Health Care Organisation and Management, 7.5 credits

A Bachelor's degree or a professional degree equivalent to a Swedish Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits in health care, biomedicine, medical technology, computer and systems sciences, informatics or the equivalent. Knowledge of the English language equivalent to English B at Swedish upper secondary school.

Aim
The course aims to introduce students to the health care organization and management, and how this affects public health. There is a special focus on the opportunities offered by digitization and how these can be utilized in quality and improvement work.

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding
- explain the goals of a health system, its building blocks, and functions using relevant theories and frameworks (such as the WHO health system framework);
- reflect on the opportunities and challenges with digitization in supporting quality and improvement work in healthcare, in different contexts.

Skills and abilities
- identify health system challenges in different contexts, and analyze these in relation to quality aims (STEEEP criteria);
- lead and carry out project work individually and in groups, and clearly present and discuss the findings and conclusions;explain relevant theories for quality assessment and improvement work in healthcare management and organization.

Assessment ability and attitudes
- assess the benefits and possible risks of digitization in health care organization and management;
- relate health care organizational analysis to relevant scientific, social and equity aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development.

The course introduces students to the health care complexity. With the help of the WHO health systems framework students will analyze the key building blocks of a health system and its functions, and examine challenges at the global and local level. The students will also learn how digitization can be used in quality assurance and improvement work.

The course uses different types of learning activities, such as lectures, seminars, interactive sessions live and on-line, study visits, as well as individual and group project work.

The course will be examined through individual and group written assignments and oral presentations. In order to pass the course the students need to demonstrate fulfillment of all the course outcomes.

In accordance to evidence-based teaching and learning, formative examination is used throughout the course so students and teachers are able to continuously follow and influence the students’ fulfillment of the learning outcomes of the course. To pass the course, the student should be able to demonstrate accomplishment of the expected learning outcomes of the course.

Compulsory participation:
On basis of the nature of the subject, there are certain experiences that require active participation such as the course introduction, the final examination and certain exercises/seminars, as well as study visits indicated in the course schedule. The course director assesses if, and in that case how, absence can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts, or compensated absence in accordance with the course director's instructions, the student's results for the course will not be registered in LADOK.

Limitation of number of occasions for the examination
The student has the right to write the exam six times. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

Examination will be provided during a time of two years after a possible cancellation of the course. Examination can take place according to an earlier literature list during a time of one year after the date when a major renewal of the literature list has been made.
 

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of Higher Education.

The course is given in English.