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Master of Health Science

Leadership in Health Care Concentration

This concentration will provide specialization training to meet the increasing demand for qualified leaders in the health care industry growing field of leadership in health care. Beginning in the Winter of 2010, MHSc distance students will have the option of completing electives or a concentration in Leadership in Health Care. Completing this concentration requires 37 credits as detailed below.

All courses are delivered and organized as distance learning.

Core courses total 12 credits.

course namecredit hours
MHS 5003: Current Trends and Cultural Issues in Health Care
This course serves to familiarize the student with current and cultural issues in health care that may impact the patient, the health care system, as well as the ability to deliver high quality health care. Discussion and analysis of current trends and cultural topics facing those who work in health care will be explored.
3
MHS 5203: Writing for Allied Health Professionals

This course entails the study and practice of writing style used in allied health: scientific writing.  Scientific writing is a different format than other kinds of writing used as an undergraduate.  It is more precise and succinct, which is different from the way we speak to each other.  Scientific writing is written for an audience with the purpose of informing or possibly persuading the audience.  American Psychological Association (APA) style and standard English formatting will be reviewed.  The papers written in this course will give the student a foundation for all MHS courses.

3
MHS 5510: Research Methods
This course is designed to enable participants to develop skills in reading and critically evaluating published research using the scientific model. The advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative research methods will be compared and contrasted. Research articles will be collaboratively analyzed to develop an appreciation of potential methodological problems and their implications for evidence based professional practice.
3
MHS 5521: Ethical Issues in Healthcare
The student will examine the ethical issues that confront health care providers and patients. The medical, scientific, moral and socioeconomic bases of these issues and the decision making process that providers and patients engage in are analyzed. Topics will include informed consent, the role of institutional review boards, euthanasia, and the allocation of scarce resources.
3

Specialty courses total 15 credits.

course namecredit hours
MHS 5530: Principles of Management in Healthcare
This course will discuss the various principles of management and its associated issues as they relate to the modern healthcare professional. The course will explore topics such as concepts of organizational management, decision making, strategic planning, resource management and allocation, conflict, and the concept of power.
3
MHS 5541: Health Care Systems and Conflict
This introductory course will assist learners to blend conflict-resolution theories, models, and skills into realistic strategies that can be utilized in a healthcare setting. The attitudes, knowledge and skills from this course can be applied to those who deliver, receive, and manage healthcare. The strategies will be applicable to working with diverse populations, including people with different cultural backgrounds, genders, personalities, positions of power, agendas. Types of negotiation strategies in order to move toward a collaborative situation will also be addressed.
3
MHS 5546: Healthcare Finance
This course introduces fundamental theory and concepts of health care finance with relevant application to a wide variety of health care settings. Emphasis will be placed on the understanding of key issues in order to provide the tools necessary for clinicians to function within a health care environment. Concentrating on a managerial rather than production accounting perspective, major topics includes principles of accounting, budgeting, analysis of financial statements, activity-based costing, responsibility accounting, and provider payment and reimbursement systems. The student will be required to prepare a formal paper on a health care finance topic.
3
MHS 5535: Issues in Health Care Leadership
This course requires the student to solve a simulated problem facing a simulated health care organization addressing its impact on all aspects of the health care institution. Students will describe their leadership philosophy based on recognized leadership theory and how this will play a role in achieving an effective solution to the proposed problem. The course will employ interactive technology to disseminate information on the weekly evolution of the simulated problem. The course culminates in a detailed analysis of the problem which includes: proposed solutions for corrective and preventive measures, potential intended and unintended consequences and evidence of the student's leadership philosophy
3
MHS 5537: Health Care Leadership Quality Assurance/Risk Management
The student will examine health care quality assurance and risk management in the United States and the methods that are utilized to achieve improvements in health care organizations. Upon completion of this course the student will be prepared to implement continuous quality improvement and performance improvement in management and performance improvement in management and performance systems, by interpreting and understanding of data available to devise, generate, and apply quality performance improvement programs.
3

Practical coursework courses total 10 credits.

course namecredit hours
MHS 5309: U.S. Health Policy
This course will explore how US health policy is made and the interests and roles of various stakeholders and state, local and federal governments.  Students will analyze health policies and discern what impact proposed and executed health policies will have on health care entities, groups, individuals and healthcare practice. Students will gain the skills necessary to conduct a policy analysis that examines a health care or public health issue or concern.
5
MHS 5207: Practicum
The practicum is a cumulating experience for M.H.Sc. Students. Under supervision of an M.H.Sc. faculty advisor, students will develop community- based, health promotion and disease prevention interventions with underserved and/ or non-traditional populations.
5
Concentration for Recognition

In order to gain recognition in the "Leadership in Health Care" concentration of the MHSc program, the student must complete all five courses for 15 total hours. Those completing the concentration will be recognized as such with appropriate credentials. If you have any questions of how this may apply to your MHSc completion, contact the program or your academic advisor for assistance.

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