Healthcare Administration

Students gain a systematic overview of the U.S. health care system, including the role of the public and private sectors. Federal and state health policy and legislation are examined in depth. Students develop an understanding of the complex social and environmental issues that are driving the need for quality improvement, performance measurement and the use of information systems. They become familiar with the various mechanisms through which health services are delivered and also compare the U.S. health care system to other systems outside the U.S.

Students examine the role of information systems in achieving performance improvement in health care delivery, and develop the skills necessary to manage information systems. Students learn to manage health information technology to improve patient care, comply with federal and state regulations, and increase clinical and operational efficiencies.

Students gain a systematic overview of the financial operations of common health care organizations, both public and private. They gain knowledge about various financial techniques and tools applied to health care settings including revenue stream management, budgeting and resource management allocation, and third party payer management. Students identify and analyze key issues confronting the financial management of health care systems and provide strategies for effective management of these financial challenges. This course will emphasize the intersection and integration of health resources management, both clinical and financial, in quality improvement efforts.

Human Resource professionals have to be keenly aware of the employee lifecycle (ELC) - a method used to visualize how an employee engages with a company. The first stage of the ELC is attraction. Regardless of how strong your company is, without attracting great talent, your company will fail.?The second stage, recruitment, is the period where you seek out and recruit the best talent to join your organization.

Students gain an understanding of the health care industry's organizational performance measures and assessments related to the improvement of healthcare service quality. Topics explored include traditional quality, structure and process assessments including risk management, credentialing and the role of oversight agencies; outcomes-based process improvement methods focusing on rapid-cycle tools, such as PDSA, and using small tests of change. Students apply measures and assessments directly to the complex issues and concerns of health care administration.

In the culminating course for the certificates, students will reframe knowledge and competencies from their certificate into a workable model that is applied through experiential learning models to a professional opportunity. Students will apply these competencies as professional best practice in a project that incorporates relevant research findings from the field.