HCA 180 - Managing in Health Care I

TIME FRAME: This is a five-semester hour course. This course is allotted ten weeks of time. You must complete all of the requirements for the course successfully by the end of the ten-week period. The first day of week one will begin the day that you register for the course, or the day which you notify me that your textbook has arrived and you are ready to begin your studies. Please be cognizant of the time frame. It is rare that extensions of time are permitted, unless you have good justification. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be awarded five-semester hours of credit.

Book 1: Introduction to Health Services, Fifth Edition, by Stephen J. Williams and Paul R. Torrens, Delmar Publishing 1999 ISBN # 1418012890

This course focuses on the major components of the Healthcare Delivery System. The materials for this course are focused in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 in the book.

1). Understand the evolution of healthcare delivery.
2). Identify the factors affecting health and wellness.
3). Review public health agencies role in disease promotion.
4). Discuss the levels and settings for ambulatory care.
5). Understand the hospitals' role in healthcare delivery.
6). Review community hospitals' organization.
7). Identify service levels in the Long-term care settings.
8). Understand trends in the mental healthcare industry.
9). Gain an understanding of the complicated workings of the pharmaceutical industry.
10). Review employment trends in healthcare.
11). Relate what you've learned in this course to your work environment.

COURSE CONTENT:

1)· Historical evolution and overview of Health Services.
2)· Chronic illness implications.
3)· Disease vs. illness.
4)· Leading causes of death and lifestyle implications.
5)· Incidence of infectious diseases.
6)· Access to healthcare and trends.
7)· Types of access measures.
8)· Public Health and disease prevention.
9)· Governmental role in public health.
10)· Private sector involvement in health promotion.
11)· Evolution of ambulatory services.
12)· Levels and settings for ambulatory care.
13)· Ambulatory patient behavior.
14)· Organization of ambulatory care.
15)· The hospital's role in healthcare delivery.
16)· Type of hospitals and their historical development.
17)· Trends in hospital ownership activity.
18)· Vertically integrated health systems.
19)· Community hospital organizations.
20)· Long-Term care continuum.
21)· Long-Term care settings.
22)· Characteristics of Nursing Homes.
23)· Home Healthcare.
24)· Financing of Long-Term care.
25)· Mental Health-Care settings.
26)· Mental Health-Care professionals.
27)· The structure and operation of the Pharmaceutical Industry.
28)· Pharmaceutical Price determination.
29)· Government intervention in Pharmaceutical industry · PA's and NP's.
30)· Availability of Healthcare professionals.

COURSE PROGRESSION: The course begins on the date of your enrollment. You have ten weeks to complete this course. Extensions are rarely granted, and the, only for extreme emergencies or active military duty. If you do not complete the course within the ten week time frame will receive an "incomplete/withdrawal" and will have to re-register and pay tuition again if you desire to complete it.

This is a self-paced course. You may proceed at the pace that is right for you. It is acceptable to accelerate in this course and complete it in less than ten weeks with my permission.

As you progress through the course, always feel free to contact me to discuss issues, questions, etc. related to the course. I am there to be a mentor to you as you proceed with learning.

COMMUNICATION: You may contact me via e-mail at any time. You may also request to have a meeting in a chat room with me. Please make such requests directly to me, who will then set the date and time for the chat room meeting. I will answer your e-mails within 48 hours of receipt.

ASSIGNMENTS: All of the assignments for this course are detailed in the classroom. Go back to the classroom page and click on "assignments".

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may address them to the instructor at mcbarabas@aol.com.