Health Management and Policy 677

The American pursuit in making its health care system more equitable, effective, and efficient has largely been based on domestic health services research and policy analysis.  Although the health care system in each nation is somewhat unique to its culture and history, the issues each faces are remarkably similar.  Nations can learn a lot from one another in meeting these challenges.  This course examines health care systems in approximately eight developed and developing nations (e.g., United States, Germany, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Mexico, and Kenya).  In particular, comparisons will be made across these nations in the following areas:  (a) population health, (b) health care financing and control, (c) health professionals and their patients, (d) health care organization, and (e) health system performance and reform strategies.  Understanding how health care is delivered around the world will lead to a better appreciation of the relative merits and limitations of various systems, and will yield many useful insights in management and policy decision making.  At the completion of this course, students will be expected to:  1. Describe the global burden of disease and health disparities, 2. Understand how health care is organized and financed in selected developed nations, 3. Learn the strengths and weaknesses of these systems, 4. Know the recent health care reforms enacted in these countries and their results, and 5. Apply the knowledge of international systems to the analysis of current issues in health policy and management.  The course will be taught by a combination of lectures, in-class exercises, roundtable discussion, and site visits.  Effective interventions in health care and related management and policy issues will be emphasized.