Health Care Administration Courses

HCA 301 Health Care Delivery in the United States – A Consumer Perspective (3 cr)

This course provides an overview of the nature, organization, and function of the continuum of health services found in the United States. Emphasis is placed on the interrelation of cultural, economic, political and social aspects of health care delivery at the federal, state, and local level. Topics include health care costs, accessibility of services, governmental influence on health care delivery, private industry role in health care, services for the medically indigent and elderly, ethical issues regarding transplants, reproductive technology, end of life decisions and funding.

HCA 303 Health Care Economics (3 cr)

This course explores some of the major issues facing the health care industry and the effect that public policy and business environment has on a health care organization. Emphasis is on supply and demand theory, reimbursement systems, managed care, DRG prospective payment, insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, governmental regulations, accessibility, eligibility, budgeting and planning. Students learn to use informational and research tools to make effective management decisions.

CROSS LISTED: MGT 303.

HCA 304 Human Resources Management (3 cr)

This course analyzes human resources functions including recruitment, selection and retention strategies. Consideration is given to job satisfaction, design of work teams, job analysis, design, description and evaluation, collective bargaining, staffing, performance appraisal, employee discipline, management and staff education.

CROSS LISTED: MGT 304.

HCA 305 Principles of Management (3 cr)

This course combines classroom and clinical discussions/experiences to provide an overview of management functions including planning, organizing, directing and controlling. It studies the basics of leadership communication, motivation, change theories, organizational culture, problem solving, conflict and negotiation, decision-making, productivity measurement, the TQM process, resource allocation and mission and values development. This course requires two hours didactic and one hour clinical.

CROSS LISTED: NSG 413 and MGT 305.

HCA 320 Marketing Strategies (3 cr)

This course examines variables and techniques for marketing organizations. Topics include customer behavior, competition in the market, advertising, promotion, branding, customer satisfaction strategies, consumer satisfaction measurement and reporting.

HCA 324 Information Resources in Health Care (3 cr)

This course explores the opportunities and challenges inherent in the use of health care management information systems in clinical and non-clinical applications. Subsystems include pathology, nursing, clinical laboratory, radiology, physiology, clinics, education, and financial management.

CROSS LISTED: NSG 324 and MGT 324.

HCA 404 Legal/Ethical Aspects of Health Care (3 cr)

This course examines the contemporary application of legal and ethical issues involved in the management and delivery of health care services. Topics covered include contracts, torts, damages, negligence, risk management, patient rights, liability of hospital and staff for personal injury to patients, medical records and disclosure of patient information, informed consent, ethical billing and coding practices, medical staff credentialing and ethical issues in health care.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of Chair of Health Care Administration. Cross listed: MGT 404.

HCA 410 Special Topics in Health Care (3 cr)

This course consists of seminars, lectures, round table discussions and panel discussions reflecting contemporary issues and trends in the health care industry.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of Chair of Health Care Administration.

HCA 412 Long Term Care: Organization and Administration (3 cr)

This course focuses on the complexities of managing nursing homes and other long term and chronic care facilities within the context of public financing constraints. Topics include governmental rules and regulations, reimbursement policies, gerontology and geriatrics, nutrition care continuum concept, facility, purchasing inventory and financial analysis.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of Chair of Health Care Administration.

HCA 413 Hospitals: Organization and Administration (3 cr)

This course focuses on a variety of topics that are pertinent to the delivery of health care in a hospital setting. Topics include hospital governance, medical staff, nursing service, hospital programs, administrator’s tasks and functions, unionization and collective bargaining, government financial regulations and accreditation.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of Chair of Health Care Administration.

HCA 414 Ambulatory Care Services: Organization and Administration (3 cr)

This course explores the practical aspects of leadership in a primary care setting. Topics include transition from unmanaged to managed care systems, third party payers, physician-staff relationships including practice styles, scheduling, billing productivity, quality assurance and outcome management. Wellness promotion and marketing strategies will also be discussed.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of Chair of Health Care Administration.

HCA 415 Health Care Financial Management (3 cr)

This course explores the organizational and operational aspects of fiscal analysis and internal control of health care organization costs. Topics include planning, budgeting and cost finding including preparation and analysis of an operating budget trending, modeling, revenue, expenses, variance analysis and margins. Organizational and divisional performance will be measured against internal and external benchmarking tools, assessing capital equipment needs, building a capital budget and bids.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of chair of Health Care Administration.
CROSS LISTED: NSG 415 and MGT 415.

HCA 420 Practicum I (3 cr)

This course offers the opportunity to integrate and apply previously learned health management knowledge and skills. The student will become part of a health care organization, working closely with professional managers. Student, faculty member and preceptor will mutually agree on management area of study and practicum setting.

PREREQUISITES: 15 credit hours of HCA courses or approval of chair of Health Care Administration.

HCA 421 Practicum II (3 cr)

This course offers the opportunity to integrate and apply previously learned health management knowledge and skills in an area other than what was done in HCA 420. The student will become part of a health care organization, working closely with professional managers. Student, faculty member and preceptor will mutually agree on management area of study and practicum setting.

PREREQUISITES:  HCA 420