COURSE DESCRIPTION
Exploration of healthcare systems and policy, including impact on professional practice and quality and safety outcomes. Examination of ways that healthcare delivery systems are
organized and financed and the economic, legal, and political factors that influence those
systems. Students learn basic strategies for assessing organizations, identifying system
issues, and implementing system-wide and policy change. Processes of health system
development are emphasized, along with the roles of interest groups in policy change. The
roles of transdisciplinary teams are examined, including their roles in the management of
human, fiscal, and physical resources. Policy, ethical, and legal issues related to health
information technology are discussed. Interaction between regulatory and legislative
processes and quality improvement is highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the roles of social
justice and political activism in promoting access to equitable health care services, including end of life care.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Utilize relevant theoretical and conceptual models to examine the design, delivery, and evaluation of health-related services and programs.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how healthcare delivery systems are organized and financed.
- Identify economic, legal, and political factors that influence healthcare delivery.
- Explain processes of policy development, including the roles of interest groups in influencing policy change.
- Compare and contrast quality improvement models.
- Analyze methods to promote culturally competent, safe, and effective relationshipcentered care models that incorporate just culture principles
- Identify policies that promote ethical principles and strategies for the use of health and information technologies, including electronic health records, to improve health care delivery.
- Identify policies that improve the health of the public.
- Examine effects of regulatory and legal processes on healthcare delivery and
outcomes. - Explain the roles of social justice and political activism in promoting health policies designed to improve access to equitable health care services.
