In this course, learners build and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in their program and in the workplace. Learners engage in interactive activities that help them develop and demonstrate a health care perspective and expand their academic success strategies including organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Learners also develop an understanding of ethics, information literacy, and effective writing. For BS in Health Care Administration, FlexPath option learners only. Must be taken during the learner’s first quarter. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning.

Learners gain a historical view of the U.S. health care system and analyze the challenges and successes of an ever-changing and evolving industry from both a private and public health perspective. Learners also investigate health care innovations, regulatory bodies and technology to assess the evolutionary processes in medical education, changing practice, hospital industry growth and the continuum of care.

In this course, learners review developments in health policy and management to better understand the present and future state of the U.S. health care system. Learners also analyze trends and effects on health care services to determine their impact on the health care industry and to predict potential future reforms. Learners also gain knowledge of health policy; health reform; access, cost, and regulatory issues; and stakeholder influence.

In this course, learners examine quality improvement and risk management in health care. Learners apply various models to increase the quality of patient care and outcomes, decrease the risk of litigation, and effect positive change. Throughout the course, learners gain an understanding of how to prepare a quality dashboard utilizing common quality improvement tools, including statistical analysis; Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA); Six Sigma; and Rapid Cycle Improvement.

In this course, learners analyze local, state, and federal health care laws and evaluate their applicability and effect on patient rights, care, and confidentiality; human resources; and organizational and professional licensure. Throughout the course, learners develop and demonstrate competence in applying standards to meet requirements of governing bodies and various agencies with regulatory oversight authority. Learners also investigate fraud and abuse, risk management, business ethics, and corporate compliance.

Learners in this course acquire an understanding of inventory control, budgeting, financial statements, and reporting. Learners also demonstrate competence in preparing budgets for their scope of responsibility as health care professionals.

Learners in this course examine current trends and traditional methods of payment in the health care industry. In particular, learners examine hospital, physician, third-party, state, and federal reimbursement systems and gain an understanding of the organizational revenue cycle process and payor contracting.

In this course, learners examine health care research methodologies to assess access, quality, and cost as well as related marketing research and planning. In particular, learners strengthen their knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research designs in order to better understand the needs, expectations, and social norms involved within the health care delivery system.

The focus of this course is on the ethical principles that guide health care management practices. Learners examine the role of personal moral integrity in ethical health care leadership, as well as the external and internal forces that influence health care management. Finally, learners also analyze a variety of ethical dilemmas that health care leaders face in today’s rapidly changing health care environment.

Learners in this course gain awareness of their personal leadership style and develop communication approaches appropriate for a diverse set of stakeholders. Learners also build their knowledge and skills in cultural competence, effective teamwork, coaching, cross-functionality, and collaboration through the use of authentic, real-world scenarios.

In this course, learners develop innovative solutions to strategic, tactical, and operational issues in managing health care systems through the combined use of information technology, organizational knowledge, talent management, and critical thinking. Learners enhance leadership qualities that facilitate diverse high-performance teams and create comprehensive and useable data-driven action plans. Learners also gain an understanding of organizational development, productivity management, and health care planning and marketing.

Learners in this course integrate essential informatics concepts into health care administration and manage the health care information lifecycle. Learners analyze information system applications to make evidence-based decisions that maximize the efficiency and quality of departmental workflow. Learners also analyze the application of methods to improve the management of patient data, clinical knowledge, population data, and other information relevant to patient care and community health.

In this course, learners investigate epidemiology and its patterns, causes, and effects relative to health and disease conditions across identified populations. Learners identify evidence-based approaches to promote wellness, disease management, and evolving financial reimbursement strategies. In addition, learners gain an understanding of critical factors associated with accountable care organizations and formulate applied research strategies focused on patient engagement.

In this course, learners analyze managerial concepts and their application to the support infrastructure of health care organizations. Learners also investigate issues, trends, and best practices in supply chain management; process improvement; facility layout; quality improvement; resource planning; and facilities management.

Learners in this course examine historical perspectives and current trends in the health care industry and analyze its unique economic structure. Learners analyze evolving reimbursement trends, methods, and technology and identify the political, legal, regulatory, organizational, and demographical implications of business decisions on health care economics. Learners also evaluate the ways in which economic and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision making.

The capstone project is the culmination of the BS in Health Care Administration degree program. Learners demonstrate the technical and applied health care administration knowledge and the critical thinking and communication skills needed to effectively influence a diverse and dynamic health care environment, develop innovative solutions for managing U.S. health care systems, and apply continuous improvement and quality management processes to improve organizational and patient outcomes. For BS in Health Care Administration, FlexPath option learners only. Must be taken during the learner’s final quarter. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer or credit for prior learning.