working knowledge of various human resource issues as they apply in fields of healthcare. 10
This course provides an overview of the legal issues facing the healthcare industry. It examines principles and practical applications of the laws that affect the operational decisions of healthcare providers that impact the development of markets for healthcare products and services. The course provides clear legal explanations, definitions, and case examples, which will result in the student gaining a better understanding of the legal aspects of healthcare. It provides a basic working knowledge of health law that is comprehensive and inclusive of a wide variety of healthcare legal issues. Pozgar, G.D., Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration, Jones & Bartlett Publishing, Sudury, MA, 2012. Global Healthcare Management MBAHC594 2 nd Cycle 2 nd Number of ECTS: 4 Critically assess the international environment of healthcare and evaluate how it influences international healthcare management and cooperation. Develop and implement an international healthcare strategy. Develop ways of successfully managing international healthcare projects and cooperation between teams with different cultural backgrounds. Appreciate the role of culture in international healthcare management and collaboration. Understand the key concepts in international human resource management and international organizational behavior in the healthcare sector. 11
Have an enhanced understanding of human resources management within the context of international healthcare management and collaboration This focus of this course is to enable students critically analyze the international environment of healthcare and consider the crucial factors that influence international management and cross-border strategy formulation and implementation within the healthcare sector. This module examines the critical aspects of international healthcare management and cooperation across borders. Heltz, C., Global Health Care: Issues and Policies, Jones & Bartlett, 2007. Collaboration, Organizing, and Financing Healthcare MBAHC595 2 nd Number of ECTS: 4 Have a better understanding of the organization and financing of international healthcare systems. Have an enhanced understanding of how individual healthcare providers are funded in different countries. Develop an enhanced knowledge about equitable ways of raising funds for healthcare in both developed and developing countries. 12
Acquire the knowledge about how to analyze broad reforms in healthcare systems in both developed and developing countries, etc. This course adopts a comparative approach in address issues related to how healthcare systems are organized and financed in both the developed and developing world using examples from a selected number of countries to illustrate the point. The course will examine issues related to the organization of healthcare systems in the selected developed and developing countries, how resources are mobilized in the systems, how individual healthcare providers are funded, equitable means of raising funds for healthcare in the selected counties, appropriate ways of utilizing the funds to pay health providers, major reforms recently undertaken in the selected countries in order to better fund and manage the healthcare systems. The course shall provide participants with the knowledge to examine both broad reforms carried out in the selected countries as well as refinements of individual components of the healthcare systems. Furrow, B.R., et al, Healthcare Organization and Finance, 7th. Ed., West Publishing, 2013. Sullivan, T.J., Collaboration: A Health Care Imperative, McGraw-Hill Medical, 1997. 13