Methodist University - Health Care Administration Courses

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Courses

HCA 2000 INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (3 s.h.)
A study of the United States health care delivery system, its nature, organization, and functions. Study how providers, managers, and consumers interact in the health care system. Investigation of career opportunities in the healthcare industry and the qualifications and responsibilities associated with them. Focus is on critical thinking and problem solving in management settings. This course is offered every fall semester.

HCA 2300 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (3 s.h.)
This course introduces prefixes, suffixes, and root words used in the language of medicine. Topics include medical vocabulary and the terms that relate to anatomy, physiology, pathological conditions, and treatment of the conditions that can affect the eleven systems of the human body. Upon completion, students should be able to pronounce, spell, understand and interpret over 11,000 medical terms as related to the body’s systems and their pathological disorders. Offered every fall and spring semester and online every semester.

HCA 3050 MANAGING HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS (3 s.h.)
An introduction to the overall management of health-related organizations. Emphasis is on integrating fundamental tools, concepts, applications and principles as a basis for successful management of a health-related business. Focus is on managerial leadership, problem solving and critical thinking within contemporary health care-related organizations. This course is offered every spring semester.

HCA 3300 HEALTH CARE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (3 s.h.)
An introduction to the strategic management process in health care organizations. Provides the concepts and theories pertaining to strategic planning/management and marketing approaches to patients, medical staff, and other major stakeholders. A comprehensive approach to translating the strategic plan of the organization into a functional marketing plan that can assist in operational decision-making. This course is offered every fall semester.

HCA 3400 HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (3 s.h.)
Description forthcoming.

HCA 3500 ECONOMICS AND FINANCE OF HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS (3 s.h.)
An introduction to health economics and financial management applications in health-related organizations. Specific information is presented concerning reimbursement systems, insurance, accounting, Medicare/Medicaid, investment decisions, capital financing, government regulations, liability issues, accessibility, budgeting, and human resources. National health insurance and state/local initiatives will be discussed. Prerequisites: HCA 2000 or permission of the instructor. This course is offered every fall semester.

HCA 3600 HEALTH CARE INFORMATICS (3 s.h.)
The course covers fundamental concepts of management information systems; current and developing health and business information systems of interest to managers in health services organizations; healthcare information system architecture; security and privacy issues; uses of healthcare information for clinical and strategic analysis and decision support; techniques required to develop and evaluate an information system request for proposal; and thoughts on the future of healthcare information systems including community health and web-based access to health information. The course will also cover current information and issues regarding the latest technology applications. Offered Online every fall semester.

HCA 4100 MANAGED CARE AND MEDICAL GROUP PRACTICE MANAGEMENT (3 s.h.)
A course focusing on the managed health care arena and the relationship of medical group practice management to the constantly changing environment of managed care. Students receive a strong background in many facets of managing a medical group practice and concepts/practices of managed care in health care delivery systems. Emphasis is on integrating concepts and management theory with specific skills and competencies to improve the student’s success in the ever-changing demands of medical group practice management. Prerequisites: HCA 300, or permission of instructor. This course is offered every spring semester.

HCA 4200 LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION (3 s.h.)
A study of the modern long-term care center as it has evolved over time. Analysis of the various settings for long-term care such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement homes, home health care, and adult day health care centers. Issues of medical organization, legal, financial, human resources, and current topics are discussed. Offered as needed.

HCA 4400 MEDICAL CODING (3 s.h.)
A course focusing on the managed health care arena in terms of the translation of diagnoses, procedures, services, and supplies into numeric and/or alphanumeric components for statistical reporting and reimbursement purposes. Emphasis is on integrating concepts with assessment of billing options for solid claims process to ensure the appropriate compensation for ambulatory services rendered. Prerequisite: HCA 230. This course is offered every fall semester.

HCA 4500 HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH METHODS SEMINAR (3 s.h.)
The capstone course for the health care administration major and it synthesizes material from entire curriculum. The focus is upon the health care administrator as a professional. Classroom material is integrated with experimental learning through a major research project. This course is offered every fall semester.

HCA 4700 INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH CARE POLICY (3 s.h.)
The student examines significant health care policy issues. Special emphasis is given to public policies with broad implications, such as Medicare, regulation, and financial assistance for the uninsured. The process of policy decision making is explored. Methods and approaches for the research of policy issues are reviewed. This course is offered every spring semester.

HCA 4800 INTERNSHIP (3 s.h.)
Learning operational aspects of the health care industry through a minimum of 200-hour work experience via placement within a health care facility or related organization. Supervision and evaluation are conducted by a faculty member and an on-site preceptor. Weekly classroom contact and written reports with the instructor is required. Placement involves discussions with student, faculty, and on-site preceptor. The intern develops managerial skills through varied experiences in the performance of administrative tasks and through direct participation in the problem-solving process. Prerequisites: HCA 200 or permission of the instructor. This course is offered every spring semester.

HCA 4850 SPECIAL TOPICS IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (3 s.h.)
Studies in specialized, upper-level applications of health care administration theory and practice. This course is offered as needed.

HCA 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (TBA)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Requires approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, and the department head before approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Credit to be determined. This course is offered as needed.

Recommended Support Courses for the Major in Health Care Administration

Paralegal Studies

2000 Introduction to Paralegal Studies
Offered every Fall & Spring Semester. (3 s.h.)

An introductory course designed to cover the responsibilities and standards governing paralegal/legal assistants. An overview of the major specialty practice areas within the law, with an emphasis upon the research and analysis methods for each specialty area to include research methods involving career opportunities are part of the course. Legal terminology and Communications will be emphasized. Legal ethics is an integral part of this course. The introductory class has a dual purpose: to give an overview for the field of practice; and to give the students sufficient knowledge and expertise to choose from the Elective course offerings. Legal Terminology and Communications are two of the law subjects that are tested in the Certified Legal Assistant Examination.

3860 Contract Law & Tort Law
Offered Spring Semester, odd-numbered years. (3 s.h.)

The course covers the legal foundations of Contract Law and Tort Law. The law principles and the law practices for each of these subject areas shall be covered. The Contract Law component also covers Federal government contracting principles and practice. Remedies applicable to both areas are a part of this course. Legal ethics is an integral part of the course. Contract Law is one of the law subjects that are tested in the Certified Legal Assistant Examination.

Philosophy

4300 Medical Ethics
Offered every Fall Semester. (3 s.h.)

After a brief consideration of ethical theory, this course will examine selected ethical issues raised by clinical practice, medical theories, and biomedical research and technologies.

Sociology

3010 Introduction to Gerontology
Offered as needed. (3 s.h.)

Aging, including historical perspectives; demographic trends; psychological and physiological processes of later life; and social role behavior in such areas as retirement, politics, religion, family life, housing, death, and dying.