Certificate: Critical Analysis in Healthcare

Detailed Curriculum Information

In the high-risk field of healthcare, precision is critical.  The Certificate in Critical Analysis will help you further understand not only the history of the American healthcare system, but will also give you an understanding of the systems within countries worldwide, and will give you an increased ability to effectively analyze and implement issues related to policies, problem-solving, and decision-making.

THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM - 3 credit hours
Course Description:  An introduction to healthcare delivery, focusing on consumers, providers, organization, financing, quality and utilization of services, health planning, and political and governmental impacts. Includes a comparison of the US healthcare system with those of other countries.

APPLIED DECISION ANALYSIS - 3 credit hours
Course Description:  Decisions and problems are analyzed in healthcare settings using decision analysis. Integrates quantitative data, patients' preferences, experts' opinions, and other available information to identify optimal alternatives.

ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING - 3 credit hours
Course Description:  Theoretical framework and concepts used to understand evolution of public health policies and processes of policy formulation, implementation, and change.  Includes training in basic skills necessary to design, test, implement, manage, present, and critique policy analysis in healthcare sector, as well as fundamentals of policy research design, and linkage between theory and operation. Emphasis on choosing appropriate analytical strategies for and independent analysis of particular policy issues.  Techniques of decision making under conditions of uncertainty and the basics of cost-effective analysis are also considered.