online mha/hcp degree

The learner will utilize the theoretical framework of systems thinking as a strategy to address challenges in the health care environment. Topics include complexity science, design thinking, creativity, and flow.

The learner will explore the emerging intersection of marketing and economics in the health sector. Topics include consumer behavior, market segmentation, and identification of new market opportunities in health care, as well as regional/system commoditization, value proposition and differentiation, branding, and social media strategies in the health sector.

The learner will determine how best to "tell the story" by utilizing patient data and organizational quality and safety benchmarks in diverse health sector contexts. Topics include data collection, data analysis and tools, data interpretation, and data-driven recommendations.

Learners will examine strategies for successfully elevating the role of the health care organization through a well-defined "brand". Topics will include brand-as-promise, brand-as-experience, and brand-as-emotional connection, quality and outcomes, articulating the strategy, and engaging teams and leaders.

The learner will be able to identify emerging healthcare trends in areas such as systems, delivery, outcomes and quality, healthcare design, and population health. Topics include how to scan the environment, validate information, make decisions, and articulate solutions that are appropriate across diverse health care contexts.

Students will examine how health policy and organizational governance informs systems and delivery of care, and identify the policies that should be adopted to implement industry trends. Topics include the influence of policy, interest groups, and stakeholders on the health status of a society, as well as how to cultivate effective governance systems within organizations, and the importance of risk-based policy and governance models in the health sector.

The learner will begin to identify networking opportunities within the health sector, both internally (i.e. industry associations, boards of directors) and externally (i.e. community, donors). Topics include objectively determining which relationships are vital to the organization, how to nurture relationships and manage transition, and maintaining integrity to protect the organization.

The learner will begin to exemplify the traits of authentic and adaptive leadership in the context of the health sector. Topics include leading in complex environments (transparency, vulnerability, and servant leadership), modeling ethical decision making, creating and adjusting organizational culture, and meaningful collaboration.

Learners will respond to developing trends and insights across the health sector that inform workforce development and hiring. Topics include recruitment and retention strategies, succession planning, leadership strategies for a multigenerational workplace, embracing diversity, and considerations for positive morale and engagement.

The learner will operationalize health care sustainability in three ways: personal legacy, organizational environment, and community development. Topics include sustainability in a health sector context, mentorship, board and association leadership, economic analysis and sustainability practice within organizations, and fostering community interactions.

The learner will explore the purpose and organization of compliance in the health sector as well as the role of compliance and compliance officers. Topics include regulatory agencies, accreditation, professional licensing, enforcement, quality, and policies.

The learner will examine structures and systems of healthcare organizations and how they inform the responsibilities of a compliance professional. Course topics include the ethical responsibilities of compliance, HIPAA and OSHA, and other compliance-related healthcare standards and regulations including whistleblower protection in the U.S.

The learner will compare and contrast auditing and monitoring in healthcare compliance. The course focuses on report writing using root cause analysis and corrective action plans, as well as the industry-accepted process of presenting these plans to compliance boards and committees.

The learner will create a compliance program and present it in their chosen healthcare sector, in a manner currently accepted by the healthcare industry. Course topics include policies and standard operating procedures, training and education, documentation and presentation.

In this MHA capstone course, learners will synthesize previous coursework from the program to identify and address strategic opportunities for change and innovation specific to the health sector. Topics include entre/intrapreneurship, innovation, communication, transformation, and execution.