Syllabus

Schedule

Course learning modules are divided into weeks. Each week starts on Wednesday at 12:00 am Eastern Time (ET) and closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday. All assignments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the due date.

Course Schedule at a Glance

Learning Modules	Topics	Assignments and Due Dates
Week 1 1/3 – 1/10	Overview of US Healthcare Delivery	Introductory Discussion Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 1/7, responses by Wednesday 1/10
Week 2 1/10 – 1/17	Health Systems Foundations	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 1/14, responses by Wednesday 1/17
Week 3 1/17 – 1/24	Health Systems Resources	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 1/21, responses by Wednesday 1/24 Research Paper #1 – Wednesday 1/24
Week 4 1/24 – 1/31	Health Systems Processes	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 1/28, responses by Wednesday 1/31
Week 5 1/31 – 2/7	Managed Care and Integrated Health Systems	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 2/4, responses by Wednesday 2/7 Healthcare Timeline – Wednesday 2/7
Week 6 2/7 – 2/14	Health Services for Special Populations	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 2/11, responses by Wednesday 2/14 Research Paper #2 – Wednesday 2/14
Week 7 2/14 – 2/21	Systems Outcomes	Discussion – Initial post by Sunday 2/18, responses by Wednesday 2/21 Begin Final PowerPoint Presentation
Week 8 2/21 – 2/25	Future of Health Services Delivery	Submit Final PowerPoint Presentation – Friday 2/23

Weekly Course Schedule

Week 1 – Overview of US Health Care Delivery System

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the basic components of a healthcare system
• Discuss the primary characteristics of the US healthcare system

Course Materials: Read Chapter 1 in course text

Assignments:

Introductory Discussion: Please take a moment to introduce yourself. Where do you work/live? What do you like to do in your free time? What is your background? What, if any, healthcare experience do you have? (In this course, we hope to share perspectives from those in the trenches of healthcare but also from those that are on the outside looking in.)

Feel free to post a photo of yourself or of something important to you so we can get to know you a little better.

Discussion Question: Over the next few weeks, we will look at how healthcare in the US has evolved into the system that exists today. We will consider the resources and processes that make up the current system and take a look forward to the future of healthcare delivery.

For your first discussion post, please answer the following questions: How do the conflicting interests of the key players in healthcare affect the current system both positively and negatively? How does this affect your role as a healthcare professional (or future healthcare professional) in the planning and delivery of services? Please be specific with your examples.

Week 2 – Health System Foundations

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss the implications of competing American anthro-cultural values for healthcare delivery
• Explain the evolution of the US healthcare delivery system including resistance to national health insurance, corporatization, and the ACA.

Course Materials: Read Chapters 2 and 3 in course text

Assignment:

Discussion Question: How have American cultural values and beliefs affected the development of the US healthcare system? Why has universal national healthcare never become a reality in the United States? What do you believe are the key strengths and weaknesses of a national healthcare system, when compared to the healthcare system we have today?

Week 3 – Health System Resources

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe how systems resources have affected the healthcare delivery system
• Analyze the role of healthcare to address chronic disease

Course Materials: Read Chapters 4, 5, and 6 in course text

Assignments:

Discussion Question: This week we considered in detail three system resources that affect healthcare in the US: healthcare professionals, technology, and financing. How do these resources affect one another? What specific effects have you seen in the healthcare system as a result of changes in each of the three resources? How do you predict the healthcare system will be affected by changes in each of these resources moving forward?

Research Paper # 1: The literature tells us that lack of exercise, smoking, and poor nutritional habits are the leading contributors to chronic conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. What would research suggest that we do to address these issues? Describe the necessary health systems foundations as well as resources required. Conduct a comprehensive review of the available literature, summarize key findings, analyze the body of knowledge, and provide your own perspectives and application. You will need to draw upon your course readings as well as conduct additional research.

Remember, this is a professional paper. Use conventional grammar, punctuation and mechanics. Your paper should flow well and be organized to effectively guide the reader in learning about the topic. Use APA formatting, including an APA formatted reference page that includes at least 4 peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years. Paper length: 5 to 7 pages, not including cover page and reference page. Refer to the Research Paper Rubric for submission guidelines.

Week 4 – Health Systems Processes

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the differences between outpatient, ambulatory, and primary care including the use of patient-centered medical homes and community-based centers
• Discuss the evolution of hospitals
• Discuss key measures pertaining to hospital operations and inpatient utilization

Course Materials: Read Chapters 7 and 8 in course text

Assignment:

Discussion Question: This week’s discussion has two distinct parts, both related to this week’s readings.

Part I: One interesting facet of delivery we looked at was ambulatory services; we saw how ambulatory care went from being provided outside the hospital setting, to becoming a service within the hospital, and now is moving outside the hospital once again. What are the key factors that have contributed to the changes in ambulatory services? Why do you think that they are key factors?

Part II: Think about the hospitals and clinics in your area. What are the closest hospitals and/or clinics to where you live? What services do they offer? How do these services and location(s) affect your community?

Week 5 – Managed Care and Integrated Health Systems

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss the effects of managed care in controlling costs
• Define key historic influences on healthcare delivery and the impact it has on the evolution of healthcare today

Course Materials:

• Read Chapter 9 in course text
• Review webpage Healthcare Crisis: Who’s At Risk -Refer to for completing Healthcare Timeline assignment.

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Most Americans receive their healthcare services through some form of managed care. Managed care was supposed to help lower the escalating costs of healthcare, but that promise has not yet been fully realized. In what ways has managed care been able to contain healthcare costs? Where has it failed? How has it affected the quality of care? Please provide examples from your personal experience, either as a healthcare professional or as a consumer.

Healthcare Timeline: Develop a Healthcare Timeline: Using the “History Timeline,” from PBS (2000) Healthcare crisis: Who’s at risk, as an example. Create a timeline of 5 major events between 2004 and the present day that have affected the US healthcare system. Include the year of the event, a brief description of the event (approximately 100 words), a description of the effect the event has had, or is intended to have, on the US healthcare system (approximately 100 words), and citations to at least one reputable source supporting each event’s description using APA formatting.

Week 6 – Health Services for Special Populations

Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the challenges and barriers encountered by certain population groups when they try to access healthcare services
• Explore trends, utilization, costs and benefits of the ACA for certain vulnerable groups
• Discuss the healthcare systems of other countries

Course Materials: Read Chapters 10 and 11 in course text

Assignments:

Discussion Question: This week we looked at population groups that are disproportionately disadvantaged in accessing healthcare. Identify a vulnerable population and describe some of the key challenges in the delivery of services to that population. Given the challenges you note, what measures could be taken to improve access to care? What types of services does a healthcare organization you are familiar with deliver to this population?

Research Paper #2: For this research paper, select two (2) countries: one (1) developed country and one (1) third world country. Describe how the healthcare system of each is similar to and dissimilar from the healthcare system in the U. S. You will need to draw upon your course readings as well as conduct additional research. Remember, this is a professional paper. Use conventional grammar, punctuation and mechanics. Your paper should flow well and be organized to effectively guide the reader in learning about the topic. Use APA formatting, including an APA formatted reference page that includes at least 4 peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years. Paper length: 5 to 7 pages, not including cover page and reference page. Refer to the Research Paper Rubric for submission guidelines.

Week 7 – Systems Outcomes

Learning Outcomes:

• Review the meaning of healthcare costs and recent trends
• Describe the nature, scope, and dimensions of quality and access to care
• Discuss the scope and role of health policy

Course Materials:

• Read Chapters 12 and 13 in course text
• Review Website Healthy People 2020, (section on Disparities) from Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2017)

Assignments:

Discussion Question: Our reading this week discussed access to healthcare and healthcare policies and initiatives. One initiative mentioned in the textbook, Healthy People 2020, seeks to increase equitable access to healthcare across all socioeconomic groups. However, implementing this aspect of the initiative is extremely difficult given the political and cultural climate in the US. Please comment on one of the following:

• What would the effects be on the healthcare system if the initiative were to be fully implemented?
• What are the areas in which you see (or would expect to see) the results of the partial implementation of the initiative?
• What are the key obstacles that must be overcome to fully implement the initiative?

Final PowerPoint Presentation: This is the culminating project for the course. It is a final report in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. You will submit it in week 8.

Topic: There is an opportunity for you to join a think tank to reinvent Healthcare and how it is delivered in the U.S. In order to be formally invited to be part of the group, you have been asked to put forth your ideas in a PowerPoint presentation. Please include the following in your presentation:

1. Current and Future states (your vision) of healthcare
2. Who should be the stakeholders be in the new system? (Consumers, Business, Government, Others?)
3. Preferred Model
   1. Centralized or Decentralized Model?
   2. Rationale for your Selection
4. Identify three (3) key issues that your proposal for reinventing healthcare will target and improve
   1. What indicators should be used to monitor change – how will you know your proposal is working?
   2. Does your proposal need oversight? If so, what oversight will you consider putting in place?

Imagine that you will present this PowerPoint to an audience. Use the note section of the PowerPoint to write down spoken comments for each slide (what you would say aloud while presenting). Create 20-25 slides. Your slides should include text and graphic images. Be careful not to put too much information on any one slide and remember to cite any sources of information used (image or text). Refer to the Final Presentation Rubric for submission guidelines.

Note: The chapter 14 reading in week 8 might be useful for this project.

Week 8 – Future of Health Services Delivery

Learning Outcomes:

• Propose future changes to healthcare delivery and analyze their possible effect
• Analyze the components necessary to build a healthcare delivery infrastructure for the future including professionals and technology

Course Materials: Read Chapter 14 in course text

Assignments:

Submit Final PowerPoint Presentation (description in week 7) on Friday at 11:59 pm ET, optional responses to peers by Sunday. Week 8 ends on Sunday.

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 Health Informatics page

APA Style Guide

• https://www.apastyle.org

UNE Libraries:

• Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
• MSIN Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/health-informatics/
• Library Tutorial: Find an article
• Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

• UNE Student Academic Success Center

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.

Policies

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

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 Turnitin Student quick start guide.

Information Technology Services (ITS)

ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

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.

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late 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 Online Student 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:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
5. 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.