Master's in Health Administration-Health Systems (MHA-HS)

Master's in Health Administration-Health Systems (MHA-HS)

Application Deadline: 30.06.24

HESY5001 Epidemiology I

This course in Epidemiology I covers the principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation including describing the patterns of illness in populations and research designs for investigating the etiology of disease. It also introduces quantitative measures to determine risk, association and procedures for standardization of rates.

By applying the concepts learned in this course to current public health problems and issues, students will understand the practice of epidemiology as it relates to real life and makes for a better appreciation of public health programs and policies

HESY5002 Biostatistics I

This course introduces basic statistical concepts and analytical methods as applied to data encountered public health. The course content focuses on quantitative study designs, with specific reference to experimental and survey design. Quantitative analysis of data and the accompanying inferential analysis will be examined. The course provides students with an introductory understanding of the use of statistical procedures in the medical sciences and public health. Topics that will be covered in this course include, measurement, graphical display of data, measures of central tendency, measures of variability, basic concepts of probability and basic inferential statistics. The course prepares students to critically analyze and evaluate professional health literature and is a foundation for the development of research projects and studies.

HESY5003 Introduction to Health Systems of Trinidad and Tobago

This course will provide students with an overview of the financing, regulation, organization and delivery of health services in Trinidad and Tobago.

HMGT5001 Managing Health Service Organizations (MHSO)/Approaches to Managing Health Service Organizations (AMHSO):

This course, Managing Health Services Organizations (MHSO) provides the context for the other modules of the Certificate in Healthcare Management and Leadership programme. It would indicate that health care organizations are complex and there are growing expectations and competing demands for quality health services while there are challenges with respect to changes in technology, need for quality initiatives, and inadequacy of resources. The provision of this service occurs within a dynamic environment by professionals with a mix of skills. Managing this complexity requires health care administrators with management skills to exert authority, allocate resources, gain support and mobilize action to achieve quality outcomes.

In addition to the course Managing Health Services Organizations , an activity based course, Approaches to Managing Health Services Organizations will introduce the student to information relevant to their role in the management of health service organizations but more particularly the co-ordination of a continuum of care which would support those who have chronic illnesses in addition to encouraging and maintaining wellness such that the health status of a defined population would be improved.

HMGT5002 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting and Fundamentals of Budgeting and Financial Systems

This course Fundamentals of Financial Accounting and Fundamentals of Budgeting and Financial Systems is geared to provide students with a thorough understanding of financial accounting concepts and practical approaches to budgeting, financial analysis and the management of financial resources

HESY5004 Epidemiology II

Epidemiology II focuses on various epidemiologic study designs for investigating associations between risk factors and disease outcomes. The application of these disciplines in the areas of health services, screening, genetics, and environment policy are presented. The influence of epidemiology on legal and ethical issues is also discussed. Epidemiological journal articles will also be used to further develop these concepts

HESY5005 Biostatistics II

This course introduces intermediate statistical concepts and analytical methods as applied to data encountered public health. The course builds on the foundation created in Biostatistics I. The course content focuses on, non-parametric statistical procedures, quantitative study designs; additional consideration will be given to understanding the implementation of qualitative research designs. The course explores the use of the dominant statistical analytical software in the social sciences SPSS. Topics that will be covered in this course include measurement, probability, SPSS, and data analytical procedures for the thesis. The course prepares students to critically analyze and evaluate professional health literature and is a foundation for the development of research projects and studies.

LEAD5001 Foundations of Leadership

In this course students will become familiar with a leadership perspective based on systems theory. An understanding of systems theory is essential so that the significant systems changes required in health care delivery can be differentiated from the more personal skills required to lead those changes. This course begins by taking a historical view of leadership theory and other multi-disciplinary approaches to the issues surrounding leadership and culminates with a focus on systems leadership and its application to health care management.

Major topics to be covered are as follows:

Traditional leadership theories;
Systems leadership;
Health sector leadership challenges;
A personal leadership inventory;
Leadership values and ethics; and
Leading change.

Through a process of discussions, readings, and self-discovery - students will analyze a variety of leadership situations, and will be invited to see the challenge of leadership from a systems perspective and to respond with new behaviors. This course is based on the premise that each student faces a variety of leadership challenges in their area of work in the health sector. The management of these challenges - whether as formal leaders or a members of a team – subtly impact the quality of service delivery.

The methodology to be utilized by this course will raise the consciousness of the student and will hopefully cause reflection and behavioral change. The insights gained into leadership theory can then be applied in real world situations. Specifically, students will acquire skills in systems leadership, leading change through innovation, and using synthesis, as well as analysis to address improvement in service quality.

HMGT6005 Managerial Communication

In this course the aim is to provide students with the tools to think strategically about communication, learn techniques to write and present more effectively, and build interpersonal communication skills within the managerial setting.

HMGT6001 Organizational Theory and Management

The course Health Economics introduces the basic concepts of microeconomics and the issues surrounding the economics of health. This course will pave the way for the students to understand the basic theory of supply and demand as it relates to the provision of health care, given scarce/limited resources and a concern for improving the quality of life. In addition, the application of these theories to health policy (linking epidemiology and resource allocation) and the provision of services will be introduced and examples discussed.

HMGT6002 Human Resource Planning and Development in Health Services

Despite major technological advancements during this century, the quality of health care delivery is still dependent on the human factor and the manner in which the required services are provided. No matter what form of health care provision, or type of facility, whether it is public or private, competent people are needed to deliver quality health care services. The healthcare industry globally is labour intensive, requires a diverse range of skill sets, professional training, academic preparation and certification. The hierarchy within health sector organizations is characterized by defined levels of power and responsibility. HR Leadership is critical because all the current realities and future dilemmas have at their core, significant and grave human resource implications.

Continuous quality improvement is the major platform of health sector reform in Trinidad and Tobago. The success of the health sector reform programme will require the adoption of a new philosophy and code of behaviour, reflecting the need for all health sector workers to contribute to the quality of the health services provided. The availability of a cadre of empowered competent human resources is a critical success factor towards meeting this objective. Decentralization of service delivery is effected through the Regional Health Authorities. The delivery of these services is based on Annual Service agreements with matching budget allocations. In order to effect transformation at the regional level in the public health sector, employees of the Regional Health Authorities must be committed to being responsive to client demands, to focusing on patient safety and to the attainment of high standards of performance. Similar actions are necessary in the private health sector. Appropriate on-going education/ professional development programmes must be designed for all levels of employees. These programmes must be delivered in such a way that they can meet the specific need of the regions and institutions viz. The services they provide, the clients, adherence to internationally accepted quality standards, and best practices.

HESY5006 Introduction to Health Policy

This 2-credit course consists of at least 30-contact hours, over a 5-month period; divided among didactic lectures, presentations, group and individual work, independent learning, discussions sessions, role- playing, case study and seminars.

The course is intended to provide an introduction to health policy and students will be expected to identify a specific area of interest for a 3,000-word essay on policy analysis of a health policy issue in Trinidad and Tobago using strategies, tools, and frameworks learned from the course. The students are also expected to conduct an international comparative health policy analysis, examining policy alternatives that would be suitable for adoption in the local setting.

Each student will have a chance to resent a selected topic during seminars. Class attendance is mandatory and active participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged.

HMGT6003 Health Management Information Systems

This course provides a broad overview of healthcare information systems with emphasis on current issues, and industry pressures pushing modernization and increased sophistication in the use of technology.

LEAD6001 Strategic Planning and Operations

The fundamental questions to be addressed in this programme are as follows: - What value does the process of Strategic Planning bring to an organization? - What really constitutes the strategic planning process? and more importantly - What are the components that can help make implementation of a strategic plan deliver customer focused results?

First we define planning - "Planning is a formalized process in order that agreement can be reached on how to utilize the organizations resources to create an articulated result. It is at first agreement on how to integrate a system of decisions. These decisions are attempts to influence the organizations future (Sealy, 2002). "

Secondly we define Strategy - Webster's New World Dictionary, defines strategy as "the science of planning and directing large-scale military operations, of maneuvering forces into the most advantageous position prior to actual engagement with the enemy" (Guralnic, 1986). The history of strategy began with the military. Strategy essentially is the „how to” of organizational success.

HESY6001 Primary Health Care 2 Cr.

This course seeks to provide students with an introduction to the concepts and components of Primary Health Care, the international evidence of its impact on the health status of populations, and the elements needed for building health systems based on Primary Health Care in order to assure access to high quality, affordable services and reduce inequities in the population.

The course also aims to equip the students with a working knowledge and basic skills in conducting a health needs assessment that will inform planning for the development of service delivery models (Chronic Disease Care Model) based on key Primary Health Care principles.

HESY6003 Patient Safety

Patient safety is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of errors that often lead to adverse events Research conducted by the World Health Organization has shown that the burden of disease attributed to health care- associated infection is huge, with hundreds of millions of patients affected worldwide every year. While, patient safety has been traditionally viewed mostly in terms of risk management, with a focus on dangerous events only after they occur, and through subsequent investigation to find the causes and change processes required to minimize the chance of recurrence; there is a growing global movement that elevates patient safety from a retrospective risk-management exercise to a constant concern along the continuum of patient care. Most instances of patient harm arise not from negligence but rather from systems’ failures e.g. lost laboratory test results, drugs prescribed in error or surgery performed on the wrong extremity are errors that reflect process breakdowns.

The course is therefore aimed at familiarizing the students with the challenges with respect to Patient safety and the utilization of a pro-active approach to improve Patient safety.

HESY6002 Service Quality

This course aims to increase health care managers understanding of the historical concepts of quality, and to enhance their ability to think critically to explore the problems they may face in their work. The participants are provided with the knowledge and skills to achieve quality within the structure, and utilize the relationships of the complex system of a healthcare organization.

HMGT6004 Health Economics

HEOM7001 Hospital Operations

This course will review health care practice in particular hospital operations such that through improvement in their efficiency, effectiveness, and cost control high quality of care can be delivered and maintained to the public. It will provide the context within which the hospital is located and operated. Students will be exposed to aspects of hospital operations; best practice in hospitals; hospital planning; hospital structures.

Cases in hospital operations will be presented and this approach will allow participats to identify, examine and analyze issues on the subject matter.

HEPQ7001 Health Planning

This course seeks to provide students the opportunity to apply health planning principles and tools in the development of a strategic plan to address a problem in the health sector using a systems perspective. This course will refine their strategic health planning management skills by providing exposure to the tools, approaches, and methodologies that underpin strategic analysis, then requiring them to apply each to real-world problems. The course also aims to develop requisite analytic and strategy development skills critical to the implementation of a strategic management approach in the health sector

HEPQ7004 Evaluating Health Systems Performance

This course is aimed at examining and comparing the performance indicators used by the various countries and international organizations for monitoring, assessing, and managing health systems in order to achieve effectiveness, better quality, efficiency, equity and sustainability. Students will discuss the usefulness of these performance indicators for Trinidad and Tobago.

HPRJ7001 Post Graduate Project

This course comprises three sections: pre-research, research and post-research. Students will be able to identify and describe note-making and literature search skills, survey administration and interviewing skills, and organizing and collating skills etc. respectively.

HEPQ7005 Health Insurance and Provider Payment

This course will provide an overview of health financing options highlighting the various issues that impact health care management and policy. Key topics include the role of health insurance and managed care as well as an examination of provider payments – types of payment systems, methods of administration, reporting and cost control, monitoring and evaluation. Special emphasis will also be placed on national health insurance and issues relating to its design, functions, management, regulation and evaluation. In so doing a comparative review of national health insurance systems and financing of health systems, internationally and regionally, will also be conducted. Case studies will also be an integral part of the course material.

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