HSCI 678: Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System  

Syllabus

Instructor

Tracey Lynn Koehlmoos, PhD, MHA
Tkoehlmo@gmu.edu
Traceylynnk@hotmail.com

Disability Accommodation

If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see Debbie Wyne and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703-993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.

Course Description

This course will explore the U.S. Health System focusing on its historical development, current configuration and possible future direction. Included will be the study of health system development, key influencers, accessibility, financing, changing components and the effects the system has on patients, providers, financers, employers, government and insurers. Particular attention will be paid to the future direction of healthcare and what parts of the system are likely to change.

Textbook

Understanding the U.S. Health Services System, 2nd Edition by Phoebe Lindsey Barton, Health Administration Press, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 1-56793-203-7

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to introduce you to the U.S. healthcare system from a management perspective. How are healthcare services planned, paid for, utilized and arranged. Healthcare constitutes roughly 20% of the U.S. gross domestic product. Costs for healthcare are rising, as are the number of people who need healthcare. Specifically, this course will help you: 

·        Understand the historical events that shaped the U.S. healthcare system.

·        Identify the key characteristics and components of the current U.S. healthcare system.

·        Utilize historical data and current influencers to predict future direction.

·        Evaluate the forces influencing healthcare and determine their impact on the future of the system.

·        Understand the likelihood of future changes and how they will impact society.

Evaluation

Evaluations are based on the following distribution of effort: 

            Quizzes              70%      (10% x 7 quizzes)

            Discussion        30%     (10% x 3 discussion participations)

            TOTAL            100%

THERE IS A 25% REDUCTION IN SCORE FOR EACH LATE ITEM. MISSED DISCUSSIONS CANNOT BE MADE-UP.

Your evaluation will be based on the following scale:

            90% and above            A

            80 to 89%                   B

            70 to 79%                   C

            69% and below            F                     

Class Schedule

Week 1        Chapter 1: Introduction to US Health Services System

                   Chapter 2: Overview of US Health Services System

                   Chapter 3: Access to Health Services

                   QUIZ #1

Week 2        Chapter 4: Organization of the US Health Services System

                   Chapter 5: Management of the US Health Services System

                   QUIZ #2

                   Additional Reading and Discussion for Week 2

Week 3        Chapter 6: Health Insurance; Major Financing Mechanism

                   Chapter 7: Financing the US Health Services System

                   QUIZ #3

                   Additional Reading and Discussion for Week 3

Week 4        Chapter 8: The Health Services Workforce

                   Chapter 9: Hospitals

                   Chapter 10: Biomedical Research, Technology and Assessment

                   QUIZ #4

                   Additional Reading and Discussion for Week 4

Week 5        Chapter 12:  Health Promotion, Health Protection, Prevention

                   Chapters 13-17: The Continuum of Health Care

                   QUIZ #5

                   Additional Reading and Discussion for Week 5

Week 6        Chapter 18: Care of Special Populations and Disorders

                   Chapter 19: Managed Care

                   QUIZ #6

                   Additional Reading and Discussion for Week 6

Week 7        Chapter 20:  Issues in Quality of Care

                   Chapter 21: Continuing Change/Future Directions

                   QUIZ #7    

Quizzes
 

Each week after reading the chapters in the Barton text and viewing the lectures for each week, there is an open-book quiz. Each quiz will count for 10% of your final grade for a total of 70% of your grade in this class being based on the weekly quiz scores.

Additional Reading and Chat Discussion Groups

You are required to read three of the additional readings and to participate in THREE chat/discussion groups based on the additional reading of the week. Each chat session will be 45 minutes long. There are a total of five weeks with additional readings and discussion groups. You must participate in three out of the five weeks. Also, in each week with an additional reading there will be three possible opportunities for organized chat/discussion periods, you will participate in one period that you select.  Each participation will be worth 10% of your grade, for a total of three discussions at 10% for a total of 30% of your grade being based on additional reading and discussion groups. MISSED DISCUSSIONS CANNOT BE MADE UP.

Rules for the chat are as follows:

·        Be on time.

·        Completely read the article before entering the chat session.

·        Be polite and choose your words carefully. Do not make derogatory statements.

·        Be patient and read the comments of other participants thoroughly before entering your remarks.

·        Be respectful of other’s ideas.

·        Follow the suggested questions about the article.