Course 2021-2022 a.y.

20495 - HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)
Course Director:
GIOVANNI FATTORE

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: GIOVANNI FATTORE


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Health is a critical factor for economic development and it is an essential component of human wellbeing. For instance, in Italy healthcare (and social care) costs count for more than 60% of Regional budgets, the national health system is the second largest employer of civil servants (more than 700.000), and health direct or related activities such as pharmaceutical industries, support services, hospital building firms, technology providers, etc. are the major flying-wheel of local economies. The essential role of health for our wellbeing and the importance of adequate government interventions have been clearly demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now more than ever we have realized that investing in health and healthcare is essential for our life. The pandemic have also dramatically impacted our economies; in almost all countries GDP is falling and unemployment is on rise Healthcare organizations are the most complex, given their professional nature (more than 70% of employees have or will have a bachelor degree), the use of intensive and high-profile technology, the social impact of their services and the strong ties with the political system. Having in mind that need for young skilled managers, the course provides an overview of the main issues that make the health and social care industries special.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course provides an international overview of management and policy issues combined with a deep analysis of the Italian context. It includes traditional lectures, videos and case discussions. It is made of three main blocks:

 

Part A: Governance of health and social care systems

  • Introduction: focus on the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Health and its determinants
  • Funding and institutional arrangements of healthcare and social care systems
  • Archetypes of systems: US, UK, Germany and China
  • Lessons from the Italian NHS: basic principles, institutional arrangements and reforms; the emergence of regional models

 

Part B: Foundations of Management in healthcare

  • Managerialism in healthcare
  • Professional bureocracy: structures, functions and professional dynamics
  • The innovation challenge in healthcare

 

Part C: Trends and perspectives

 

  • Management systems and toolbox for health care organisations
  • Emerging managerial roles: controller, operations manager, human resources manager, risk manager, marketing and fund-raising manager, buyer, business planner, etc.
  • New business models

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...

Understand the main characteristic of health and healthcare from en economic perspective

Understand the main blocks of healthcare systems

Identify the main features of the healthcare systems of US, UK, Germany, China and Italy

Understand professionalism in healthcare and its implications

Appreciate the genesis and the role of innnovation in healthcare

Be aware of the main trends in healthcare management and policy
 

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...

Master the main concepts used in the healthcare policy and management literature

Review critically the main features of health systems

Frame arguments in a policy debate

Prepare and deliver a group presentation


Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Group assignments

DETAILS


 


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
  x  

ATTENDING STUDENTS

 

The grade is articulated as follows:

 

  • 30% for the group assignment (Quality and clarity of the presentation)
  • 10% class discussion
  • 60% final written exam (2 questions)

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • 100% final written exam (4 questions on the reading material and the content of class lectures)

Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

See the syllabus (readings available on blackboard)

Last change 06/09/2021 13:47