HLTHMGT 721 : Health Management

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The application of general management principles to health organisations and resources, with particular reference to the nature of health organisations and health professional teams. Includes theory and concepts supporting the effective management of health human resources and financial resources.

Course Overview

  • This course, HLTHMGT721, is required for students who want to enrol for postgraduate programmes at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. This course is also approved for the students enrolled to study the Master's degree in Project Management (Health) offered by the Faculty of Engineering.
  • This course may be helpful for prospective students who want to become a manager in the health systems and health services sectors, including the Ministry of Health, Health NZ, private and public hospitals, primary care and private healthcare organisations.
  • This course aims to apply general management principles in the health sector. The course provides an overview of organisation theory with particular reference to those theories that have applications in health and health services.
  • Management and leadership topics are discussed from the perspective of contemporary health organisations. Management tools such as SWOT analysis will be used to identify the challenges and competencies required to function as an effective healthcare manager.
  • In light of health organisations being heavily human resource-intensive, there is a focus on human resource management, change management, performance management and clinical governance.
  • A feature of the course is the active participation of all involved. As we reflect and build on our experiences and share these with others in a theoretical context, learning takes place in the applied field of health management.
  • The course is taught on-site at the University Grafton campus. The students are required to attend all lectures as per the timetable provided and are expected to actively participate in-class group work exercises to achieve effective learning outcomes. The material is applied throughout the course through case studies, discussions and in-class debates.
  • The course will help students critically evaluate how to be an effective healthcare manager and address the various demands of working in a healthcare organisation's complex, dynamic environment.

Course Requirements

Restriction: POPLHLTH 721

Course Contacts

Course Director
M.M.Maran PhD
Email: mmut146@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Course Administrator
Mrs Upendra Wickramarachchi
Email: u.wicks@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and describe an understanding of healthcare issues and problems as your case study (Capability 1.2, 4.1 and 8.1)
  2. Critically evaluate the health management skills and competencies required for the identified case study problem and highlight particular challenges to meet the goals and objectives (Capability 2.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 5.1)
  3. Apply and analyse theoretical concepts of engagement and management theories concerning the identified case study. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.3)
  4. Develop and demonstrate an understanding of Change management, Health workforce requirements, HR management, and performance management which are needed to explain how change can be managed in a healthcare setting concerning your case study. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1 and 8.3)
  5. Articulate and demonstrate the health management skills learned for the effective management of the healthcare organisation. (Capability 1.2, 4.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Case Study (Scenario identification) 5% Individual Coursework
Essay-1-skills, competencies & challenges 20% Individual Coursework
Essay-2 Applying theory to the case study 25% Individual Coursework
Final Report and presentation 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Case Study (Scenario identification)
Essay-1-skills, competencies & challenges
Essay-2 Applying theory to the case study
Final Report and presentation

Students are required to complete all assignments to graduate from this course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 12 hours of lectures, 12 hours of self-directed learning, 50 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 76 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Campus Experience
  • Attendance is required at scheduled activities, lectures, and in-class group exercises to complete the components of this course.
  • Lectures and other learning activities, including seminars, will be available as recordings or slides.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the oral presentation if any.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students commented they preferred the class was not split in half for the in-class workshops. They wanted to have the full range of views/experiences in the room together. For 2024 we have brought the class together for the in-class group exercises. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.