Health Management and Policy (HMP)
Health management and policy is an interdisciplinary program, that provides students with a broad view of health and health care and policy, while developing analytical skills which are integrated within computer laboratories throughout the curriculum. Students are prepared to pursue careers in a wide range of healthcare organizations focusing on the business aspects and public health aspects of healthcare. Graduates work in private practice, long-term care, rehabilitation, hospitals, nursing homes, and other managed care organizations in such areas as finance, information systems, management, marketing, and operations, project management, as well as public health departments, community health, community-based and home-health agencies, mental health facilities, regulatory bodies, consulting companies, and insurance companies.
The department's undergraduate program maintains full certification by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). Students have the opportunity to become student members in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the Health Care Financial Management Association (HFMA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA), all of which are represented by student chapters at the University. The Health Management and Policy curriculum is approved under the New England Regional Student Program.
Health Management & Policy (HMP)
HMP 401 - United States Health Care Systems
Credits: 4
Nature and functions of health care services and health professionals; impact of social, political, economic, ethical, professional, legal, and technological forces on health care systems. Current health policy issues.
Attributes: Social Science (Discovery)
HMP 401H - Honors/United States Health Care Systems
Credits: 4
Nature and functions of health care services and health professionals; impact of social, political, economic, ethical, professional, legal, and technological forces on health care systems. Current health policy issues. Writing intensive.
Attributes: Social Science (Discovery); Writing Intensive Course
HMP 401W - United States Health Care Systems
Credits: 4
Nature and functions of health care services and health professionals; impact of social, political, economic, ethical, professional, legal, and technological forces on health care systems. Current health policy issues. Writing intensive.
Attributes: Social Science (Discovery); Writing Intensive Course
HMP 403 - Introduction to Public Health
Credits: 4
This course describes and defines “what is public health” and seeks to convey its critical importance and relevance to both public and individual (personal) wellbeing. It presents an overview of the structure, function, and organization of the public health system/services (government, proprietary, and voluntary sectors) and how they operate, emphasizing core functions and major divisions (public health administration, epidemiology and biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioral health). Addresses the social, ethical, issues; bioterrorism; epidemics; obesity; tobacco, alcohol, and opioid use; violence. Seeks to challenge students to think critically about existing and emerging U.S. and global public health issues. Introduces public health careers.
HMP 440A - Honors/Global Public Health Issues
Credits: 4
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to and overview of the key areas of global health by addressing the major determinants of health and how health status is measured to determine the burden of disease in the developing world. This course is part of the Honors Symposium titled: Reinventing Healthy Communities Nationally and Globally: Medical, Legal, and Cultural Perspectives. This course is the same course as HMP 444A Honors/Global Public Health Issues, that was approved by the Discovery Program as an Inquiry, World Cultures Category course. HMP 440A will not be offered as an Inquiry course, but will maintain the World Cultures Category. Prereq: Permission.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery)
HMP 444 - From Frankenstein to Dolly, and Beyond
Credits: 4
This course is an interdisciplinary introductory course designed specifically for first year students. It seeks to stimulate, provoke, and support student inquiry, discussion, and exploration of a wide variety of social and ethical issues associated with scientific research and advances, with an emphasis on ones related to the biomedical and health sciences. It explores the value-laden questions that they often precipitate, and their impact on individuals, population groups, and society at large. (Also listed as MICR 444.)
Attributes: Environment,TechSociety(Disc); Inquiry (Discovery)
HMP 444A - Global Public Health Issues
Credits: 4
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to and overview of the key areas of global health by addressing the major determinants of health and how health status is measured to determine the burden of disease in the developing world. Using the perspectives of public health, the course will cover factors associated with the development of health problems and efforts to prevent disease in impoverished areas. Students will also explore the role of social communication, politics, religion, economics, education and culture in contributing to global public health issues and will integrate these factors and values in developing solutions to the widespread public health issues impacting communities worldwide. Students will learn about the magnitude of disease in the developing world (e.g., communicable and non-communicable disease, women and child health, nutrition, and unintentional injuries), how health is assessed and how health systems effectively work together to improve global health.
Attributes: World Cultures(Discovery); Inquiry (Discovery)
HMP 501 - Epidemiology and Community Medicine
Credits: 4
The distribution and determinants of disease, illness, and health in the community. Community health and illness measures, health status, and source of data. Development of hypotheses and study designs to reduce community health problems using epidemiological reasoning, methods, and analyses. Lab.
Attributes: Biological Science(Discovery); Discovery Lab Course
HMP 501H - Honors/Epidemiology and Community Medicine
Credits: 4
The distribution and determinants of disease, illness, and health in the community. Community health and illness measures, health status, and source of data. Development of hypotheses and study designs to reduce community health problems using epidemiological reasoning, methods, and analyses. Lab.
Attributes: Biological Science(Discovery); Discovery Lab Course
HMP 505 - Public Health: History and Practice
Credits: 4
Blends a board overview of the historical development of public health with important areas of contemporary public health practice. Traces the history and practices of public health and disease prevention from classical times, through the Middles Ages, the Renaissance, and European Enlightenment, and more modern times. Special emphasis on the historical evolution, development, and future of public health in the U.S. The latter includes the organization of public health in the U.S., its major functions and practices, its infrastructure, its programs and services, and its future challenges. It examines the historical close interrelationships and influences of religion, culture, social determinants, environment, science, and politics on public health through the ages.
Attributes: Historical Perspectives(Disc)
HMP 511 - Introduction to Health Information Systems
Credits: 4
This course introduces the student to the nomenclature and foundations of health information technology and systems in health care delivery settings and the management and strategic uses for those systems. It is relevant for those studying health care management and those using clinical health information systems. It examines health care information flow, information systems, technology standards and information security, and presents relevant examples, practical applications and case studies. Prereq: HMP 401.
HMP 569 - Human Behavior and the Public Health
Credits: 4
Provides a grounding in fundamental concepts of the behavioral sciences as they illuminate public health. Individual and community responses to prevention, identification of symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, chronic ailments, and rehabilitation are discussed. In each of these areas, the course explores the interaction between community, family, patient, and health care provider.
HMP 600 - Special Topics
Credits: 1-4
A) Hospital Management, B) Long-term Care Management, C) Ambulatory Care Management, D) Clinical Services Management, E) Home Care Management, F) Mental Health Management, G-Z) Interdisciplinary. May repeat, but may not duplicate subject areas. Prereq: junior major or permission. Special fee on some sections.
HMP 621 - Pre-practicum Seminar
Credits: 1-2
Preparation for field practicum experience, orientation to experiential learning and competency development. Prereq: major, HMP 401m 403, 501, MATH 420 MATH 424/MATH 425.
HMP 622 - Field Practicum in Organizational and Project Analysis, and Management Skills Development
Credits: 3
Experiential learning in a health care organization; application of theories to practice. Planned learning objectives are accomplished through three distinct components. Organizational Analysis, Project Analysis and Management Skills Development, with Supervision by agency personnel. This will include analysis of assigned health care agency, from external and internal viewpoints, development of the basic quantitative and interpersonal skills required for a health services manager, and demonstration of knowledge and analysis of specific problem-solving skills. Prereq: HMP 401, HMP 403, HMP 501, MATH 420/Statistics. Pre- or Coreq: HMP 511, HMP 621, HMP 642, HMP 711, HMP 721, HMP 740, HMP 744, HMP 746. Cr/F.
HMP 624 - Post Practicum Seminar
Credits: 2
Summary and conclusion from field practicum experience. Individual analysis and panel discussions to include site assessment, project description and methodologies employed, critique of individual skills and knowledge base in relation to internship. Major only.
HMP 631 - Health Issues Seminar
Credits: 2
Discussion of current issues in the fields of health management, health policy and public health. Prereq: major or permission.
HMP 642 - Health Economics
Credits: 4
Theoretical and empirical analysis of the U.S. health care delivery sector. Topics include health insurance markets and their effects on patients demand, uninsured populations and their access to health care services, breakdowns in the principal/agent relationship between patients' and providers, competition in the medical sector, technology, pharmaceuticals and the scope and effect of government involvement in the delivery of health care. (Also listed as ECON 642.)
HMP 711 - Health Systems Research I
Credits: 4
Introduces intermediate techniques for data manipulation and analysis for the health care field. Also introduces methods for survey research and large data set manipulation and analysis. There is a lab section utilizing a statistical software package where students perform tasks from a large national data set. Prereq: introduction to statistics.
HMP 712 - Health Analytics
Credits: 4
This course introduces students to the field of health analytics and data science. It expands upon introductory statistical and data manipulation methods to include data mining, predictive analytics, cluster analysis, trend and pattern recognition, and data visualization. It couples data skills with interpretive and communication skills. Students will also be exposed to basic statistical programming. There will be a graduate component of the course (812) where students will work on advanced concepts and complete a separate culminating project.
HMP 715 - Environmental Health
Credits: 4
This course offers a general introduction to environmental health from the community, regional, and global perspective by addressing fundamental topics and current controversies such as air pollution, water pollution, built environment/urban sprawl, food safety, waste disposal, and occupational health. Students learn about environmental health assessment methods. Major issues in environmental health and related regulatory efforts and public health policy reform are examined. Prereq: HMP 403 & HMP 501.
HMP 721 - Managing Health Care Organizations
Credits: 4
Organizational characteristics of ambulatory, acute, and long-term care facilities. Management issues and strategies involving governance, clinical services, human and fiscal resources, and community-based services. Prereq: major or permission.
HMP 722 - Health Care Management II
Credits: 4
A continuation of HMP 721 - Managing Health Care Organizations with specific lectures and assignments devoted to organizational behavior, leadership, and managerial skills. Case studies and examples will relate specifically to health care organizations. Prereq: HMP 721; HMP majors only.
HMP 723 - Health Planning
Credits: 4
Theoretical and historical foundations of health planning; the relationship of health planning and regulation; the application of planning methods; and the utilization of strategic planning and its relationships to marketing. Prereq: major or permission. Special fee.
HMP 735 - Social Marketing
Credits: 4
An introduction to the vocabulary and tools of social marketing. Expanding upon the traditional principles of marketing and consumer behavior, students are exposed to the challenges of trying to effect behavior change.
HMP 740 - Health Care Financial Management
Credits: 4
Techniques, principles, and practices of managing fiscal aspects of health care organizations. Exploration of concepts and techniques associated with variance analysis, cost allocation, management of working capital, and capital decision analysis. Analysis of the impact of reimbursement on health care organizations. Prereq: Major or permission.
HMP 741 - Health Care Financial Management II
Credits: 4
This course focuses on issues related to effective financial management of health care organizations and programs, building upon material covered in HMP 740, Health Care Financial Management. Topics include the time value of money, long-term debt, stocks and equity, and evaluation of capital projects. Prereq: HMP 740; HMP majors only.
HMP 742 - Strategic Management for Health Care Organizations
Credits: 4
Application of managerial methods involving financial, marketing, and operational analysis to health management. Case studies. Prereq: major or permission; HMP 622A, HMP 622B, HMP 622C, HMP 740. Lab. Special fee. Can be taken concurrently with HMP 631. Writing intensive.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
HMP 744E - Health Ethics
Credits: 2
Ethical theories, principles, and decision-making models that facilitate argumentation and critical analysis related to health issues where values often conflict; patient and employee rights, responsibilities/duties; the relationship between ethics and the law; selected ethical dilemmas and conflicts facing health professionals. Issues may include confidentiality and privacy, personnel/managerial communications, advertising and marketing, health care and profits, quality of life, pre-birth and end-of-life, electronic medical records and personal health information, immunization and communicable disease, human genetics, human rights and social justice, the right to health care and human experimentation. Students examine ethical issues, and the implications of alternatives and decisions on multiple stakeholders, including patients and family members, various health care providers and their respective organizations, health policy makers, and the public at large. Prereq: major or permission.
HMP 744L - Health Law
Credits: 2
This course provides an introduction to the legal foundations of health care in the U.S. Health law is examined as it applies to professionals entering the field of health management and other health professions. The legal system, regulations affecting health and safety, and issues facing practitioners are presented. Current status of the law, future directions, and its complexity are explored. Topics include privacy, liberty, and proprietary interests, from the perspective of the provider and the patient; laws related to the regulation of medical services, medical professionals, and standards of care; medical malpractice, institutional and corporate liability; antitrust; contracts; and patient rights. This course will complement HMP 744E Health Ethics.
HMP 746 - Health Policy
Credits: 4
Analysis of the public policy process, the development of health policies in the U.S., and discussion of specific health policy issues. Prereq: major or permission. Writing intensive.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course
HMP #748 - Health Policy Analysis
Credits: 4
Public policy outputs analyzed for effectiveness, efficiency, and equity, focusing on public policies in the United States. Prereq: major or permission. Lab. Special fee.
HMP 796 - Independent Study
Credits: 1-4
In-depth study with faculty supervision. Prereq: permission of major adviser and faculty in the area concerned.
HMP 798H - Honors Project/Research Design
Credits: 2
Examines selected research designs and methods used in health services research/program evaluation. Establishes theoretical and methodological foundation for honors-in-major research project to be conducted during the subsequent semester under a faculty member's supervision. Prereq: senior honors-in-major status and permission.
HMP 799H - Honors Project/Research
Credits: 2-4
In-depth research project (conducting and analysis) under supervision of faculty member. Includes scholarly presentation of findings to faculty and other interested parties and preparation of manuscript suitable for publication in peer-viewed journal. Prereq: HMP 798H and permission. Writing intensive.
Attributes: Writing Intensive Course