An overview of the healthcare system in the United States including key market participants and stakeholders; i.e., payers, providers, patients, pharmaceutical firms and government. Participants will compare and contrast the US and Indian healthcare systems. Broader issues of socialized (single-payer) systems vs. the multi-player/insurer model will also be discussed.

Designed to encourage participants to reflect on their own self-awareness as managers, in an effort to improve their ability to lead and manage individuals in healthcare organizations. Participants will examine their own behavior and beliefs about leadership and integrate these ideas with organizational behavior theory. Participants will build a repertoire of strategies to increase their effectiveness as leaders, managers and as members of an organization. As part of Organizational Behavior, participants will focus on creating effective teams, identifying methods for improving the work environment, evaluating organizational performance, building cultural competency and enhancing relationships. Through this module, participants will enhance their ability to analyze organizational structures, hierarchy, politics and cultures, and build new strategies for increasing effectiveness and problem-solving.

Explores the core concepts and principles of public health essential for healthcare managers to influence the creation of innovative programs, deliver services, develop policies and ultimately impact the health of local, national and global communities. Participants will do a needs assessment and translate that information into practice. They will also identify evidence-based strategies and uses of public health data for guiding management decision making.

An opportunity to experience the challenges of executive leadership and strategic decision-making of a competitive, multi-hospital marketplace. This is a realistic exercise that effectively simulates the complexity and intensity of the evolving hospital environment.

A foundation in financial analysis, budgets and commonly-used financial terminology. Participants will address financial matters encountered in leadership roles in healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. This module will include concepts such as resource allocation, break-even analysis, program costing, financial forecasting and short- and long-term obligations.

Introduces the fundamental management principles of planning, building and maintaining an effective information technology infrastructure. Participants will understand the role HIT can play in improving the performance of healthcare delivery, financing and innovation

Designed to provide participants with the tools to generate and present data-driven and model-based management recommendations. Participants will assess data sources and data quality for problem analysis and decision-making, as well as learn to identify and apply appropriate statistical methods to solve strategic problems.

Targets the policies and proposals behind the growth of pharmaceutical impact on the cost of the healthcare system. This master class will expose participants to the roles of pharmaceutical expenditures in total health spends, discuss incentives in private sector research, review the risks and uncertainties in pharmaceutical innovation and understand how health economics and outcomes research can support and complement the deployment of a pricing strategy.

A practical, hands-on introduction to measuring and improving the quality of services provided in healthcare organizations. This module will begin with an overview of healthcare quality in the US and India, focusing on the strategic issues facing healthcare executives, providers, payors and policymakers. Participants will learn the vocabulary, concepts and tools used in current policy debates and legislation, and at the conclusion of this module, participants will link these tools and approaches to opportunities for improvement in their own organizations.

Combines traditional economic strategies with insights from social sciences to explore underlying theories of public, health, social, and economic policy domains. Participants will learn from a broad range of strategies and, through a highly interactive format, design and develop their own evidence-based behavioral interventions for use in organizations and communities.

Examines how marketing strategy is used to successfully respond to the health needs of a community, both strategically and practically. Participants will build programs that reach target audiences and develop a solution to a healthcare issue. This module will evaluate consumer and brand loyalty, examine the application of market research, analyze the role of branding, and discuss strategy in crisis communication.

An overview of current public- and private- sector approaches for reimbursing health services, as well as the underlying logic behind these approaches, and design variations, incentives and impacts. Participants will analyze findings from health services research literature regarding these implications and apply this analysis to new reimbursement approaches.

Examines the strategies for successfully identifying a business opportunity, and the tools to start, grow, and maintain a healthcare enterprise. Participants will consider what defines successful entrepreneurship and what distinguishes an idea from a real opportunity, as well as identify methods for creating a business model, engaging a customer base and managing risk.

Theoretical constructs of case analysis will be translated to practical application. Participants will generate their own strategic case based on an experience within their organization, and will present a solution. This exercise is a culminating experience which requires students to draw from the Better Health Systems coursework to identify and support their case and solution.

Site Visit and Executive Roundtable