20495 - HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT - GIO
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Course taught in English
FEDERICO LEGA
Course Objectives
Health is a critical factor for the economic development and it is an essential component of human wellbeing. Given its relevance both in developed countries (for instance, in Italy, healthcare - and social care - costs count on average for more than 70% 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) and developing countries, the healthcare sector is under pressure all over the world to control financial dynamics and improve efficiency and quality of services. 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. To prepare students to become skilled in healthcare policy and management, the course provides a deep analysis of the main issues that make unique the health industry. Therefore, after the successful completion of the course, students can expect:
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to understand the main features and dynamics of health and social care systems;
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to develop his/her skills in healthcare management and policy through an intensive programme made of lectures, case histories and discussions, role playing and guest speakers.
Course Content Summary
The course addresses management challenges and policy issues emerging at international level as well as in the Italian context. It includes traditional lectures, guest speaker presentations and case discussions, role playing and action-learning. It is designed around three main blocks:
Part A: Governance of health and social care systems.- Main arrangements of health and social care systems in industrialised countries: a comparative analysis of US, Germany and United Kingdom.
- Issues in healthcare and social care policy and management in developing countries.
- The Italian NHS: basic principles, institutional arrangements and reforms; the emergence of regional models.
Part B: Management of Health & Social Care organizations.
- Institutional arrangements and organisational structures of health care organisations.
- Professionalism: organisational behaviour and human resource management in health care.
- Management systems, tools and techniques for healthcare organisations.
- Emerging managerial roles: controller, operations manager, human resources manager, risk manager, marketing and fund-raising manager, buyer, business planner, etc.
Part C: Industries related to health sector.
- Business-government relations in the healthcare field.
- Management issues in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry.
- Consulting skills for the healthcare sector.
Detailed Description of Assessment Methods
For attending students: exam sessions for attending students are scheduled in January and February.
- Groupwork on a case.
- Written exam or final paper on a specific topic.
For non attending students:
- Final oral exam.
Textbooks
Further suggested reading:
- F. LEGA, Management della Sanità, EGEA, 2013.