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BHA4002 |
History of the United States Health Care System
Learners gain a historical view of the U.S. health care system and analyze the challenges and successes of an ever-changing and evolving industry from both a private and public health perspective. Learners also investigate health care innovations, regulatory bodies and technology to assess the evolutionary processes in medical education, changing practice, hospital industry growth and the continuum of care. |
3 quarter credits |
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BHA4003 |
Present and Future State Developments within the United States Health Care System
In this course, learners review developments in health policy and management to better understand the present and future state of the U.S. health care system. Learners also analyze trends and effects on health care services to determine their impact on the health care industry and to predict potential future reforms. Learners also gain knowledge of health policy; health reform; access, cost, and regulatory issues; and stakeholder influence. |
3 quarter credits |
BHA4004 |
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement in Health Care
In this course, learners examine quality improvement and risk management in health care. Learners apply various models to increase the quality of patient care and outcomes, decrease the risk of litigation, and effect positive change. Throughout the course, learners gain an understanding of how to prepare a quality dashboard utilizing common quality improvement tools, including statistical analysis; Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA); Six Sigma; and Rapid Cycle Improvement. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4006 |
Health Care Regulation and Compliance
In this course, learners analyze local, state, and federal health care laws and evaluate their applicability and effect on patient rights, care, and confidentiality; human resources; and organizational and professional licensure. Throughout the course, learners develop and demonstrate competence in applying standards to meet requirements of governing bodies and various agencies with regulatory oversight authority. Learners also investigate fraud and abuse, risk management, business ethics, and corporate compliance. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4008 |
Health Care Budgeting and Reporting
Learners in this course acquire an understanding of inventory control, budgeting, financial statements, and reporting. Learners also demonstrate competence in preparing budgets for their scope of responsibility as health care professionals. |
3 quarter credits |
BHA4009 |
Health Care Reimbursement Systems
Learners in this course examine current trends and traditional methods of payment in the health care industry. In particular, learners examine hospital, physician, third-party, state, and federal reimbursement systems and gain an understanding of the organizational revenue cycle process and payor contracting. |
3 quarter credits |
BHA4010 |
Introduction to Health Care Research
In this course, learners examine health care research methodologies to assess access, quality, and cost as well as related marketing research and planning. In particular, learners strengthen their knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research designs in order to better understand the needs, expectations, and social norms involved within the health care delivery system. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4102 |
Leadership and Communication in Health Care Organizations
Learners in this course gain awareness of their personal leadership style and develop communication approaches appropriate for a diverse set of stakeholders. Learners also build their knowledge and skills in cultural competence, effective teamwork, coaching, cross-functionality, and collaboration through the use of authentic, real-world scenarios. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4104 |
Strategic Leadership and Workforce Planning in Health Care
In this course, learners develop innovative solutions to strategic, tactical, and operational issues in managing health care systems through the combined use of information technology, organizational knowledge, talent management, and critical thinking. Learners enhance leadership qualities that facilitate diverse high-performance teams and create comprehensive and useable data-driven action plans. Learners also gain an understanding of organizational development, productivity management, and health care planning and marketing. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4106 |
Introduction to Managing Health Care Information
Learners in this course integrate essential informatics concepts into health care administration and manage the health care information lifecycle. Learners analyze information system applications to make evidence-based decisions that maximize the efficiency and quality of departmental workflow. Learners also analyze the application of methods to improve the management of patient data, clinical knowledge, population data, and other information relevant to patient care and community health. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4108 |
Managing Population Health
In this course, learners investigate epidemiology and its patterns, causes, and effects relative to health and disease conditions across identified populations. Learners identify evidence-based approaches to promote wellness, disease management, and evolving financial reimbursement strategies. In addition, learners gain an understanding of critical factors associated with accountable care organizations and formulate applied research strategies focused on patient engagement. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4110 |
Health Care Systems and Operations
In this course, learners analyze managerial concepts and their application to the support infrastructure of health care organizations. Learners also investigate issues, trends, and best practices in supply chain management; process improvement; facility layout; quality improvement; resource planning; and facilities management. |
6 quarter credits |
BHA4112 |
Economics of Health Care
Learners in this course examine historical perspectives and current trends in the health care industry and analyze its unique economic structure. Learners analyze evolving reimbursement trends, methods, and technology and identify the political, legal, regulatory, organizational, and demographical implications of business decisions on health care economics. Learners also evaluate the ways in which economic and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision making. |
6 quarter credits |
MHA5006 |
Health Care Finance and Reimbursement
Learners in this course gain knowledge of and apply financial management concepts, principles, and processes used in health care organizations. Learners examine accounting, financial statements and ratios, budgeting, capitalization, cost allocation, reimbursement methodologies and processes, and the impact of varying reimbursement structures on health care practice and service delivery. Learners also design, prepare, and manage health care budgets; analyze short- and long-term health care investment decisions; and articulate the ways effective health care finance and accounting processes are used to present operational and strategic financial information to organizational stakeholders. |
4 quarter credits |
MHA5010 |
Strategic Health Care Planning
In this course, learners examine strategic orientation, planning, and decision making in health care organizations and environments. Learners analyze the political, legal, regulatory, organizational, demographical, and multicultural implications of strategic planning decisions and how those decisions impact communities and populations, define best practices for health care organization staff development, and balance the prioritization of organizational and regulatory needs with feasible cost-effective solutions. Learners also develop a long-term strategic health care plan that includes information on human resource requirements, technology needs, and financial implications |
4 quarter credits |
MHA5028 * |
Comparative Models of Global Health Systems
In this course, learners identify, analyze, and compare world health care systems and the challenges associated with them. Learners also demonstrate knowledge of the costs and benefits of implementing and measuring quality improvement programs intended to address community and global health system needs. Prerequisite(s): MHA5006, MHA5010, completion of or concurrent registration in MHA5012, NHS6004, NHS6008. |
4 quarter credits |
MHA5062 |
Health Care Delivery: New Environments in Health Informatics
Learners in this course investigate the changing technological environment facing today’s hospital leaders. Throughout the course, learners explore the many health information systems and applications now used by health care organizations, as well as examine the myriad rules, regulations, and government influences paramount to health informatics. |
4 quarter credits |
DRPH8212 |
Design and Implementation of Public Health Strategies
Learners in this course explore methods and resources for designing and implementing an effective public health strategic plan. Learners formulate and evaluate short and long-term solutions to public health problems and epidemiological issues using systems thinking and research methodologies that are collaborative, ethical, fiscally, and culturally responsive. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. |
6 quarter credits |
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DRPH8300 |
Community Health Behavior and Promotion
In this course, learners explore the health behavior theories and models that are used in the promotion of healthy behaviors in diverse communities. Learners evaluate policy efforts to promote healthy behaviors for disadvantaged communities, advocate for the promotion of healthy behaviors in diverse public health organizations that facilitate healthy practices, and lead communities in achieving their optimal level of health. In particular, learners gain an understanding of how to engage in the proper promotion of healthy behaviors by helping disadvantaged communities become better informed. |
6 quarter credits |
PUBH4001 |
Foundations of Public Health
This course provides learners with an overview of core public health concepts as well as the contributions and roles of public health institutions. Learners use historical perspectives and current trends to address determinants of health from an environmental, social, and behavioral perspective. Learners also become familiar with organizational structure and gauge its impact on health care delivery and barriers to access from a population perspective. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4003 |
Introduction to Theories of Social and Behavioral Change
Learners in this course gain fundamental knowledge of the theories of social and behavioral change that guide public health professionals in understanding health behaviors in the contexts in which they occur. Learners analyze the theories that influence health behaviors and public engagement activities as well as gain perspectives of why and how people behave the way they do. In addition, learners examine the structural and social barriers to better health and determine the ways in which they can design comprehensive solutions to eliminate those barriers. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4006 |
Social Determinants of Health and Wellness
In this course, learners are introduced to the social and economic determinants of health and wellness in the United States. In particular, learners gain an understanding of what those determinants are and how they can be changed. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4015 |
Planning and Evaluation in Evidence-Based Practice
Learners in this course assess evidence-based practice and how it affects public health planning and evaluation. In particular, learners examine the ways in which they can use a collaborative community approach and the best evidence available to promote prevention through the planning and evaluation of public health programs and policies. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4018 |
Introduction to Public Health Policy and Management
In this course, learners build and demonstrate a broad understanding of how public health and policy intersect in the United States and how public health services, programs, and policies are developed, managed, and funded. Throughout the course, learners analyze the key drivers of policies and legislation that impact public and private health care systems, individuals, and the overall population. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4024 |
Introduction to Environmental Health
Learners in this course investigate the relationships between people and their environment, and the promotion of environmentally healthy and safe communities. Learners also examine the effects of climate change on public health and how to identify and prevent hazardous agents in air, water, soil, and food and in occupations from adversely affecting human health on a short or long term basis. Prerequisite(s): PUBH4009 and PUBH4012. |
4 quarter credits |
PUBH4027 |
Community Health Promotion, Education and Advocacy
In this course, learners examine how health promotion, education, and advocacy have been employed in the United States and worldwide. Learners also investigate the expanding world of social media as well as more traditional public health promotion, education, and advocacy efforts. |
4 quarter credits |
NHS6004 |
Health Care Law and Policy
In this course, learners examine the political, legal, and regulatory issues impacting health care organizations and environments. Learners analyze the effects of health care policy on health care practice and service delivery, with particular emphasis on the strategies used to monitor and maintain legal and regulatory compliance. Learners also identify and apply health care policy and law concepts that promote organizational improvement. |
4 quarter credits |
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NHS6008 |
Economics and Decision Making in Health Care
This course helps learners develop and demonstrate concepts, principles, issues, and trends in health care economics and the economic decision-making practices employed in the health care environment. Learners analyze the political, legal, regulatory, organizational, demographical, and multicultural implications of business decisions on health care economics; explore the ways economic and stakeholder influences affect operational planning and decision making; and practice applying performance monitoring and process management measures as part of the decision-making process. Learners also examine cost-effective problem solving; community- and population-based orientation; and effective use of health care market research, analysis, and assessment. |
4 quarter credits |
²See the Capella University Catalogue for the full course description for your course.
If you plan to take more than three courses, consider pursuing a nursing graduate certificate or a graduate certificate in public health.
Some certificates can be obtained with just four or five courses. Or keep the momentum going by pursuing your public health degree in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral program or health administration degree in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program.
Your graduate certificate can stand alone to demonstrate your specialized knowledge, but because each certificate program is comprised of master’s- doctoral-, or bachelor’s-level courses, you can apply the credits you earn to a degree program in the same area.³
³A maximum of three courses taken as a Capella nondegree student can be applied to a subsequent Capella degree program.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify with education institution(s) that these course(s) will fulfill transfer credit or admissions requirements into an advanced practice nursing program.
Capella University cannot guarantee licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work.