PH - Healthcare Administration Graduate Program

Healthcare Administration Program
Director: Keely Rees
418N Wimberly Hall; 608.785.8168
Email: krees@uwlax.edu

uwex.wisconsin.edu/healthcare-administration
www.uwlax.edu/grad/health-care-administration

Master of Science program

The Master of Science in Healthcare Administration Program is a fully online curriculum consisting of 37 credits (12 three-credit courses and a one-credit capstone preparation course). The degree program is offered jointly by UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Stout. The degree is designed to give graduates greater understanding of management issues and prepare them for senior management roles in diverse healthcare institutions. The required capstone represents the culminating experience in the program providing students with the opportunity to apply skills acquired from coursework through a project-based experience that addresses a problem, need or concern in a healthcare setting.

Students graduating from this program are well-prepared to become influential decision makers in a healthcare organization. A M.S. in healthcare administration opens up a wide array of fulfilling, rewarding job opportunities in every area of the country and in nearly any healthcare setting, including: ambulatory settings such as hospitals, physicians offices, surgical centers, long term care, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, veterinary offices, correctional facilities, insurance companies, veterans affairs systems, pharmaceutical companies, and medical supply vendors.

Certificate program

The graduate Senior Living and Services Leadership Certificate represents a certificate and credential within the existing and established collaborative online MS in Healthcare Administration (MS-HCA) program. The certificate program will be offered as a fully online, asynchronous curriculum comprised of two MS-HCA foundational courses and two new courses (12 credits total) within the MS-HCA curriculum. The program serves as an additional and optional credential for in-program (i.e. MS-HCA degree-seeking) students as well as a freestanding certificate program for non-degree (i.e. certificate-only) students who may or may not elect to pursue the full MS-HCA degree following completion of the certificate. The certificate is targeted toward working professionals who wish to work in the area of senior care, and those who currently work in the area and are seeking advancement, but do not possess the required skills.

Following the collaborative model, students will select and enroll at a home campus from which they will receive full academic supports and the certificate is conferred. Academic advising is provided by the designated MS-HCA academic director at each institution.

Program length

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Healthcare Administration Program is typically a two-year program. The graduate Senior Living and Services Leadership Certificate is typically a one-year program. The program length is based on how long the required UWL coursework would take to complete for a part-time student taking six credits a term, who does not need to complete any prerequisite coursework. Program length may be extended if students take fewer than six credits per term or due to the requirements of an individual student's plan of coursework, research or capstone project.

Healthcare administration - MS

Senior living and services leadership certificate

Courses

HCA 700 Cr.3

US Healthcare Systems

Introduces the many public and private elements of the U.S. healthcare system. Explores the historical, social and cultural, financial and economic, and political, as well as regulatory factors, and how they interact to influence the delivery of care and services that affect individual and population health outcomes. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 701 Cr.3

Senior Care and Services Systems

This course explores the foundation of academic and professional disciplines in senior services and examines regulations in senior care and service organizations. It provides exposure to knowledge and tools for the development and implementation of programs and practices that advance a high quality and safe living or service environment for frail seniors and other populations in need of care or service. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

HCA 702 Cr.3

Leadership Practices across the Senior Care Continuum

This course provides an up-to-date review and exploration of a variety of topics important to the success of an administrative leader in senior care and services. Selected topics focus the knowledge and application of leadership and management skills necessary in today's health care and aging services environment. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

HCA 705 Cr.3

Population Health and Epidemiology

Identifies and addresses epidemiology, biostatistics, including study design, within a healthcare framework. Applies these elements to individuals and populations while addressing critical public health perspectives across a broad spectrum from individuals to larger systems to improve the health of a community. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 710 Cr.3

Health Communication

Analysis and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that impact health. Course explores topics such as the social construction of health, social support, literacy, survivorship, social and community issues, risk management, marketing and public relations, health messaging and promotional campaigns, theory application, and identity across contexts. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 715 Cr.3

Healthcare Technology, Data Analytics, and Information Governance

This course covers various topics including electronic health records; health IT privacy and security; health information exchanges; IT for revenue cycle management; utilizing technology to analyze healthcare data including MS-DRG data, hospital readmission data, Medicare spending, and healthcare quality data; technologies for diagnosis and treatment; big data applications in healthcare. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 720 Cr.3

Healthcare Financial Management

A study of the principles of healthcare finance. Topics include financial and management accounting, the financial reporting structure of healthcare organizations, healthcare financial statement analysis, costing and budgetary methods, sources of healthcare revenue and expenses, processes for healthcare billing, and capital investment decisions. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 730 Cr.3

Human Capital Management in Healthcare

Examines complexities in human resource management strategies in healthcare organizations. Provides knowledge and tools to develop high potential workforces using a people-centered approach to human capital management, organizational culture/climate, communication, and talent development to ensure competitive advantage in creating sustainable high-performance healthcare organizations in rural and urban settings. Prerequisite: HCA 700, HCA 720. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 740 Cr.3

Healthcare Operations and Project Management

Examines operations management techniques unique to healthcare processes. Addresses solutions for operational issues in healthcare facilities and supply chain. Highlights essential components of healthcare project management. Emphasizes operational and management tools and techniques for healthcare project and process execution. Prerequisite: HCA 715, HCA 720. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 750 Cr.3

Healthcare Quality and Performance Management

Overview of quality models and risk management in healthcare. Explore theories, concepts, skills, tools and environmental factors. Focuses on measurement and analysis techniques, as well as real-world applications of quality approaches to implement and sustain performance improvements. Prerequisite: HCA 715. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 760 Cr.3

Health Law and Policy

A study of the political, legal, regulatory, and ethical environments within which healthcare administrators operate. Explores the legal frameworks related to the healthcare system, with an ethical focus. Considers the impact of political structure on healthcare policy, with an emphasis on the role played by healthcare administrators in policy advocacy. Prerequisite: HCA 700. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 770 Cr.3

Organization Development and Strategic Leadership in Healthcare

A study of organization development and leadership theories, including self-discovery of leadership potential and change leadership strategies applied within healthcare organizations. As a blend of theory and application, course is designed for individuals to work toward identifying and facilitating broad-scale organizational change while employing strategic leadership practices in healthcare. Prerequisite: HCA 730, HCA 740, HCA 750. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 780 Cr.3

Communicating Current and Emerging Topics in Healthcare

Investigates current and emerging trends influencing healthcare such as healthcare policies and politics, ethics, emerging technologies, healthcare population/disease demographics and reimbursement models. Explores differences between rural, urban and global settings. Prerequisite: HCA 715. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 789 Cr.1

Capstone Preparation

Prepares the student for applied capstone course, including assisting with site identification, coordination and approval of placement and of a substantive work project while working with site mentor/supervisor. Prerequisite: the majority of the HCA academic program coursework should be completed prior to registering for this course, including HCA 700, HCA 710, HCA 720, HCA 730, HCA 740, HCA 750, HCA 770. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

HCA 790 Cr.3

Healthcare Administration Capstone

As a culmination of participating in the HCA Graduate Program, apply aspects of theory and dynamics of interprofessionalism in healthcare setting(s). Capstone work (minimum 150 hours) will be completed in partnership with site mentor/supervisors. A substantive work project deliverable demonstrating summative application of previous coursework will be expected. Prerequisite: the majority of the HCA academic program coursework should be completed prior to registering for this course, including HCA 700, HCA 710, HCA 720, HCA 730, HCA 740, HCA 750, HCA 770. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.