Issues and Trends in HealthCare

HSCO 6240_Current Issues & Trends in Health Systems Summer 2016

HSCI 6240_Current Issues & Trends in Health Systems Fall, 2018 (B Session)

Introductions Monday, Oct 22nd to Wednesday, Oct 24.	Prepare and post your introduction to the learning community in the designated discussion board forum.  Include which graduate program you are enrolled in/Yr., profession and healthcare topic(s) you are interested in covering among other tidbits about   yourself/hobbies   Please post a picture to  your avatar.	Introductions.   Review the course site and list any questions you may have   in the questions about the course forum in the Discussion Board.
1	Week One: Thursday, Oct 25 to Wednesday, Oct 31   Course Introduction. Introduction to Federal Regulatory and Legislative Issues regarding federal and state health reform issues.	-Assigned Readings   Research how to prepare a podcast and   begin thinking about your podcast topic.   Confirm to your instructor via email that you have read and understand the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities and Code of Academic Integrity by Oct 31.   Post and participate in the discussion   board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, continue the discussion thru Wednesday)	Reading   Research       e-mail your Instructor             Discussion Assignment
2	Week Two: Thursday, Nov 1 to Wednesday, Nov 7. The Big Picture – Healthcare Costs - Value Basics of Creating and Submitting a   Podcast Topic	Assigned Readings   Submit your podcast topic by Sunday, Nov 4th   to the discussion board.     Post and participate in the discussion   board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday continue the   discussion thru Wednesday)	Reading   Select podcast topic and comment on peer   submissions.     Discussion Assignment
3	Session Three: Thursday, Nov 8  to Wednesday, Nov 14. Quality and, Health Equity & Access to   Care	Assigned Readings   SKILL DEVELOPMENT – Learn   How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper for final assignment.   Post and participate in the discussion   board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday continue the   discussion thru Wednesday)	Discussion Assignment   Reading
4	Week Four: Thursday, Nov 15 to Wednesday, Nov 21st Gun Violence	-Assigned Readings Post and participate in the discussion   board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday continue the   discussion thru Wednesday.)   ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE: Submit via Voice Thread your podcast to Blackboard by Monday, Nov 19. Comment on the podcasts of your colleagues by Nov 21.	-Discussion Assignment           Post and listen to Podcasts. Peer Review   Podcasts
5	Week Five: Thursday, Nov 22 to Wednesday, Nov 28 Technology and Innovation in Healthcare	-Assigned Readings Post and participate in the discussion   board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday continue the   discussion thru Wednesday.)   Topic and literature   review. Post your Policy Analysis Commentary Topic   to Blackboard by Sunday, Nov 25.	-Discussion Assignment           Post   your Policy Commentary Analysis Topic and Literature Review
6	Week Six: Thursday, Nov 29 to Wednesday, Dec 5th Comparative Health Systems	-Assigned Readings   Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, continue the discussion thru Wednesday.)   Assignment Due: Post Your Draft Policy   Commentary Analysis by Wednesday, Dec 5th.	-Discussion Assignment   Post your Policy   Commentary Analysis Draft.
7	Week Seven: Thursday, Dec 6 to Wednesday, Dec 12th.	Submit Your Final Policy Analysis   Commentary by Wednesday, Dec 12th.	Final Policy Analysis   Commentary
8	Week Eight:   Thursday, Dec 13 to Saturday, Dec 15.   Reflection on   Learning	Post your reflection on or before Dec 15th. Your are welcome to comment but there is no requirement for   discussion.	Final Reflection -Course

Course Description:

Health systems are evolving entities in the US and abroad. In the US, the system is often referred to as a "system of systems" which adds to the complexity of understanding what is meant by a health system and how to assess overall changes to the “health system.” In this course, we will survey common themes among the current trends and issues that exist in this evolving industry in order to gain a richer understanding of how these factors affect current and future health system changes. A key body of legislation that impacts most health systems today is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (also known as the "Affordable Care Act," "ACA," and "Obamacare”). This Act represents the most comprehensive health care reform package since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960’s. As a result of this legislation, health care entities – from small rural practices to large tertiary care systems – are being modified. However, the Affordable Care Act has been the target of years of bipartisan politics and is in jeopardy of a dramatic alteration - if not full repeal. The ACA is not the only source of change among health systems.

In this course, you will engage in dissection and discussion of technological developments, demographic trends, business changes, and other factors which shape and mold health care in America. This course will equip you with the ability to analyze key issues and trends and use this information to promote improvements in health systems in your current and future careers.

Course Objectives:

1. Analyze the structure and organization of the US healthcare system.

2. Differentiate and describe the major forms of health care delivery in the US.

3. Evaluate and critique the major legal, ethical, and applied bioethical issues and their impact on health care delivery and the research enterprise.

4. Examine and differentiate conflict of interest issues from personal, organizational, and policy perspectives.

5. Review the structure and roles of the legislative, executive (regulatory), and judiciary branches of the US government and outcomes relevant to health policy development.

6. Analyze the implications of federal, state, and local budget considerations in health policy formulation and implementation.

7. Analyze strategies that can influence health policy, including interest groups, grassroots campaigns, use of research and the media.

8. Compare and contrast current and emerging health policy issues and assess various stakeholder positions on those issues.

9. Given an issue that needs to be addressed within the health care system, formulate a policy analysis within the cost quality access model to influence and improved health care system.

Course Deliverables:

The course deliverables are listed below. Each assignment is due on the date specified. The week begins on Thursday and ends on Wednesday. Dates for our weekly sessions are provided in the Course Overview section of the syllabus. All written and audio assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time [EST] on the date specified . More details for each assignment can be found in the Assignments Section of Blackboard. I make Announcements extensively to communicate course updates, provide new resources and summarize weekly discussions. Please read each carefully.

Assignment	Due Date	Points
1. Podcast (Final)	Monday, Nov 19, 2018	30 Points
2. Policy Commentary Analysis (Draft)	Wednesday, December 5, 2018	5 Points
3. Policy Commentary Analysis (Final)	Wednesday, December 12, 2018	35 Points
4. Discussion Board Participation	Weekly	30 Points
Total Points Possible:	100 Points

Discussion assignments are due as noted in the weekly sessions tabs of Blackboard. As part of actively participating on Blackboard, your initial original post for these assignments will be due by Sunday by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time [EST] . Please read each of your colleagues’ posts and provide thoughtful commentary. Your comments on your peers’ postings will run through Wednesday every week by at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time [EST] . Beginning Thursday morning, we will start a new discussion board topic. Late posts will not be counted towards your grade. Throughout the week, while I will comment on most posts, I will not comment on every post; however, I will read every student post in order to facilitate a deeper Blackboard discussion and prepare a video or written summary of the week’s discussion.

Textbook:

There is no required textbook for this course, but there is a suggested text for the health policy information being covered. The text suggested is Essentials of Health Policy and Law by Joel B. Teitelbaum and Sara E. Wilensky (GWU Professors in the School of Public Health Department of Health Policy). The ISBN-13 is 978-0-7637-3442-8.

In addition, I suggest that you read or view a regular national news source from the conservative and liberal view point or one that is objective (likely PBS given that so few media outlets are non-partisan these days). One useful source of bipartisan information is Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser offers weekly health care industry updates focused mainly on policy relevant issues ( http://www.kff.org ). Keeping abreast of current events related to health care not only improves your knowledge of the field but will also enhance your experience in this class.

All readings will be provided via Blackboard in the "Weekly Sessions" section of the course website. The readings are either links to URLs or attached documents (Word files, PDFs, etc.). You will need to login in order to access these readings via the GWU library system. Please note: The feature of this course is content that is “current and relevant.” Therefore, the professor reserves the right to modify reading assignments and discussion topics two (2) weeks in advance of a weekly session. It benefits you to focus on the week’s topic we cover and not get ahead.

Discussion Board Participation:

Please see detailed Discussion Board Evaluation and Assessment Criteria in the Assignments Section of Blackboard.

Interaction among and between students and the professor is an essential part of any learning process and a critical component of effective online learning. Within GW’s distance education programs, a significant amount of insight, exchange of ideas, and learning occurs through online discussion and collaboration. Your participation in online discussion forums is a key indicator of your involvement in the learning process and your formative achievement of learning objectives. Through the interdependent sharing of experiences, insights, expertise and resources, you will contribute to the achievement of mutually beneficial outcomes and learning goals. Discussion forums provide a "chronicle" of learning and progress towards course objectives.

Because of its importance to both the individual and group learning process, participation is required and constitutes a substantial percentage of the course grade. There will be no makeup assignments for missed discussion board sessions. Specific requirements for participation in discussions and collaborative activities are provided in the materials for each weekly session. The set of expectations described below will help you to understand the expectations for discussion board for both students and professors.

Student Discussion Board Expectations:

· While I prefer to maintain and facilitate an open and flowing robust discussion on Blackboard, a benchmark is necessary. Therefore, all students will create at a minimum three (3) substantive posts during the week. One of these posts must be an original thread for the week’s discussion question. Think of your original post a one-page (e.g., 3 paragraphs), critically thought essay with 2-3 sources to support your analysis/opinion. The remainder of these posts can be replies to other student’s original threads or new thread (e.g., Issues Register). Note that posts such as “nice post” or “I agree with your thoughts” are encouraging, but do not count as substantive posts and should be used sparingly (if at all).

· Students are encouraged to ask questions to the professor through the Questions about the Class section of the Discussion Board. Posting questions on the Discussion Board makes sharing information easier.

Please Note:

Keep in mind the discussion board is a key indicator of your active involvement in the learning process and is a substantial percentage of the course grade. I expect to see a significant amount of insight, exchange of ideas, and new learning to occur through online discussion and collaboration. In the event that you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from posting at the designated times, please contact your instructor immediately.

Instructor Discussion Board Expectations:

· Professor will read all the threads to look for areas where the discussion can be pushed ahead or comments can be furthered. You can expect your professor to regularly engage in your postings throughout the duration of the course.

· In the event that a discussion is getting off topic or a reference can be provided, the professor may help provide feedback to a thread. Within the week after the session ends, professor will post a summary video or written summary on the session’s objectives, discussion board and key takeaways.

· Professor will respond to Questions about the Class or other student community threads within at least 2 days. If you have an urgent question, please email professor noting that it is a time sensitive question.

Course Overview:

Course runs Thursday through Wednesday Each Week.

Due Dates are also noted in the Weekly Sessions Section of Blackboard.

Week	Topic	Task List/Assignment (s)	Discussion/Activity
	Introductions Monday, Oct 22th to Wednesday, Oct 24.	Prepare and post your introduction to the learning community in the designated discussion board forum. Include graduate program/Yr., profession and healthcare topic(s) you are interested in covering among other tidbits about yourself/hobbies Please post a picture to your avatar.	Introductions. Review the course site and list any questions you may have in the questions about the course forum in the Discussion Board.
1	Week One: Thursday, Oct 25 to Wednesday, Oct 31. Course Introduction. Introduction to Federal Regulatory and Legislative Issues regarding federal and state health reform issues.	-Assigned Readings Research how to prepare a podcast and begin thinking about your podcast topic. Confirm to your instructor via email that you have read and understand the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities and Code of Academic Integrity by Oct 31. Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Oct 28, continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Oct 31.)	Reading Research e-mail your Instructor Discussion Assignment
2	Week Two: Thursday, Nov 1 to Wednesday, Nov 7. The Big Picture – Healthcare Costs - Value Basics of Creating and Submitting a Podcast Topic	Assigned Readings Submit your podcast topic by Sunday, Nov 4th to the discussion board. Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Nov 4, continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Nov 7.)	Reading Select podcast topic and comment on peer submissions. Discussion Assignment

Week	Topic	Task List/Assignment (s)	Discussion/Activity
3	Session Three: Thursday, Nov 8 to Wednesday, Nov 14. Quality and, Health Equity & Access to Care	Assigned Readings SKILL DEVELOPMENT – Learn How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper for final assignment. Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Nov 11, continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Nov 14.)	Discussion Assignment Reading
4	Week Four: Thursday, Nov 15 to Wednesday, Nov 21 Gun Violence	-Assigned Readings Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Nov 18, continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Nov 21.) ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE: Submit via Voice Thread your podcast to Blackboard by Monday, Nov 19th. Comment on the podcasts of your colleagues by Nov 21.	-Discussion Assignment Post and listen to Podcasts. Peer Review Podcasts
5	Week Five: Thursday, Nov 22 to Wednesday, Nov 28 Technology and Innovation in Healthcare	-Assigned Readings Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Nov 25, continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Nov 28.) Topic and literature review. Post your Policy Analysis Commentary Topic to Blackboard by Sunday, Nov 25.	-Discussion Assignment Post your Policy Commentary Analysis Topic and Literature Review
6	Week Six: Thursday, Nov 29 to Wednesday, Dec 5. Comparative Health Systems	-Assigned Readings Post and participate in the discussion board assignment. (Initial post due on Sunday, Dec 2 continue the discussion thru Wednesday, Dec 5.) Assignment Due: Post Your Draft Policy Commentary Analysis by Wednesday, Dec 5.	-Discussion Assignment Post your Policy Commentary Analysis Draft.

Week	Topic	Task List/Assignment (s)	Discussion/Activity
7	Week Seven: Thursday, Dec 6 to Wednesday, Dec 12.	Submit Your Final Policy Analysis Commentary by Wednesday, Dec 12.	Final Policy Analysis Commentary
8	Week Eight: Thursday, December 13 to Saturday, December 16. Reflection on Learning	Post your reflection on or before December 15. Your are welcome to comment but there is no requirement for discussion.	Final Reflection -Course ends.

Grading Policy:

In graduate level courses, the following grading system is used: A=Excellent; B=Good; C=Minimum Pass; F=Fail. At the discretion of the program and individual faculty, “+” or “-“ may also be assigned; however, A+ and C- may be awarded for individual assignments but cannot be awarded as a final grade.

Grades are based on the following scale:

97-100 = A+ (may not be used for final course grade)

93-96 = A

90-92 = A-

87-89 = B+

83-86 = B

80-82 = B-

77-79 = C+

73-76 = C

Below 73 = F

You are graduate students at GW. Leaders and graduate students do not get grades on a regular basis. They get feedback and questions designed to facilitate critical thinking. For purposes of this course, you will be treated like leaders - not like students.

Therefore, you will receive significant amounts of feedback in the discussion boards and questions designed to further your thinking. This approach is by design: to develop your leadership capacity to take qualitative feedback, to observe your colleagues, and integrate your observations into your personal decision making activities. This course is ideal for the approach that we use. We have years of proven success.

As with any professional endeavor, completion of assignments and postings on or before the due date is required. In the rare instance where circumstances prevent timely submission, it is the expectation that students immediately communicate with their professor and make the necessary arrangements for work to be submitted. Students who fall behind or who are chronically late will not be successful in the course.

University Policies:

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity:

Academic dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information. For the remainder of the code, see: studentconduct.gwu.edu/code-academic-integrity

The George Washington University's Code of Academic Integrity applies to all work done for this course including written assignments and discussion postings. Using someone else's words, ideas, phrases, or data, and representing them as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally, is known as Plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious form of academic dishonesty and is a violation of the University's Code of Academic Integrity.  Plagiarism can be grounds for a failing grade in an assignment or even in a course. It is expected that all students read and be familiar with the University's Code of Academic Integrity.   For more information on student rights and responsibilities, see the Guide to Student Rights and Responsibilities . For more information about plagiarism and how to avoid it, click on this link to GW's Gelman Library.  If you have questions throughout the semester, please email your professor.

Professionalism and Confidentiality of Proprietary Information

We expect students to remain professional, respectful and courteous in all communication with other students and the instructor, including emails and discussion board postings.

Please do not communicate any proprietary and/or confidential information from your present or previous employers and/or organizations. You may discuss any information that is in the public domain (e.g., websites, articles). Please consult your instructor if you have any questions.

Student Workload Expectations:

Over the 8-week course, students should expect to spend an average of 5 hours per week of direct or guided instruction (e.g., peer-reviewing classmates writing assignments, engaging in team-based assignments, discussion boards) and 9 hours per week in independent learning (e.g., independent research, reading) or 14 hours per week. The time may vary for each student based on professional background, academic experience, and learning style.

Statement on Disabilities

Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability should contact the Disability Support Services office at 202-994-8250 in Rome Hall, Suite 102, to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information, please refer to https://disabilitysupport.gwu.edu/.

Copyright Notice

The Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 10) governs the rights attributed to owners of copyrighted work. Under certain circumstances, educational institutions may provide copies of copyrighted works to students. The copies may not be copied nor used for any other purpose besides private study, scholarship, or research. Users should not provide electronic copies of any materials provided on this course's Blackboard site to unauthorized users. If a user fails to comply with Fair Use restrictions, he/she may be held liable for copyright infringement. No further transmission or electronic distribution is permitted.

University Policy on Religious Holidays

Students should notify faculty during the first week of the semester of their intention to be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance.

Faculty should extend to these students the courtesy of absence without penalty on such occasions, including permission to make up examinations.

Faculty who intend to observe a religious holiday should arrange at the beginning of the semester to reschedule missed classes or to make other provisions for their course-related activities.

Mental Health Services

The University's Mental Health Services (202-994-5300) offers 24/7 assistance and referral to address students' personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include: crisis and emergency mental health consultations confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and referrals. counselingcenter.gwu.edu/

2

3