This course provides theoretical and practical knowledge for managing the human resources of public health organizations. Topics include cultural and psychological factors affecting recruitment, selection, placement, and promotion; training and development processes; performance appraisal methodologies; and job evaluation methods and compensation practices. Factors promoting employee productivity and job satisfaction are explored. Legal concerns, including the requirements for the validation of selection tools, are covered.

This course examines factors determining the supply and demand for healthcare services. Markets for professional services, drugs, and insurance are discussed. Competitive effects on efficiency, effectiveness, and access are examined. The class discusses relevant theories of production, cost curves, market structure, and factor price determination.

This course identifies and analyses legislation and regulations that determine and/or influence healthcare access, delivery and practice. It focuses on the factors that influence policy formulation and implementation. Students are expected to analyze laws and regulations affecting the health of populations at risk for major health problems. Examples of current issues covered are Medicaid, Medicare, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and cardiovascular disease.

The course focuses on the complex and essential interrelationships that exist within and among healthcare entities. This course will 1) identify and study components of the healthcare system (hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice care, emergency medical services, etc.) as well as the interrelationships necessary for their survival. 2) It will explore the variety of arrangements (networks, systems, alliances, etc.) used for integrating and managing these entities. This course will also illustrate the fact that survival within the healthcare industry is largely predicated upon an entity¿s ability to partner with other healthcare providers.

This course introduces the dynamic impact of managed care on the delivery of healthcare services and the cost containment features of health plans that thrived in the 1990s. The student will become familiar with all aspects of managed care (HMOs, PPOs, and POS) from effectiveness including of these healthcare plans medical/loss ratios, profit margins and outcomes measurements to their effects on access to quality of healthcare services.