Health Systems Management

This subject is not offered in 2014.

44 hours of lectures. In addition to face-to-face teaching time of 48 hours, students should expect to undertake a minimum of 240 hours research, reading, writing and general study to complete this subject successfully.

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in Professional Certificate in Health System Management (GC-HLTHSM). This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject comprises the design, conduct/ running and the improvement of the processes and systems of a health industry organisation. This subject would provide an overview of the ‘laws of operations management’, including quality management, process analysis and redesign, business process change, lean principles and practice and six sigma, etc. It would include examples where health organisations can adapt and learn from world’s best practice companies, of ‘operational excellence’. It would culminate in an analysis of health systems, with an assessment of the existing operations practices in the department against the core principles of the world’s best operations.

It also covers the key themes in managing behaviour, culture, leadership and change management in health systems. Core topics will include teamwork, communication, leadership, motivation, change management, planning and goal setting and performance management. Case studies of organisational revitalisations will be included.

Frameworks for analysing whole of company leadership and management will be used to demonstrate how best practices can be implemented in health systems organisations.

Students would achieve:

• Knowledge of operations management foundations and principles, and of how to apply these to health systems
• understanding of operational systems tools such as six sigma, quality management , waste measurement and reduction, lean systems and process control mas applied to health systems
• ability to analyse and improve operational systems in health systems
• ability to analyse a health services organisation relative to the practices and principles of the world’s best organisations
• Ability to make sound choices of process choice, capacity and organisation of health systems

• One hour test (20%), conducted in class on the last day of class
• Assignments of not more than 2500 words (30%), due four weeks after the delivery
• Field project investigation report of not more than 5000 words (50%), due eight weeks after the delivery

Nil

Nil

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will achieve:

• Sound communication skills in written and verbal communication
• Analytical skills in relation to operations management
• Team working skills
• Leadership skills related to operational systems and change