Fundamental terminology pertaining to computer hardware and software is emphasized. Students analyze information systems at the local, state, and national levels and discuss techniques for their management . This course introduces concepts, methods, and strategies in epidemiology as they apply to health services management. The course provides basic tools used in descriptive and analytical epidemiology, both of which are crucial to making informed inquires into the health and illness of human populations and informed decisions regarding the distribution of health services resources. This includes the theoretical rationale for these methods, their relationship to technology assessment, and their mechanics.
Students conduct their own CBA or CEA using spreadsheet software.
For the issue of increasing concentration, economic models of markets with small numbers of players are studied. These include game theory, public choice theory, and models of oligopoly. This course provides an understanding of the development, organization and structure of different types of multi-institutional systems that have evolved in the health care industry. Incentives and barriers to system development are examined. Organization of different types of systems with emphasis on their governance, medical staff, and management and planning functions are discussed.