Course Syllabus:
PBH/HE 510
Health Care Systems
Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize students with basic information about how the
health system works in America and to stimulate critical thinking about how the system
can be improved to meet the challenges of an aging society, rapid expansion of new
technology, ever growing costs of health care services, and threats to health induced by
poor behavioral choices such as diet, exercise and tobacco use. The goal of the course
is to form a base of understanding about the dynamics of health and healthcare.
Teaching Methods
Goals of the course will be accomplished with the use of lectures, videos, case studies,
analyzing journal articles and text books, presentation of research papers, interactive
discussions.
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills related to policy issues
in health care systems.
Comprehend the theoretical underpinnings of health care systems both in the
US and abroad.
Apply economic principles to health care systems and scenarios. Use
economic models in discussion to support theories and arguments.
Evaluate and critique health policy and health economics literature.
Engage in discussion and debate in an on-line forum on major health care
system issues.
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PREREQUISITES:
Facility with the computer (Microsoft Office), Blackboard and the Internet
Course Text and Readings
Text: Jonas and Kovner’s, Health Care Delivery in the United States, 8th edition, 2008,
Springer Publishing, NY, NY.
Journal Articles:
1--The Financial Impact of the Medicare Prospective Payment System on Long-Term
Acute Care Hospitals
Hatem Saqr, Osama Mikhail, James Langabeer II. Journal of Health Care Finance. New
York: Fall 2008. Vol. 35, Iss. 1; pg. 58, 12 pgs.
2--What We Know and Do Not Know About Tiered Provider Networks
J William Thomas, Gino A Nalli, Andrew F Coburn. Journal of Health Care Finance.
New York: Summer 2007. Vol. 33, Iss. 4; pg. 53, 15 pgs
3--Medicare and Medicaid: The Past as Prologue
Edward Berkowitz. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Spring 2008. Vol. 29,
Iss. 3; pg. 81, 13 pgs
4--Medicare Disease Management in Policy Context
Ariel Linden, Julia Adler-Milstein. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Spring
2008. Vol. 29, Iss. 3; pg. 1, 11 pgs
5--THE PRESCRIPTION FOR GOOD HEALTH MAY NOT BE FOUND IN ACCESS TO
THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Bridget M Costello, Bernard J Healey, Michele McGowan. Academy of Health Care
Management Journal. Cullowhee: 2007. Vol. 3, Iss. 1/2; pg. 29, 19 pgs
6--Emerging Issues of Pay-for-Performance in Health Care
Frederick G Thomas, Todd Caldis. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Fall
2007. Vol. 29, Iss. 1; pg. 1, 4 pgs
7--Financial Gains and Risks in Pay-for-Performance Bonus Algorithms
Jerry Cromwell, Edward M Drozd, Kevin Smith, Michael Trisolini. Health Care Financing
Review. Washington: Fall 2007. Vol. 29, Iss. 1; pg. 5, 10 pgs
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8--Hospital Multifactor Productivity: A Presentation and Analysis of Two Methodologies
Jonathan D Cylus, Bridget A Dickensheets. Health Care Financing Review.
Washington: Winter 2007/2008. Vol. 29, Iss. 2; pg. 49, 15 pgs
9--Impact of Resource-Based Practice Expenses on the Medicare Physician Volume
Stephanie Maxwell, Stephen Zuckerman. Health Care Financing Review. Washington:
Winter 2007/2008. Vol. 29, Iss. 2; pg. 65, 15 pgs
10--Medicare Physician Group Practice Demonstration Design: Quality and Efficiency
Pay-for-Performance
John Kautter, Gregory C Pope, Michael Trisolini, Sherry Grund. Health Care Financing
Review. Washington: Fall 2007. Vol. 29, Iss. 1; pg. 15, 15 pgs
11--Multifactor Productivity in Physicians' Offices: An Exploratory Analysis
Charles Fisher. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Winter 2007/2008. Vol. 29,
Iss. 2; pg. 15, 12 pgs
12--Productivity Adjustment in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Update
Joseph P Newhouse, Anna D Sinaiko. Health Care Financing Review. Washington:
Winter 2007/2008. Vol. 29, Iss. 2; pg. 5, 10 pgs
13--Profiling Efficiency and Quality of Physician Organizations in Medicare
Gregory C Pope, John Kautter. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Fall 2007.
Vol. 29, Iss. 1; pg. 31, 13 pgs
14--Prescription Drug Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Joseph F Regan, Cara A Petroski. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Fall
2007. Vol. 29, Iss. 1; pg. 119, 7 pgs
15—Testing Consumers' Comprehension of Quality Measures Using Alternative
Reporting Format
Margaret Gerteis, Jessie S Gerteis, David Newman, Christopher Koepke. Health Care
Financing Review. Washington: Spring 2007. Vol. 28, Iss. 3; pg. 31, 14 pgs
16--Health Care Quality Reporting: Changes and Challenges
David J Miranda. Health Care Financing Review. Washington: Spring 2007. Vol. 28, Iss.
3; pg. 1, 4 pgs
17--Hospital Response to Public Reporting of Quality Indicators
Mary Laschober, Myles Maxfield, Suzanne Felt-Lisk, David J Miranda. Health Care
Financing Review. Washington: Spring 2007. Vol. 28, Iss. 3; pg. 61, 16 pgs
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18--Medicaid and Health Information: Current and Emerging Legal Issues
Sara Rosenbaum, Patricia MacTaggart, Phyllis C Borzi. Health Care Financing Review.
Washington: Winter 2006/2007. Vol. 28, Iss. 2; pg. 21, 9 pgs
19--Valuing Hospital Investment in Information Technology: Does Governance Make a
Difference?
Stephen T Parente, R Lawrence Van Horn. Health Care Financing Review. Washington:
Winter 2006/2007. Vol. 28, Iss. 2; pg. 31, 13 pgs.
20—Consumer-Driven Health Plans: Their Impact on Medical Utilization, Pharmacy
Utilization, and Expenditures
Kavita V Nair, Vahram Ghushchyan, Joseph J Saseen. Journal of Health Care Finance.
New York: Fall 2008. Vol. 35, Iss. 1; pg. 1, 12 pgs
Videos as assigned: See Weekly Assignments posted on Blackboard
Case Studies: See Weekly Assignments posted on Blackboard
Be sure to use APA format to list your required text and/or readings. If possible, include
the ISBN number as well.
Email and Blackboard
We will be using Arcadia e-mail and Blackboard. Make certain your account is active
and accessible. Check it routinely for announcements, course information, etc.
Weekly assignments will be posted on Blackboard
Competency Assessment
You will have several opportunities to demonstrate your competence in this course. The
following describes the assignments required for completion of the course.
There are 14 units in this course condensed into a 7 week period. Each unit will require
readings from the text and a combination of some or all of the following: evaluation of
on-line journal articles, review of on-line videos, and analysis of case studies by
answering questions posed. On weeks where a case study is not assigned, answers to
the discussion questions at the end of the chapter will be required. These discussion
questions will be part of the discussion board presentation for that week.
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Case studies will describe a health care environment scenario and will be accompanied
by specific questions to be answered within your analysis. The case studies are
accompanied by suggested additional references. These are just suggestions. Case
studies should be 3 to 4 pages in length.
Journal articles will be accessed on-line and evaluated and compared to text readings,
videos or other articles from reputable sources with discussion to be posted. Videos will
also be evaluated, compared and contrasted to the text, to journal articles, or other
videos from reputable sources. Students will be able to access journal articles and video
through the appropriate link or “url” connected to each article and video. These links
and “urls” will be found in each weekly assignment folder. Discussion questions are
found at the end of each chapter.
Evaluation of text, journal articles, and videos will be posted on the discussion board.
You must reply to at least 3 of your classmate’s postings each week.
Students are expected to demonstrate their competency in accessing and searching the
Arcadia library on-line when doing their independent research for case studies and the
research paper.
Opinions and analysis stated during discussion boards, case studies and research
should not be based on hearsay and online anecdotal experience but on respected
sources of information.
A research paper on the Obama Health Care Plan taking into consideration the issues
discussed during the course will be required but due 4 weeks after the conclusion of the
course. The paper should be 10 to 15 pages in length. An abstract of your paper is
required to be posted on the discussion board. You must comment on each of your
classmates abstracts on discussion board. One paragraph for each is sufficient.
Points Schedule
All assignments will be due on or before 1 week after the assignment date.
Assignment Points Each Total Points
Case Studies 10 40
Video Discussion Board 5 35
Internet Discussion Board 5 35
Research Paper 30 20
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Abstract of Research 5 5
Total 135
Weekly Schedule
Assignment Weeks Point Value
Text: Chap. 3,4 1 Total for Week – 15 points
Articles # 1,2 2 points(Evaluate and
compare journal articles to
text and/or videos –post
evaluation on Discussion
Board)
Videos: Health Care
Reform 3 points(Evaluate and
compare the videos to text
Judy Waxman,NWLC and/or articles –post
evaluation on Discussion
Nancy Neilson,AMA
Board)
Karen Ignani, AHIP
Case Study – Chap 3
10 points ( 3 to 4 pages in
length; Analysis must
answer questions posed at
the end of the case study;
must use references)
Text: Chap. 5,6 2 Total for Week – 15 points
Case Study – Chap 5 10 points ( 3 to 4 pages in
length; Analysis must
answer questions posed at
the end of the case study;
must use references)
3 points (Evaluate and
compare videos to text
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Videos: and /or journal articles –
post evaluation on the
Linda Stierle, ANA Discussion Board)
Health care Leaders 2 points (Evaluate and
Debate compare article to text
Article # 3 and/or videos –post
evaluation on the
Discussion Board)
Text: Chap 7,8 3 Total for Week – 5 points
Chapter 7 discussion 2 points - Answer the
questions discussion questions at the
conclusion of chapters 7
Chapter 8 discussion and 8 and post on the
questions Discussion Board –do not
need to reference; use of
text is sufficient
Videos:
2 points - Evaluate and
Richard Umbenstock, AHA compare videos to journal
article and/or text –post
Ken Thorpe, PFCD
evaluation on Discussion
Board
Article #4 1 point - Evaluate and
compare article to videos
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
Text: Chap 9,10 4 Total for Week - 15 points
Case Study Chap 9 10 points ( 3 to 4 pages in
length; Analysis must
answer questions posed at
the end of the case study;
must use references)
3 points - Evaluate and
compare videos to journal
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Videos: article and/or text –post
evaluation on Discussion
Nursing Home Reform Board
2 points - Evaluate and
Article: #5 compare article to videos
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
Text: Chap 11,12 5 Total for Week - 15 points
Articles #6 thru 14 3 points - Evaluate and
compare articles to videos
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
2 points - Evaluate and
Videos: Big Pharma(3) compare videos to articles
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
Case Study, Chap 12 10 points ( 3 to 4 pages in
length; Analysis must
answer questions posed at
the end of the case study;
must use references)
Text: Chap 13,15 6 Total for Week – 5 points
Chapter 13 Discussion 2 points - Answer the
Questions discussion questions at the
conclusion of chapters 13
Chapter 15 Discussion and 15 and post on the
questions Discussion Board –do not
need to reference; use of
text is sufficient
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Article: # 15 thru 19 2 points - Evaluate and
compare article to videos
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
1 point - Evaluate and
Videos compare videos to articles
and/or text – post
Video: Jack Lewin ACC
evaluation on Discussion
Video: RFID Technology Board
Text: Chap 16,17 7 Total for Week – 5 points
Chapter 16 Discussion 2 points - Answer the
Questions discussion questions at the
conclusion of chapters 16
Chapter 17 discussion and 17 and post on the
questions Discussion Board –do not
need to reference; use of
text is sufficient
Article # 20
1 points - Evaluate and
compare article to videos
and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Board
Videos 2 points - Evaluate and
compare videos to articles
Video: Renee Jenkins and/or text – post
evaluation on Discussion
Video: Ted Epperly
Board
Video: Todd Stotlemeyer
FINAL PROJECT Due 4 weeks after Total Points 25
conclusion of classes
Research paper analyzing 20 points- Research paper
the Obama Health Care should be 10 to 15 pages in
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Plan length. Analyze the Obama
Health Care plan taking into
consideration the issues
considered in this course.
Must use reputable
references.
5 points
Abstract of paper posted on
Discussion Board and
comments on classmates’
abstracts
Attendance & Participation
You will lose points for not participating each week ( 5 points per week for not
participating in the week’s activities.)
Late submission of Case Studies and Research Paper must be discussed with
instructor prior to submission date, otherwise there is an automatic 2 point deduction for
Case Studies and 5 point deduction for research project. Please remember the entire
course is worth 100 points. For example an “A” grade is 94 points to 100 points.
Final Grade
100% – A 93% – 0% A-
94%
89 - 87 B 86%– B 83% – 80% B-
+ 84%
79 – 77 C 76%– C 73% – 70% C-
+ 74%
69 – 67 D 66%-64% D 63% – 60% D-
+
< 59 F
Class Policies
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Editorial Format for Written Papers:
All written assignments are to follow the APA writing style guidelines for grammar,
spelling, and punctuation. Visit the following websites to www.apastyle.org and
http://www.liunet.edu/cwis/cwp/library/workshop/citapa.htm for guidelines.
Late Assignments:
Student must alert me if an assignment will be late or forfeit points.
Code of Academic Responsibility:
Each student accepts the responsibility of maintaining high standards of integrity in
his/her academic performance. It is the responsibility of all students to uphold the code
through the procedures set forth by the University as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Student Handbook: Please refer to your student handbook for all university regulations.
