Health Administration

Department of Health Behavior and Administration

Bernhard 225

704-687-3594

http://www.health.uncc.edu/academic_programs.cfm?pname=mha

Degree

M.H.A.

Director

Lutchmie Narine, Associate Professor

Graduate Faculty

William Brandon, Distinguished Professor

Sonya Hardin, Associate Professor

Lutchmie Narine, Associate Professor

Gerald Pyle, Professor Emeritus

Rosemarie Tong, Distinguished Professor

Jennifer Troyer, Associate Professor

Professional Affiliates

Peggy Burke, M.B.A., Director of Corporate Audit, Novant Health

Betsy Walsh J.D., M.P.H., Senior Special Counsel, Novant Health

J. Bennet Waters, Jr. M.P.H., D.H.A., Vice President of Operations, Piedmont Healthcare

Management Group

MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

The Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree prepares students for exciting careers in health services management for a variety of health related institutions in an evolving health care delivery system. Structured to meet the highest professional and accreditation standards the program is designed to address the needs of current health care managers, clinical professionals who anticipate future administrative responsibilities, and pre-professionals who wish to prepare for an entry level career in health care administration.

The Master of Health Administration is a 51 hour degree program. Students take 45 hours of core courses including a 3 credit hours internship, and 6 hours of elective courses. Administratively located within the Department of Health Behavior and Administration, it is an interdisciplinary program with courses taught by faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Belk College of Business Administration and the College of Health and Human Services.

Students may enroll in the Master of Health Administration program on a full-time or part-time basis. Classes are scheduled in the evenings, and on weekends mainly at UNC Charlotte Uptown, and for selected courses at the UNC Charlotte main campus.

Masters prepared health service managers may work as chief or executive administrators, assistants to chief executives, or as directors and mangers of departments and units. Some examples of the settings where MHA graduates work include: hospitals and hospital systems, physician practices and clinics, long term care facilities, managed care organizations, consulting firms, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, local/state/federal health agencies, health insurance companies, and medical supply and equipment manufacturers.

Additional Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to graduate study in Health Administration, a student must present the following requirements in addition to those required by the Graduate School.

1) Acceptable scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

2) An essay describing the applicant’s experience and objective in undertaking graduate study in health administration.

3) Basic computer skills including word processing and use of spread sheets.

Applicants with a variety of undergraduate degree specializations have the potential to be successful in the program. Individuals with records of high quality professional experience who do not fulfill the formal requirements should discuss with the Director of the Health Administration Program other factors that may have a bearing on admission.

Degree Requirements

Courses

Each student is required to complete 45 hours (15 courses including the Internship) in the core curriculum. These courses offer a basic body of knowledge, skills and values relevant to health services administration. Additionally, students will select 6 credit hours (2 graduate courses) in elective studies. A student may choose to use the two elective courses to complete a thesis. Students are encouraged to select courses that meet individual professional needs. Electives are available in several areas including management specialties, long term care, community health, and non-profit organization.

Core Courses (45 hours)

HADM6100 Introduction to the US Health Care System (3)

HADM6104 Health and Disease (3)

HADM6108 Decision Analysis in Health Care (3)

HADM6116 Accounting for Health Care Management (3)

HADM6120 Health Economics (3)

HADM6124 Marketing in Health Care (3)

HADM6128 Human Resources Management (3)

HADM6134 Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care (3)

HADM6138 Health Care Finance (3)

HADM6142 Health Policy Development (3)

HADM6145 Organization Behavior in Health Care (3)

HADM6146 Information Resources Management (3)

HADM6150 Health Law and Ethics (3)

HADM6154 Strategic Management of Health Services Organizations (3)

HADM6400 Internship (3)

Sample Electives (6 hours)

HADM6200 Health Insurance and Managed Care (3)

HADM6212 Health, Aging and Long Term Care (3)

HADM6216 Long Term Care Administration (3)

HADM6204 Trends and Issues in Health Administration (3)

GRNT6211 Administration of Aging Programs (3)

SOCY6138 Social Organization of Health Care (3)

Assistantships

Positions as a graduate administrative assistant may be available. Grant funded assistantships may be available as well. Students seeking assistantships should contact the Office Assistant assigned to the Department of Health Behavior and Administration.

Internships

Each student in the program is required to demonstrate professional experience in the health care delivery system. This requirement may be demonstrated through 1) a full-time administrative position in a health care delivery setting, or 2) an approved internship in a health care delivery administrative setting. Students who have no professional experience in a health care setting are required to undertake an internship experience. Each student must complete an MHA Internship Information form, describing professional experience or internship preference, and submit it to the Director of the MHA Program. Students who require an internship register for HADM 6400 Internship on a pass/fail basis. Students who obtain an exemption from completing an internship are required to take an elective course as a substitute in order to complete the 51 hours needed to graduate.

Electives

Students will enroll in two elective courses and are encouraged to select courses that will complement their professional interest and educational goals. Elective courses are offered each semester by the Health Administration program or may be selected from other graduate programs to meet particular student interest.

Advising

The Director of the MHA Program is the advisor for all students. Students are expected to meet with the MHA Director on a regular basis to plan their progression through their program of study. Any course substitutions and selection of electives must be approved by the MHA Director. With the approval of the MHA Director students may have other MHA graduate faculty serve as their academic advisor.

Thesis

Students may elect a two-course thesis sequence to produce and defend independent research relevant to health services administration that demonstrates a contribution to professional knowledge through systematic investigation. This course requires permission of the graduate faculty member who would direct the study as well as permission of the Director of the MHA Program prior to registration.

Financial Aid/Financial Assistance

A wide range of opportunities for financial aid/assistance is available to qualifying students, which may be accessed through the financial aid office. See the financial information section of this Graduate Catalog for more information on the opportunities that are available, and how to contact the financial aid office.

MSN/MHA Dual Degree

The Health Administration Program and the Graduate Nursing Program offer an integrated curriculum leading to a dual degree, both the MHA and the MSN. Applicants must hold a B.S.N. degree and must be admitted to both programs. The program is described in detail under graduate programs in the School of Nursing.

Courses in Health Administration

HADM 6000. Topics in Health Administration. (3) Intensive study of a topic in health administration. The topic of investigation may vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)

HADM 6100. Introduction to the US Health Care System. (3) Overview of health care delivery in the United States including organizational structures, financing mechanisms and delivery systems, with particular attention to program formation. (Same as MPAD 6172). (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6104. Health and Disease. (3) Principles and methods of epidemiology including definitions and models of health, illness, and disease; modes of transmission of clinically important infectious agents; risk factors and chronic diseases; and insights into existing studies and paradigms of health promotion and disease prevention. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6108. Decision Analysis in Health Care. (3) The study of selected quantitative management tools useful in the analysis of managerial decisions. Includes a review of basic descriptive and inferential statistics, applied probability distributions, forecasting methods, statistical process control, queuing, transportation and assignment modeling, and linear programming. The emphasis is on applying quantitative decision making methods to the operational problems facing health care organizations. Familiarity with computers and computer software will be important for success in this course. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6116. Accounting for Health Care Management. (3) Basic concepts and techniques of collecting, processing and reporting financial information relevant to health care institutions. Emphasizes a conceptual understanding of financial accounting, technical tools of cost accounting, including budget preparation and analysis, and interpretation of financial statements. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6120. Health Economics. (3) Examination of the economic context of health services delivery and policies, and application of economic concepts to the health care sector including supply and demand, elasticity, regulation, competition and cost effectiveness analysis. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6124. Marketing in Health Care. (3) Provides an in-depth understanding of the essential concepts of marketing and their application to health care. Students gain a working knowledge of marketing tools and how to use them in the context of health care. Students build practical applied skills in analyzing health care marketing problems and developing health care marketing programs and strategies. Students also expand their understanding of the differences and similarities between health services and social marketing. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6128. Human Resources Management. (3) Examines human resources management as it applies to health services institutions, including compensation benefits, personnel planning, recruitment, selection, training and development, employee appraisal and discipline, union-management relations and quality management. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Health Care. (3) Examination of the concepts and practices of quality management, performance improvement, and assessment of outcomes in health care delivery settings. Designed to provide an in-depth understanding of basic concepts and frameworks and of their applicability and relevance in specific situations. Examples of topics to be covered include: process reengineering, service improvement, continuous quality improvement, accreditation standards, patient satisfaction, outcome measurement, teamwork, and case management. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6138. Health Care Finance. (3) Prerequisite: HADM 6116. Fundamental financial management concepts and tools for health care institutions, including financial statements and attributes, capital acquisition and allocation, investment analysis, capital and cash flow management and contractual relationships. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6142. Health Policy Development. (3) Prerequisite: HADM 6100/MPAD 6172. Examination of the formulation, adoption and implementation of public policy for health services delivery and health care through federal, state, and local political processes. (Same as MPAD 6174) (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6145. Organization Behavior in Health Care. (3) Introduction to organizational theory with applications to health care systems, including organizational design and inter-organizational networks/alliances. Examination of communication and leadership skills development, including conflict, labor and dispute management. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6146. Information Resources Management. (3) A study of the use of information management to improve the delivery of health care. Information resource management includes methods and practices to acquire, disseminate, store, interpret and use information to provide health care in a more efficient, effective and economical manner. Emphasis is placed upon information as central to the ongoing operations and strategic decisions of health care organizations. (Same as NURS 6162). (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6150. Health Law and Ethics. (3) Analysis of ethical and bioethical problems confronting health care delivery systems. Selected legal principles and their application to the health care field, including corporate liability, malpractice, informed consent and governmental regulation of health personnel and health facilities. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6154. Strategic Management of Health Services Organizations. (3) Prerequisites: All core courses except HADM 6146 and HADM 6150. Analysis of strategic planning, managing and marketing concepts, techniques and tools within the health care industry, including organizational capability analysis and business plan development. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6200. Health Insurance and Managed Care. (3) Fundamentals of managed health care systems, including risk arrangements, compensation, incentives, quality assurance, financing and public programs. (On Demand)

HADM 6204. Trends and Issues in Health Administration. (3) Examination of current issues confronting health care managers and an assessment of programs and management responses to emerging trends in the health care filed, including delivery systems, marketing/competition, financing and/or epidemiological changes. Same as MPAD 6176. (On Demand)

HADM 6208. Research Methods for Health Care Administration. (3) Prerequisite: undergraduate statistics course. Study of selected statistical techniques useful in the analysis of managerial decisions and interpretation and evaluation of research. Introduction to systems analysis and selected operations research techniques as applied to problem solving and decision making in health care institutions. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6212. Health, Aging and Long Term Care. (3) This course offers an overview of the health status of an aging U.S. population, with a focus on long-term care. Topics include: demographics of an aging society, health status of older people, societal values related to aging and long-term care, informal care giving, the formal service provision system, relevant public policies, and challenges for the future. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6216. Long Term Care Administration. (3) This course provides an overview of the long-term care system, with an emphasis on older persons. Class content includes the exploration of issues surrounding the provision of long-term care, identification of the various components of the long-term care system, and discussion of the role of health administration within the long-term care system. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)

HADM 6400. Internship. (3) Prerequisite: Completed HADM 6100 and 15 additional hours of core course requirements. The purpose of the health administration internship is to offer administrative experience in a healthcare setting for students. The initial assumption is made that students participating in the internship experience have had limited hands-on exposure to healthcare administration. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

HADM 6800. Independent Study. (1-3) Guided individual study in an issue related to health administration arranged with a faculty member or supervised experience in an administrative setting in a program or entity within the health care delivery system. (Pass/Fail) (On demand)

HADM 6999. Thesis. (3) Production of independent research relevant to health administration which demonstrates contribution to professional knowledge through systemic investigation. Pass/In Progress grading. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

HADM 7999. Graduate Residence. (1) Prerequisite 6999. Continuation of thesis on a topic of significance in health administration. (Fall, Spring, Summer)