HLT 499: Health Studies Capstone

Course Description

This course is the capstone course in the Health Studies concentration. The culmination of the concentration with HLT 499 will provide students with the ability to describe healthcare delivery systems and services provided, and discuss healthcare issues concerning healthcare systems. Students will engage with certain variables that influence factors affecting healthcare systems. Students will also introduce strategies to effectively manage situations within the industry.

Prerequisites

ENG 101: English Composition 1
ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Explain the evolution and modification of health policy in recent American history.
Examine the policymaking process and the role of government, bureaucrats and special interest groups.
Analyze the effects of health policies on the health of varied patient populations including the uninsured, underinsured, minorities, women, disabled, mentally ill, and elderly.
Describe political competence as it relates to healthcare practitioners, and address its role in career development relating personal awareness of current issues to potential for personal growth.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze specific issues and their interaction with existing programs, cost, statistics, role of the government and special interest groups.
Identify the strengths and opportunities in our national healthcare system.
Understand and describe the different models of health systems utilized by four industrialized countries.
Understand and describe how historical, political, economic and prevailing social conditions define a health system’s development.
Identify and describe the various strategies that have been and are currently used to evaluate health systems functioning and achievements.
Develop a reform analysis with proposed changes and strategies to improve the United States health system.
Critically reflect about health system structures and international health issues to advance research in this area.

Course Activities and Grading

Assignments	Weight
Discussion Board (Weeks 1-8)	25%
Article Review Paper (Week 3)	20%
Midterm Paper: SWOT Analysis (Week 4)	20%
Final Paper: Role of Healthcare Admin (Week 8)	35%
Total	100%

Required Text

None. Students will use independent materials to gain mastery of topics in Health Studies. Included in the Blackboard course are journals and resources that will generate critical thinking and thought-provoking discussions and topics.

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignment(s)
1	1,2,3,4	Topics: Health Care Delivery Systems & Introductions Activities: Introduce yourself to your classmates. Include your Bio and experiences!! Review interrelation of cultural, economic, political and social aspects of healthcare delivery at the federal, state, and local level. Explore the relationship that healthcare policy has on populations (special and mainstream). Interview management level leaders at local hospital or healthcare facilities to explore and understand the economics and various delivery systems in place.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material
2	4,5,6,9	Topics: Human Resources Management and Principles Activities: Identify the best opportunities for recruitment and retention in the healthcare environment. Identify best tools for management and staff training. Planning, organization, direction and controlling of the management team. Discuss organizational behavior and productivity and measurement concerns.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material
3	3,4,5,7,8,9,11	Topic: Healthcare Administration: Student Directed Learning Activities: Chose an article related to Healthcare Administration (must be peer reviewed). Post questions and responses to questions on discussion thread.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material Complete Student Directed Seminar Submit Week 3 Article Review Paper
4	2,3,5,6	Topics: Legal and Ethical Aspects in Health Care Activities: Analyze the legal and ethical issues related to healthcare administration Watch the “Tyler Kahle Story” and post a reaction to the patient and providers side of the story. SWOT Analysis of Long Term Care Facilities.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material Submit Midterm Project: SWOT Analysis
4	2,3,5,6	Midterm Project Covers Material Discussed in Weeks 1-4 SLOs 1-11
5	3,5,8,9	Topics: Financial Management of Healthcare Systems and Health Information Activities: Analyze cash flows, risks, capital budgeting, capital investments to enhance the healthcare managers decision making skills. Effective use and management of health information technology and implementation of strategies.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material
6	3,5,8,9	Topics: Healthcare Entrepreneurship and Marketing Activities: Creating future healthcare leaders Decision making and marketing skills Patients as consumers	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material
7	3,5,8,9	Topics: Health Services Regulation and Evidence Based Practices Activities: Evidence Based Practices in Healthcare Overview of US Healthcare Systems	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material
8	3,5,8,9	Topic: Healthcare Leadership Activities: Bring together all aspects of course and summarize in a final format (paper) your abilities as a leader in Healthcare. The Healthcare Administrator and their role in decision making.	Read assigned materials Participate in the Discussions Review the Lecture material Submit Final Project Complete the Course Evaluation
8	3,5,8,9	Final Project SLOs 1-11

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.