HCA 101: Health Care Systems and Administration

Course Description

This course surveys the American healthcare system, while examining types of healthcare providers and the skill set needed to support industry change, e.g., organizational leadership, patient services management, budgeting and planning, marketing, health information technology, industry trends, public policy, ethics, and the impact of the global economy on the delivery of healthcare. (3 credits)

This course meets certain CAHIIM competencies for HIM Majors.

Prerequisite

  • None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Describe the history of healthcare in the U.S.
  2. Identify characteristics of the current U.S. healthcare system.
  3. Explain current healthcare initiatives and related website resources.
  4. Describe the government role and public health role in healthcare
  5. Differentiate the common healthcare settings and their characteristics: Outpatient, Inpatient, Long Term Care.
  6. Explain the different ways healthcare is financed by consumers in the U.S.
  7. Describe the impact that technology has made on healthcare.
  8. Identify and explain major healthcare laws and regulations.
  9. Discuss the concept of ethics and its application to healthcare organizations.
  10. Identify mental health issues related to the U.S. healthcare environment and society.
  11. Explain the characteristics of the wide variety of healthcare careers.
  12. Relate the topics of access to healthcare, health disparities, and social determinants of health to current healthcare issues in the U.S.

Course Activities and Grading

NOTE:  If this is a core course for your major, you must earn a C or higher (73%) to pass the class.

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-8)

20%

Assignments

50%

Final Reflection Essay (Week 8)

20%

Final Exam (Week 8)

10%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Niles, Nancy J. (2024). Basics of the U.S. Health Care System. 5th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett. ISBN-13: 9781284262988

Additional Resources

Outside scholarly research may be performed by visiting the Charter Oak State College virtual library.

Course Schedule

Each Week: The primary discussion post is due Thursday 11:59 EST and response posts and all assignments are due end of day Sunday.

WeekSLOsReadings and ExercisesAssignments

1

1,2,3

The U.S. Health Care System - History and Current Operations

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Healthy People Website Scavenger Hunt assignment
  • Submit the Vocabulary and Associations worksheet assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

2

3, 4

The Government's and Public Health's Role in U.S. Health Care

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Government Agencies assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

3

5

Inpatient and Outpatient Services; Long Term Care

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Where Are the Jobs? assignment
  • Submit the Essay Questions on Long Term Care assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

4

6, 11

U.S. Healthcare Workforce & Healthcare Financing

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Careers assignment
  • Submit the Vocabulary and Website Scavenger Hunt assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

5

6, 7

Managed Care Impact on Healthcare Delivery & Information Technology Impact on Health Care

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Technology Worksheet assignment
  • Submit the EHR Worksheet Assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

6

8, 9

Healthcare Law & Healthcare Ethics

  • Read assigned chapters and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Employment Legislation assignment
  • Submit the Ethical Dilemmas assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz

7

9

Mental Health Issues

  • Read assigned chapter and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Essay Questions - Mental Health assignment
  • Complete the practice quiz
  • Prepare the WK 8 Reflection Essay assignment due in Week 8

8

1, 2, 4

Analysis of the U.S. Healthcare System

  • Read assigned chapter and materials
  • Review the Lecture material
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the WK 8 - Reflection Essay assignment
  • Complete Final Exam
  • Participate in the Course Evaluation process

Reflection Paper
Chapters 1-14
SLOs 1-12

02282023

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.