Full Course Description List:

MMHA Courses

5 credits

Healthcare is increasingly moving to the care and the delivery of services in a value-based care model. This course will describe and have student experience the impacts of delivery of healthcare in management care, value-based systems. Will also detail and develop knowledge in a system that is tiered for reimbursement and care bundles, how the US compares to other systems of health globally and include in impact of medical tourism.

Prerequisites 

• MMHA 5200

5 credits

Students in this course are provided with the opportunity to gain thorough insight into the current structure and components of health services and delivery. Students identify and describe components of the system, including patients, healthcare professionals, public and private third-party payers, regulators, reimbursement methods, and technology. They engage in activities and discussions focused on the continuum of services related to healthcare, such as hospitals and hospital systems, ambulatory care, and long-term care. Students also explore issues related to these services, such as wellness, prevention, and community and public health, for a comprehensive understanding of the system. Students contextualize their study through the examination of current factors and challenges as well as the impact these challenges have on delivery and management.

Note: This version of MMHA 5050 is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

5 credits

An increasing need exists for health care administrators to address health issues. Developing evidence-based health programs enables health care professionals to promote community wide health programs and their respective delivery systems at the community or service area level. In this course, students utilize clinical data and combine this knowledge with influencers of health in local and rural settings. Students analyze these influencers to determine effective, appropriate programs and solutions to benefit the community holistically. They assess health issues facing targeted communities and create programs or initiatives that engage the patient to improve health care outcomes.

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

The rapidly evolving health care system presents the health care administrator with complex challenges and risks. Health care administrators must possess the skills needed to assess federal, state, and local health care policies that frame the delivery of health care services. In this course, students assess and discuss key legal and ethical initiatives from diverse perspectives. Course work focuses on required knowledge of health care laws, policies, and regulations enacted by policymakers and regulatory agencies that impact health care. This also includes comprehensive health care reform issues impacting and influencing the role of the health care administrator. To help frame these concepts, students examine and analyze the ethical underpinnings and principles that health care organizations and administrators observe and follow in the delivery of services to patients.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 5050 OR MMHA 5500 OR MMHA 5501

5 credits

Students in this course examine organizational behavior as well as the roles and responsibilities of management and leadership within healthcare organizations through the macro (organization-wide) and micro (individual and team performance) perspectives. Students also focus on understanding organizational values, mission, and vision; management and leadership principles to help manage change; and effective delivery of services in an increasingly global environment. They also learn and apply theories of organizational design, governance, and alternative organizational structures, and they consider the theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communication, teamwork, leadership, organizational change, coalition building, negotiation, and conflict management and resolution. Through group assignments and personal assessments, students work toward developing self-awareness and effective management styles and strategies.

BS in Healthcare Management

Prerequisites

• HLTH 4000

5 credits

In this course, students address the role people management in health care organizations, including the recruitment, retention, management, and development of these resources. Students gain an understanding of key roles that professionals play in planning for workforce needs and how management should be directly aligned with the strategic goals of the organization. Also in this course, students examine organizational behavior and dynamics, as well as the roles and responsibilities of management within health care organizations. Students focus on understanding management and leadership principles to help navigate change. Students consider the theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communication, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, organizational change, negotiation, and conflict management and resolution. Students will also be exposed to the influence of physician and extenders in the system, mergers and acquisitions, and how these influence team management.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 5200

5 credits

Students in this course are introduced to the basis for quality and patient safety and are provided an overview of healthcare quality, methods of assessing quality, and techniques for improving quality. They can learn key terminology and concepts, including defining quality care; measuring quality in terms of the structure-process-outcomes model; distinguishing between clinical and customer service quality; identifying techniques to avoid adverse clinical events; and exploring customer service quality in terms of defining, measuring, and improving patient satisfaction. Students also explore and discuss the roles of governmental agencies in promoting and reporting quality information regarding hospitals and other health organizations, accrediting bodies, and recent performance initiatives of government and private payers. They apply course concepts to current issues of improving clinical and service quality in healthcare organizations, with special consideration of the 5 Million Lives Campaign—a national effort initiated by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement designed to improve medical care in the United States.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 5300

3 credits

In this course, students investigate and analyze the changing landscape of the health care environment and the factors affecting leadership in health care administration. Students consider stakeholders in a variety of settings to establish a framework for scholarly investigation of effective strategies for healthcare administrators in practice. Particular emphasis will include the importance of collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and diversity. Strategies include professional leadership behaviors that enable effective positive social change, such as setting goals and managing time, as well as the attitudes and motivation required for success as a healthcare manager, administrator, and leader. Students create an individualized professional development plan and develop the core competencies needed for success within an online learning environment.

3 semester credits

In this course, students work toward increasing their knowledge of key contextual and environmental factors affecting the practice of healthcare administration, including the importance of culture, communication, and diversity. This course is an introduction of students to stakeholders in a variety of settings within the field of healthcare as well as key health and medical terms, including basic health, wellness, and disease information. They consider professional behaviors, such as setting goals and managing time, as well as the attitudes and motivation required for success as a healthcare manager. In addition, students begin building their portfolios, and they work toward developing the competencies needed for success within an online environment as well as critical-thinking, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

5 credits

In this course, students identify and discuss social and ecological perspectives of public health including individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, societal, and public policy factors. Students explore and apply the socioecological model (SEM) and other theoretical frameworks that aim to address current public health problems and reduce health disparities, morbidity, and mortality. Students demonstrate understanding of course concepts through peer discussion and through researching and describing a specific health issue in a community, discussing the contributing factors, and proposing an appropriate intervention.

5 credits

This course introduces students to concepts necessary to promote positive health behavior change by examining the most commonly used theories and models in public health and health education and promotion. Coursework focuses on the identification and application of theories and models to promote and design effective health behavior programs and interventions. Individual, interpersonal, and community theories and models will be explored to determine the most appropriate application.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Healthcare is increasingly moving to the care and the delivery of services in a value-based care model. This course will describe and have student experience the impacts of delivery of healthcare in management care, value-based systems. Will also detail and develop knowledge in a system that is tiered for reimbursement and care bundles, how the US compares to other systems of health globally and include in impact of medical tourism.

5 credits

Students in this course are provided with the opportunity to gain thorough insight into the current structure and components of health services and delivery. Students identify and describe components of the system, including patients, healthcare professionals, public and private third-party payers, regulators, reimbursement methods, and technology. They engage in activities and discussions focused on the continuum of services related to healthcare, such as hospitals and hospital systems, ambulatory care, and long-term care. Students also explore issues related to these services, such as wellness, prevention, and community and public health, for a comprehensive understanding of the system. Students contextualize their study through the examination of current factors and challenges as well as the impact these challenges have on delivery and management.

Note: This version of MMHA 6050 is only available as part of specific competency-based Tempo Learning® programs.

3 semester credits

Healthcare delivery is one of the largest industries in the United States. Students in this course are provided with the opportunity to gain thorough insight into the current structure and components of health services and delivery; they are also presented with an abbreviated history addressing the nature of population illness and disease. Students identify and describe components of the system, including patients, healthcare professionals, public and private third-party payers, regulators, reimbursement methods, and technology. They engage in activities and discussions focused on the continuum of services related to healthcare, such as hospitals and hospital systems, ambulatory care, and long-term care. Students also explore issues related to these services, such as wellness, prevention, and community and public health, for a comprehensive understanding of the system. Students contextualize their study through the examination of current factors and challenges as well as the impact these challenges have on delivery and management.

5 credits

Successful organizations in a rapidly changing and complex world require leaders who embrace change and are able to engage others in change. In this course, students use traditional literature, current articles, and interactive media to explore the qualities, characteristics, and skills of effective leaders as well as the theories, models, and relationships between leadership and organizational change. They assess the ethical issues and standards as well as the opportunities and challenges related to leading diverse organizations through change. Students also examine how current leaders employ leadership and organizational change to contribute to social change, and they consider how to use these lessons to make further positive changes within an organization or their own community.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

3 semester credits

Healthcare professionals often rely on research to make informed decisions on critical issues affecting programs, policy, and practice. In this course, students examine the logic underlying scientific research; study design; sampling; identification of variables; methods of data collection and analysis; concepts in measurement, including reliability and validity; program evaluation; and research ethics. They explore numeric methods for data description; the Donabedian model of program evaluation; data modeling and research; data mining; and information system assessment. Through statistics software exercises, students learn basic research methods, strategies, and skills for presentation of research results; they also become familiar with statistical software used to support research.

Note: There is a special technology requirement for this course for accessing required interactive tutorials. PC: Students using a PC platform must have a minimum of Windows 2000, Internet Explorer 6.0, and 1GB of RAM. Mac: Students using a Mac platform must have a minimum of an Intel® Mac with OS X version 10.4.11, 1GB of RAM, and Windows 2000. Mac users who do not already have Windows 2000 on their Macs must purchase one or two Mac add-ons from an outside vendor to access the interactive tutorials. For details on which adds-ons to purchase and how to purchase them at discount pricing, please contact a member of Walden's Customer Care Team at 1-800-925-3368 or 1-612-925-3368, option 2.

3 semester credits

Managers in healthcare must possess the skills needed to assess economic principles and polices to make important decisions regarding healthcare and services. In this course, students examine the application of health policy and economic principles in regard to managerial decision making. They learn about the process for policy development and implementation, key stakeholders and interest groups involved in the health policy process, and how health policy changes over time within the United States. Students assess and discuss key policy initiatives related to cost, quality, and access. They also engage in assignments designed to advance their understanding of and ability to apply economic principles, such as supply, demand, and the determination of market price.

3 semester credits

Students in this course are introduced to the terminology, theory, concepts, and techniques used in the accounting and finance functions in healthcare organizations. They explore the important role of finance in healthcare organizations, in addition to the various techniques to develop, manage, and control finances. Using an applied approach to healthcare finance, students learn how to develop, apply, and interpret various financial tools, including budgets, sources of revenue/reimbursement by payer, income statements, balance sheets, dashboards, statements of cash flow, pro formas, return on investment analysis, financial ratios, capital budgeting, debt service and borrowing, depreciation, and cost allocation and cost accounting techniques. Students develop portions of a business/financial plan using these techniques and analyze the viability of their plan using accepted financial management tools.

3 semester credits

The structure of healthcare organizations is complex and unique, and the behaviors within these organizations often have a direct impact on their success. Students in this course examine organizational behavior as well as the roles and responsibilities of management within healthcare organizations through the macro (organization-wide) perspective and micro (individual and team performance) perspective. Students also focus on understanding organizational values, mission, and vision; management and leadership principles to help navigate change; and effective delivery of services in an increasingly global environment. Students also learn and apply theories of organizational design, governance, and alternative organizational structures, and they consider the theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communication, teamwork, leadership, organizational change, coalition building, negotiation, and conflict management and resolution. Through group assignments and personal assessments, students work toward developing self-awareness and effective management styles and strategies.

5 credits

An increasing need exists for health care administrators to address health issues. Developing evidence-based health programs enables health care professionals to promote community wide health programs and their respective delivery systems at the community or service area level. In this course, students utilize clinical data and combine this knowledge with influencers of health in local and rural settings. Students analyze these influencers to determine effective, appropriate programs and solutions to benefit the community holistically. They assess health issues facing targeted communities and create programs or initiatives that engage the patient to improve health care outcomes.

3 semester credits

Students in this course receive with an overview of law, regulation, and court decisions that affect healthcare organizations, as well as ethical underpinnings and principles that healthcare organizations follow in the delivery of services. Students explore and discuss a variety of topics, including key federal and state laws; regulatory oversight and licensing of facilities and practitioners; credentialing requirements and processes; scope of practice for practitioners; admission and discharge processes; privacy and confidentiality of patient information; patient protection, including advanced directives; organizational liability; conflict of interest legislation; antitrust law; contract law governing relationships with employed physicians and other providers; risk management; and organizational governance issues, among others. Using case studies and hypothetical situations, students assess management roles and key ethical principles and challenges underpinning healthcare organizations.

3 semester credits

The strength and success of healthcare organizations lie within their workforce. In this course, students address the role of human resources in healthcare organizations as well as the recruitment, retention, management, and development of these resources. Students gain an understanding of the key roles of human resource personnel in establishing goals and expectations regarding organizational performance as well as how individuals contribute to effective performance in terms of controlling costs, improving quality, and providing excellent customer service. They explore major federal and state legislation that influences human resources, key management functions within workforce planning and recruitment, and functions within workforce retention. Students devote specific attention to the administrative and strategic aspects of managing human resources, focusing on managing clinical and direct-care practitioners whose perspectives and expectations differ from those of management. Other topics that students explore and discuss include employment and contract labor law;  job pricing and compensation strategies, including benefits and pay for performance; staffing models; labor relations; performance appraisals; turnover management; and strategies for ensuring employee engagement, motivation, and satisfaction.

3 semester credits

To improve performance outcomes, healthcare organizations often rely on operations management to identify sources of inefficiency, inefficacy, and problems in coordination and delivery of care. In this course, students examine the factors that affect performance outcomes within healthcare organizations; methods to monitor, adjust, and improve performance; and techniques and tools of quantitative analysis of operations and decision support that assist in management of capacity issues, reengineering, staffing, scheduling, productivity, and supply chain. Other important concepts that students examine include understanding operational assessment; understanding patient care and related support-care processes through flowcharting of steps in the process; taking a systems perspective on the organization and delivery of services; identifying problems and improvement opportunities using analytical techniques; and monitoring performance data to identify trends and variation based on current operations and those resulting from changes and improvements.

3 semester credits

Healthcare organizations increasingly are concerned about providing high quality and safe services. Students in this course are introduced to the basis for quality and patient safety and provides an overview of healthcare quality, methods of assessing quality, and techniques for improving quality. They can learn key terminology and concepts, including defining quality care; measuring quality in terms of the structure-process-outcomes model; distinguishing between clinical and customer service quality; identifying techniques to avoid adverse clinical events; and exploring customer service quality in terms of defining, measuring, and improving patient satisfaction. Students also explore and discuss the roles of governmental agencies in promoting and reporting quality information regarding hospitals and other health organizations, accrediting bodies, and recent performance initiatives of government and private payers. They apply course concepts to current issues of improving clinical and service quality in healthcare organizations, with special consideration of the 5 Million Lives Campaign—a national effort initiated by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement designed to improve medical care in the United States.

3 semester credits

There is an increasing need for improvement in the quality of patient care and healthcare management practices, which organizations can now address through the use of information systems and information technology. Through the review of traditional and topical resources, students in this course learn how integrated, computer-based information systems can enable the assessment and documentation of costs and quality. They also learn how these systems can inform decisions that improve care, allow for better management of medical records, enhance supply inventory and management, and improve vendor contracting and management. Students engage in weekly discussions and assignments designed to provide practical applications of content, focusing on electronic medical records and computerized physician order entry, linked information systems across episodes of care, integrated financial and clinical information systems, linkages among electronic information access systems, web-based systems for increasing consumer knowledge, confidentiality of information systems, organizational compliance, and data sets.

3 semester credits

Strategic planning, including aligning key activities with an organization’s mission and vision, often leads to a strong competitive position. Through this course, students gain an understanding of the importance and process of formulating, implementing, and evaluating a strategic plan. They examine the role of strategic planning in achieving organizational performance as well as the notion of planning as a cyclical process within the healthcare organization. Students also explore key concepts in strategic planning, including identifying the relationship of the plan to the organization’s mission, values, and vision; assessing the competition; identifying external influences and resources; forecasting trends in organizational performance; setting goals; selecting strategies; implementing marketing actions; identifying implications of the strategic plan on organizational finances and human resources; and evaluating the plan’s progress. Students apply course concepts, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, as they research and develop components of a strategic plan for a specific healthcare organization.

5 credits

The rapidly evolving health care system presents the health care administrator with complex challenges and risks. Health care administrators must possess the skills needed to assess federal, state, and local health care policies that frame the delivery of health care services. In this course, students assess and discuss key legal and ethical initiatives from diverse perspectives. Course work focuses on required knowledge of health care laws, policies, and regulations enacted by policymakers and regulatory agencies that impact health care. This also includes comprehensive health care reform issues impacting and influencing the role of the health care administrator. To help frame these concepts, students examine and analyze the ethical underpinnings and principles that health care organizations and administrators observe and follow in the delivery of services to patients.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6000

5 credits

In today's complex environment, leaders engaged in shaping public policy must know how to use the emotional as well as the intellectual power of language to motivate, inspire, and competently manage their organizations. In this course, students examine techniques, such as effective communication, used in dynamic leadership that affect conscious and unconscious influences on human behavior. Through discussions, group assignments, and individual projects, students apply theoretical and practical course content to demonstrate the necessary components for making effective human connections. Students also learn why stories, symbols, and metaphors are essential elements in the language of leadership.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

In this course, students gain contemporary knowledge of financial and economic principles such as efficiency and value as it relates to health care. The principles of health care financial management, including accounting and finance, are vitally important to the viability and ongoing operations of a healthcare entity. Students have the opportunity to interpret and analyze the financial statements, use and analyze financial ratios, utilize variance analysis, understand and implement operating and capital budgeting, and develop knowledge of the business planning process. Students create portions of a business/financial plan and assess the viability of their plan using accepted financial management tools.

5 credits

Government officials, research programs, and NGOs are increasingly expected to make better and more transparent use of evidence in producing viable policy options within highly complex policy environments that are heavily influenced by power and politics. Public policy analysis has been described as the art and craft of speaking truth to power (Wildavsky, 1987) in seeking ways to promote positive social change in these complex environments. Policy analysis within this context requires several distinct skill sets: an understanding of the policy context, technical knowledge and analytical tools to identify and apply evidence ethically and with professional judgment, an appreciation and engagement of the concerns and contributions of diverse stakeholders, and the ability to develop and communicate practical policy advice.

This course is framed around Bardach and Patashnik's eightfold path, which lays out a series of iterative, not necessarily sequential, steps to follow when analyzing a policy issue and uses design thinking to guide the process. Students examine key concepts of public policy analysis through evidence-based research to locate issues in relation to theory and current trends. This course provides project-based opportunities to practice and gain the skills and knowledge to use evidence to shape policy more effectively.

Prerequisites

• MMPA 6116 or HUMN 8000 or HUMN 6000 or HUMN 8001 or SOCW 8002 or SOCW 8002W or MMHA 6000 or MMHA 6000A or HLTH 8003A or HLTH 8003 or HLTH 8003E or HLTH 8003B or NURS 8003

5 credits

The success of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) is highly dependent on volunteers: the effective governance provided by the volunteer board of directors and the management of program volunteers—individuals who often serve as the lifeblood of NPOs. Students in this course explore the board governance process. They focus on methods that organizations use to create and maintain an effective board of directors to ensure that the board governs and guides the organization toward their mission. Students also explore board member recruitment, orientation, training, supervision, and evaluation; and they reflect on the use of those practices for program volunteers. Students create a five-section guide that includes a board development and volunteer management plan based on processes presented in the course and fundamental concepts acquired earlier in the program.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

The focus of this course is on the competencies required of the public health professional in planning for the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of community health promotion and disease prevention initiatives. Attention is given to needs assessment, logic models, and collaboration with stakeholders. Strategic approaches to planning, implementation, and evaluation with particular attention to study design and sampling are addressed. Health behavior theories are considered in the development of health promotion programs, the assignment of evaluation findings, and prioritization of community concerns and resources.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Students in this course examine organizational behavior as well as the roles and responsibilities of management and leadership within healthcare organizations through the macro (organization-wide) and micro (individual and team performance) perspectives. Students also focus on understanding organizational values, mission, and vision; management and leadership principles to help manage change; and effective delivery of services in an increasingly global environment. They also learn and apply theories of organizational design, governance, and alternative organizational structures, and they consider the theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communication, teamwork, leadership, organizational change, coalition building, negotiation, and conflict management and resolution. Through group assignments and personal assessments, students work toward developing self-awareness and effective management styles and strategies.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6200
• MMHA 6300

5 credits

In this course, students address the role people management in health care organizations, including the recruitment, retention, management, and development of these resources. Students gain an understanding of key roles that professionals play in planning for workforce needs and how management should be directly aligned with the strategic goals of the organization. Also in this course, students examine organizational behavior and dynamics, as well as the roles and responsibilities of management within health care organizations. Students focus on understanding management and leadership principles to help navigate change. Students consider the theory and practice of managing individuals and groups through motivation, communication, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, organizational change, negotiation, and conflict management and resolution. Students will also be exposed to the influence of physician and extenders in the system, mergers and acquisitions, and how these influence team management.

5 credits

Students in this course will analyze health and the healthcare systems from a population health perspective. Emphasis includes the role of health education and health administration, workforce, public health foundations, and technological developments in improving health from local, national, and global perspectives. Various approaches used historically to improve population health and health equity in the United States will be explored. Current and emerging U.S. health transformation efforts, including steps to reduce cost and improve prevention strategies, and quality of care will be considered. Students will also consider the provider, payment, and public health perspectives in improving health outcomes and explore various perspectives and trends such as international settings and lessons currently being taken from these settings and developments in the use of technology. Investigation and analysis of the coordination among various stakeholders who play a role in prevention, health, and healthcare systems will be addressed.

5 credits

Students in this course explore health informatics strategies to enhance and promote population health initiatives, new forms of data to be used to measure healthcare delivery, and improve patient outcomes. In this introductory course, participants explore the value propositions for population health clinical integration and the role of analytics, big data, and predictive medicine in supporting a data-driven population health-driven healthcare system.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6200
• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Students in this course explore evidence-based population health programs and how they assist in addressing and promoting best practices in disease and preventive care management. In this course, students will learn how population health interventions teach individuals and populations how to manage chronic diseases and take responsibility for understanding how to best care for themselves. Students will also explore health administrator and health educator leadership strategies and interventions to manage and prevent chronic disease.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6200
• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Students in this course will apply the skills needed to manage population health programs and initiatives to enhance the health of a defined population. Students focus on health behaviors, public and business influences, health policy, economic forces, and other related healthcare system issues in health promotion and disease prevention.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6200
• MMHA 6999

3 semester credits

Students in the practicum have the opportunity to apply and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the MHA program and to further develop key professional competencies. Students engage in a field experience in a select public health setting, which they align to their academic and professional goals. Supervision by an on-site preceptor is a critical component of the practicum. The on-site supervisor and the course instructor monitor and evaluate students' performance throughout the entire practicum experience. Students are required to complete 120 hours of practicum work. They must also participate in an accompanying online course and begin to develop an ePortfolio based on assigned professional development activities.

3 semester credits

This capstone course is the continuation of the practicum. The capstone experience is an opportunity for students to demonstrate their mastery of principles, concepts, and content presented throughout the program and through their practicum field experience. In this course, students complete their ePortfolio based on their field experience, and they develop a substantive written paper or project. Students also engage in group discussions during which they consider career development plans, reflect on the promotion of social change, and exchange feedback on final portfolio work and lessons learned.

5 credits

Students in this course have the opportunity to learn how sustainable health information technologies and applications inform organizational strategies and transformation in the healthcare environment. They can also learn how these complex systems help organizational decision makers to improve patient care outcomes and organizational behaviors. Topics include evolving technologies such as data analytics, eHealth, and social media; using technology applications to manage population health; and personalized medicine. Students are challenged by scenario-based discussions that analyze best information technology practices across multiple industries.  

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6400
• MMHA 6500

5 credits

Students in this course will find that technology creates influences and innovations that are limitless. Leaders in effective healthcare systems understand how these influences effect the delivery of healthcare and can manage the change and have the leadership skills to use the influence as an organizational strength. Innovations are quickly changing the delivery of healthcare. Leaders not only need to be open to innovations within their organization they also need to adapt innovations with are external but influencing the care within the organization. Innovations and influences examples are studied in case-studies and professional analysis.

5 credits

Through this course, students gain an understanding of the importance and process of formulating, implementing, and evaluating a strategic plan. They examine the role of strategic planning in achieving organizational performance as well as the notion of planning as a cyclical process within the healthcare organization. Students also explore key concepts in strategic planning, including identifying the relationship of the plan to the organization's mission, values, and vision; assessing the competition; identifying external influences and resources; forecasting trends in organizational performance; setting goals; selecting strategies; implementing marketing actions; identifying implications of the strategic plan on organizational finances and human resources; and evaluating the plan's progress. Students apply course concepts, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, as they research and develop components of a strategic plan for a specific healthcare organization.

5 credits

Students in this course apply principles, theories, and relevant contemporary concepts of healthcare marketing. They evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare marketing tools, such as advertisement campaigns and social media, develop data collection tools for marketing research, and create a marketing plan for a healthcare organization. The interrelationship of a healthcare organization's strategic plan, business plan, marketing plan, and healthcare consumerism is analyzed. Students will apply best practices of business communications as they practice effective oral and written business communication skills.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6600
• MMHA 6700

5 credits

Students in this course apply principles, theories, and relevant contemporary concepts of health care branding, marketing and how the impact relationships. They evaluate the effectiveness of health care branding tools. The interrelationship of a health care organization’s branding, contracting, partnership and alliances will be explored. Students will apply best practices of communications as they practice effective oral and written business communication skills.

5 credits

Social entrepreneurs are gaining international attention motivated by the desire for change and to see the world as it can be, not as it is. Students in the course will learn how social entrepreneurs have developed creative solutions to address social problems. The intention of the course is to develop knowledge, appreciate of the role of social entrepreneurs who create social change, deepen students' understanding of the world around them, and to inspire them to use their skills and knowledge to be, as Gandhi said, "the change you wish to see in the world."

Students in this course will gain knowledge about social entrepreneurs and how they are creating solutions to address societal problems, learn how to develop creative solutions to address social problems, and empower students to see social entrepreneurship as a force for social change. The course is designed for those who want to gain valuable tools to prepare them to make an impact on the lives of others. This course will be housed in the School of Public Policy and Administration for future upgrades and course maintenance.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Grant writing is a highly marketable skill that requires many nonprofit, educational, and community organizations to secure external funding in order to provide needed services to the community. In this course, students will explore the basic skills needed for grant writing including identifying potential funding sources, creating objectives and a needs statement, preparing and justifying a budget, identifying appropriate assessment plans, and writing an executive summary. Course assignments will allow students to directly apply what they are reading and discussing by writing a full grant proposal based on an actual Request for Proposal (RFP).

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Social entrepreneurship is a dynamic approach to problem solving that individuals, entrepreneurs, or scholar-practitioners can use to address societal needs and problems related to healthcare. In this course, students select a healthcare issue and develop an entrepreneurial project to address it. Students will define beneficiaries and stakeholders and develop tactics to identify and address opponents, allies, and the ambivalent. Students will test, evaluate, and identify both opportunities and potential weaknesses of their proposed entrepreneurial solutions. By the end of the course, students will have experienced the process of developing concept statements supported by research, articulating business propositions, defining the market and competition, and addressing the sociopolitical landscape. Finally, students will evaluate the feasibility of their proposed entrepreneurial healthcare solutions. 

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6999

5 credits

Students in this course are introduced to the basis for quality and patient safety and are provided an overview of healthcare quality, methods of assessing quality, and techniques for improving quality. They can learn key terminology and concepts, including defining quality care; measuring quality in terms of the structure-process-outcomes model; distinguishing between clinical and customer service quality; identifying techniques to avoid adverse clinical events; and exploring customer service quality in terms of defining, measuring, and improving patient satisfaction. Students also explore and discuss the roles of governmental agencies in promoting and reporting quality information regarding hospitals and other health organizations, accrediting bodies, and recent performance initiatives of government and private payers. They apply course concepts to current issues of improving clinical and service quality in healthcare organizations, with special consideration of the 5 Million Lives Campaign—a national effort initiated by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement designed to improve medical care in the United States.

Prerequisites

• MMHA 6600
• MMHA 6700

5 credits

Throughout this course, students review and apply the phases of strategic planning, integrating the principles and practices presented throughout the Master of Healthcare Administration program. They examine the role of strategic planning in achieving organizational performance excellence, as well as the notion of planning as a cyclical process within the health care organization. Students submit a comprehensive strategic plan and recommend courses of action that help health care organizations address their strategic and tactical needs and the needs of their communities.

Prerequisites

• All coursework