Syllabus
Graduate Programs in Public Health
GPH 702 Public Health Policy and Management – 2017 Spring B
Credits - 3
Description
Course Description
This course provides students with an opportunity to learn about the health policy making process in the US, with a particular focus on factors that drive the development and implementation of health policy at the state and national levels. Additionally, part of the course will address how management influences policy development, implementation and change. We will focus much of the course on recent federal health reform, especially the Affordable Care Act, to illustrate many aspects of policy development and implementation.
Course Format
This course is facilitated through Blackboard, UNE’s online learning management system. The course will be delivered in 8 weekly online modules, with each module beginning on Wednesday at 12:01 am ET and ending the following Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, except for the last week (Week 8), which will begin on Wednesday and end on Sunday. NOTE: All times are Eastern Time.
Students will watch online lectures, engage in readings and other media, and will learn from one another through the discussion board and written assignments. Each section of this course will be facilitated by an instructor with significant professional and academic expertise in the area of study. Individual meetings with the course instructor will be up to the student to schedule.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
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Program Competencies |
Course Outcomes |
Weekly Outcomes |
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Analyze policies, programs, and services to evaluate their demonstrated or potential impact on the health of a community.
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Synthesize the various components of complex health policies.
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Analyze existing health care policy to determine efficiency, usefulness, and what determines “good” policy
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Evaluate public health programs’ use of financial resources and management techniques to achieve sustainability. |
Articulate historical and potential future financial impacts of health policy choices.
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Manage the proposal for implementation of a new health policy. |
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Assess the role of community relationships and diverse perspectives in the development or implementation of public health policies, programs, and services.
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Examine the history and development of health care law and policy including policy participants, investors, and stakeholders.
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Examine how healthcare policy affects patients and communities in terms of cost and access to care.
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Assignments
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Discussions (7 discussions at 4 points each)
*See Discussion Guidelines, available in each Weekly Module in Blackboard for information on posts. |
28 |
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Major Assignments
**See Blackboard weekly modules for assignment specific instructions. |
72 |
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TOTAL |
100 |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Course Weeks:
Each week opens on Wednesday at 12:01 AM Eastern Time. Each week closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday.
| Week 1: | March 1 – March 8 |
| Week 2: | March 8 – March 15 |
| Week 3: | March 15 – March 22 |
| Week 4: | March 22 – March 29 |
| Week 5: | March 29 – April 5 |
| Week 6: | April 5 – April 12 |
| Week 7: | April 12 – April 19 |
| Week 8: | April 19 – April 23 |
Weekly Schedule
*See Weekly Overview and Readings, available in Blackboard, for lectures and specific readings each week.
________________________________________________________________________
Week 1: Introduction to Health Policy and Management
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze how policy creation and implementation affect the quality and cost of healthcare and the ability of patients to access care.
- Articulate specific factors that affect healthcare costs in the U.S.
- Draft a department memorandum that demonstrates ability to maintain political neutrality and utilize concise, objective language.
Lectures
- Course Introduction
- Week 1 Lecture
- Part of a Memo
Assignments
- Week 1 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 1 Discussion: Introduce Yourself
- Introduction Memo
________________________________________________________________________
Week 2: Quality in Healthcare and Change of Direction Memo
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze challenges and barriers to policy implementation.
- Identify organizations that are improving healthcare quality.
- Compare U.S. health care costs to other countries.
- Draft a department memorandum that demonstrates effective soft skills and neutrality.
Lectures
- Week 2 Lecture
- Parts of a Memo
Assignments
- Week 2 Discussion Post and Response
- Change of Direction Memo
________________________________________________________________________
Week 3: Acute Care Policy and Choice of Pilot Memo
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Discuss the effectiveness of policy evaluation in acute care.
- Examine how policy evaluation relates to the process of policy creation and implementation.
- Create a health care pilot project proposal.
Lectures
- Week 3 Lecture
- Parts of a Memo
Assignments
- Week 3 Discussion Post and Response
- Choice of Pilot Memo
________________________________________________________________________
Week 4: The Affordable Care Act and Policy Brief Outline
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe and evaluate the Affordable Care Act.
- Explain models intended to shrink healthcare costs.
- Create a policy brief outline utilizing policy analysis tools.
Lecture
- Week 4 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 4 Discussion Post and Response
- Policy Brief Outline
________________________________________________________________________
Week 5: Uninsured and Policy in Action
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine health care for individuals without insurance.
- Explore the components of policy implementation and maintenance.
- Analyze policy implementation in various regions and areas.
Lectures
- Week 5 Lecture
- Parts of a Memo
Assignments
- Week 5 Discussion Post and Response
- Policy in Action Memo
________________________________________________________________________
Week 6: Medicare and Financials Memo
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine the history, success, and failures of Medicare.
- Discuss the effects of policy expansion and adjustment.
- Outline costs involved in health policy implementation.
- Explore management roles related to health care policy creation.
Lectures
- Week 6 Lecture
- Parts of a Memo
Assignments
- Week 6 Discussion Post and Response
- Financials Memo
________________________________________________________________________
Week 7: Medicaid and Policy Brief
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine how public health care is influenced by changing laws, financing, and social values.
- Explain the history and role of Medicaid in healthcare policy.
- Analyze the components of policy creation, implementation and assessment in a policy brief.
Lectures
- Week 7 Lecture
Assignments
- Policy Brief
________________________________________________________________________
Week 8: End of Life Policy and Press Release
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore how public opinion and involvement affects health care policy
- Discuss end of life policy in the U.S.
- Present a health care policy in a manner devised to gain public approval.
Lectures
- Week 8 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 8 Discussion Post and Response
- Press Release
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Public Health page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Public Health Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/public-health/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
AMA Writing Style Statement
The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.
Online resources: AMA Style Guide
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Late Policy
Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.
Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.
Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Attendance Policy
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.