Health Services Administration -- Course Descriptions

Health care delivery in the United States is a dynamic, evolving and extremely complex system comprised of myriad providers and payers. The system is further complicated by significant government involvement in both delivery and payment. It is also important for the health professional to understand the biostatistics that measure a population's health; and the utilization statistics that measure its use of health care. This course will address the multiple components of the health care delivery system, the rationale for its patterns and practices and the basic statistics necessary to access and measure its utilization.

HSM 501 - Health Policy (3)

Addresses several major health policy issues confronting public and private policy makers. It is multidisciplinary in its approach in that it incorporates economic, managerial, financial, ethical, demographic, and political perspectives of health policy. Policy topics include insurance reform, patient safety, genetic testing, antitrust violations, and efforts to control smoking and guns. The skills acquired in this course are directly applicable to solving operational problems, evaluating health care programs, and planning. Prerequisites: HSM 301 and HSM 310 or permission of program advisor.

HSM 505 - Health Economics (3)

Uses an economic framework to examine major components of the health care system. Topics covered include the principles of microeconomics and regression analysis, the production of health, the demand for medical care (consumer behavior), the theory of health insurance, the market for physician services, the market for hospital services and the long-term care services market. Students will complete a major research paper on a health economics-related topic. Prerequisite: BUS 501 or equivalent.

HSM 509 - Legal Issues in Health Care (3)

Exploration of legal issues that affect the operation of health care facilities. Topics covered include medical malpractice, licensure, staff privileges, federal/state regulatory mechanisms, health organization liability, risk management, decisions at the end of life and obligations to patients and the community. Preventative measures will be examined that minimize risks to health, safety, and the environment. A special emphasis will be on legal issues that improve operational performance and regulatory compliance.

HSM 525 - Health Care Marketing/Strategic Planning (3)

Decision-making, relative to facility planning and financial integrity, has become extremely complex in the health care field. Health care marketing is one of the tools available to the health professional that provides guidance and support to these efforts. This course will address many of the planning and marketing variables that should be addressed, as well as how to coordinate these activities. Prerequisite: HSM 500.

HSM 535 - Financial Management for Health Care Organizations (3)

Students will acquire a working knowledge of cash flow projections, budgeting, cost accounting and control evaluation techniques for not-for-profit organizations. Case study analysis and presentations will be the primary instructional methods. Students will learn to use an electronic spreadsheet to assist in analyzing case studies. An extensive accounting case analysis problem involving a not-for-profit entity will be assigned. Students will be required to submit an in-depth written report, which will reflect this organization's financial viability. Prerequisite: ACC 301 or its equivalent.

HSM 680 - Research Methods for Health Services Administration (3)

Covers conceptualization of health services research, statistical modeling, sampling, techniques, research design, data collection, literature review, and ethical issues in health services research. Students will complete a research design proposal which addresses a health services research problem. Prerequisite: MGS 511 or MBA statistics course.

HSM 685 Health Services Administration Environments and Strategies (3)

Provides students with the theoretical framework and background to analyze the environment in which health care organization operate and to determine how organizations in the health care sector develop and implement strategies to achieve short term and long term goals. Strategic management theory will be used to integrate knowledge across functional areas of management. Students will work in teams to complete a major strategic management related project for a health care organization in the community. Students will develop individual case studies in ethics to examine the ethical implications of management. Prerequisites: HSM 501, HSM 525, HSM 600, minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, or permission of instructor. (Note: Students must obtain a grade of B or better in this course to be eligible to graduate.)

Health Services Administration Electives

HSM 510 - Alternative Methods of Health Care Delivery (3)

Alternative Methods of Health Care Delivery provides a framework for understanding the meaning of the term "alternative health care delivery" and explores applicable methods from several health care arenas including the evolution of managed care, the expansion of alternative and complementary medicine modalities into mainstream medicine and the international health care scene. The course presents theories, principles and methods for investigating, evaluating and conducting business using the discussed methods of health care delivery. It is designed to introduce students as current and future health care administrators to the concepts and dynamics of alternative health care delivery methods as a basis for monitoring organizational, legislative and reimbursement changes - be it in acute care, long term care, physician practice management or some similar field. Prerequisite: HSM 500.

HSM 522 - Nursing Home Administration (3)

Aging of the United States population has expanded the need for long-term care services. This course will examine the nursing home as an integral part of the long-term continuum. This course is intended to provide the foundation necessary for students preparing for an internship and subsequent careers as nursing home administrator.

HSM 531 - Financial Management for Ambulatory Care Facilities (3)

A course designed to assist the health care executive understand various financial issues in dealing with managed care organizations. Specifically, the course will focus on financial reimbursement issues which executives must understand to provide strategic financial and operational direction to their organizations. Topics to be covered include fee-for-service (RBRVS) methodologies, financial risk shifting via capitation methodologies, risk contracting issues, and various cost accounting methodologies to adequately prepare for negotiating managed care contracts. Prerequisite: HSM 535.

HSM 592 - Special Topics in Health Services Management (1-3)

A study of a selected topic of interest to students interested in the field of health care administration, which will enhance the student's ability to work in the health care field. Topics may be repeated in future semesters or may change from semester to semester. Grading method will vary depending upon topic.

HSM 692 - Internship (Variable 3-9)

Internship placements provide students with a field experience related to their academic preparation enabling them to apply classroom instruction to the work site. Students are placed with an organization related to their major and specific area of interest to work along with, and be proctored by experienced professionals. These are opportunities that cannot be duplicated in the classroom environment and provide and excellent transition into the field. Prerequisite: Permission of Program Director.

HSM 699 - Thesis in Health Services Administration (3)

The thesis option in health services administration requires that a student integrate knowledge and expertise developed in the specialized core curriculum. Students will develop a paper that addresses a convincing research question in the health care field, and is supported with primary and/ or secondary data. Topics might include improving the delivery health care services to a subgroup of the population, or advancing health services delivery in an organization or a geographic region. Prerequisite: permission of instructor and the completion of statistics and research methods coursework.

HIM 501 - Health Care Informatics (3)

The theoretical basis of health care informatics and health information systems is presented and the use of technology to deliver health care is explored. Study of the impact of informatics on the socio-cultural environment of health care and the infrastructure to support health care informatics is a primary focus.

Other Electives

ACC 571 - Advanced Management Accounting (3)

Students will learn techniques for budgeting, cost/volume/profit analysis, activity-based costing, constrained optimization, variance analysis, and others. Students will analyze advanced management accounting topics through problems, essays, and case studies. Finally, students will present the results of their analysis both orally and in writing.

ACC 630 - Fund Accounting (3)

Accounting principles and procedures as applied to not-for-profits entities are covered. In addition, the accounting standards and reporting requirements that relate to not-for-profit entities will be reviewed and analyzed.

CMT 600 - Continuous Registration (1)

Maintaining continuous registration is a requirement for all graduate degrees. Students who have completed most course requirements but are finishing projects, capstone experiences, thesis or are satisfying Incomplete or In-Progress grades must register to maintain continuous matriculation. Course may be taken up to 6 semesters at which time it is expected that all program requirements will have been met. Credit is not used toward program completion requirements. Only S/U grades are awarded for this course.