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Doctor of Health Science

EDUCATION IN THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS CONCENTRATION

The Education in the Health Care Professions Concentration is designed to provide students with the opportunity to meet the personal and/or professional goals of gaining requisite knowledge/skills to be able to perform in an academic arena.  The goal of the Education in the Health Care Professions Concentration fosters an in-depth application of knowledge and skills, inquiry and research, problem solving, collaboration and communication, professional development, higher order thinking skills, and ethical conduct.

Four of the following are required for the general curriculum. DHS 8196 and DHS 8197 are required for the concentration.

Courses selected must also include one ethics course (DHS 8040 or DHS 8045) and one policy course (DHS 8090 or DHS 8095)

course name semester hours

DHS 8196: Theories and Principles for Health Care Educators

This course explores some of the major learning theories that are utilized in Health Profession Programs with emphasis on adult learning theory. The use of Bloom's Taxonomy in creating curriculums is explored. Students will be exposed to various methods of delivering material to be learned in their respective health discipline. The knowledge gained in this course will enhance the seasoned instructor and give invaluable insight and guidance to those transitioning from clinical practice to education in the health professions.

4

DHS 8197: Traditional and Competency-Based Curriculum and Implementation

The course will expose students to the traditional tenets of curriculum development and the facets of curriculum development of the aspects of competency-based instruction. Students will gain knowledge in the area of instructional implementation in the education of health care professionals. Subject matter will include but not be limited to student assessment, utilization of technology in education, course development, writing test questions that accurately assess learning outcomes, incorporating simulation methods and problem-based learning.

4

DHS 8000: Professional Competencies in the Clinical Care of Diverse Populations

This course focuses on issues and information relating to the general epidemiological concerns, health care disparities and specific health and disease issues involved in the care of both culturally-based diverse populations (African American, Native America, Asian and Asian sub-populations, and Latino-Hispanic populations); and other non-ethnic special populations (homeless, uninsured, indigent, disabled, incarcerated, rural, inner-city, GLBT, geriatric, pediatric and others. 

4

DHS 8030: Community Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

This course develops the knowledge and skills needed to work with communities to improve health status of the community. Major topics will include health promotion and disease prevention. Special emphasis will be placed on the "Healthy People 2020" initiatives.  

4

DHS 8040: Professionalism and Health Care Ethics

This course is an in depth study of the concepts of health care ethics. The course of study analyzes the differences between ethics and law and examines the core values and beliefs of medical professionalism. Methods of ethical analysis and review of current case studies will be used in critical discussions of ethical dilemmas faced by health care personnel in areas such as cloning, organ transplantation, and the implications of the Human Genome Project. The student will explore the personal values, professional standards, and institutional guidelines which define the roles and responsibilities of the health care practitioner. 

4

DHS 8045: The Influence of Ethics and Culture on Global Health

Technology, research, and advancement of health care interventions have produced impressive improvements in health outcomes for many. Unfortunately, these advancements have also lead to inequalities in health status within and between countries, creating growing global ethical dilemmas. The world is faced with new challenges such as the potential for pandemics, an aging population, a diminishing healthcare workforce, and the stresses of determining resource allocation. With these challenges comes a need to better understand the process of ethical reasoning and resolution as this will be paramount for the development and maintenance of global health. Another dimension that must be considered in ethical decision-making is the influencing factors of culture. Culture comprises the political, social, economic, religious, and ethnic norms and values of a society. Culture is instrumental in shaping bioethical policy worldwide, which necessitates its inclusion and consideration in all global ethic discussions. The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the principles and theory of ethics as applied to global health, and how culture influences ethical decision-making. The course will examine some of the primary theories and principles in healthcare ethics including virtue, deontology, utilitarian, autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence. The course will explore many prominent global health issues and exemplify how greater knowledge and understanding of global ethics and culture is vital to effective and sound decision-making. Topics that will be discussed in the course include ethical issues related to: pandemic preparedness, end of life, human organ transplantation, clinical research in developing countries, human rights, resource allocation, and the effects of globalization on world health. It is anticipated that students will bring their own ethical dilemmas arising from their own experiences, culture, and practice.

4

DHS 8090: Health Policy, Planning and Management

This course critically examines the dynamics of healthcare in the U.S. The student is expected to analyze the healthcare industry and contrast non-profit and for-profit healthcare delivery systems. A critical exploration of the ramifications of healthcare reform and the impact on institutions and individuals will be undertaken. The concepts of cost containment, and long-term care will be analyzed. 

4

DHS 8095: Global Health Policy

Globalization affects all sectors including health care and understanding the key policy issues is essential in the study of global health. This course, taught from a clinical perspective, examines the health policy issues confronting international health organizations, governments and specific populations. It reviews the processes that influence the development and implementation of policies, and examines specific topics related to HIV/AIDS, poverty/nutrition, infectious disease, smoking, concerns of women and children and other global major health concerns. 

4

DHS 8110: Community Environmental and Occupational Health

Issues such as air and water quality and waste management will be examined. OSHA will be examined and analyzed for its impact on health and health care. Trends in environmental and occupational health legislation will be examined for their impact potential. 

4

DHS 8190 is required for the Education in the Health Professions Concentration. Any additional courses may be used as electives.

course name semester hours

DHS 8190: Health Care Education

This course explores the various theories and applications of adult education in the practice of training, pre-professional education, and post-professional education of medical personnel. Critical analysis of the different methods of teaching and training healthcare professionals is accomplished through discussion, research, investigation, journal development and assignments. 

4

DHS 8400: Global Health Issues 

Global healthcare is an emerging priority for health professional education programs, and clinical practice. It is essential for all healthcare professionals to understand the impact of global health issues on health care and international economic stability. This course explores the many facets of global health to expose the student to the complexity of the concepts that impact healthcare in developing and developed countries. 

4

HSP 9006: Evidence-Based Medical Practice

This course provides a working knowledge of evidence based medicine. Cases will be used as the backbone of this course to assist the student in analyzing data to justify the treatments used in clinical practice. Students will also learn how to critically appraise the literature, evaluate diagnostic test performance, design clinical pathways and standards of care, and implement evidenced based medicine findings in their own clinical or administrative setting. 

4

DHS 8750: Patient Safety

Leadership plays a key role in adopting practices to promote patient safety and leaders should have the skills necessary to be effective in the implementation of these practices. This course will focus on patient safety through a study of safety-oriented leadership, organizational culture, human factors, decision making science, communication, and a systems approach to health care delivery. Current best practice models and the latest professional literature emphasizing patient safety will be featured. 

4

DHS 8800: Health Care Informatics

This course will focus on available and future methodologies and technologies for the processing, archiving, analysis and transmission of data, information, and knowledge in the medical and healthcare setting. 

4

DHS 8810: Global Epidemiology

This course emphasizes the underlying concepts of the epidemiologic approach as it relates to pertinent global health issues. The student will be introduced to principles and methods of epidemiologic research. These include study designs, measures of frequency, association, impact and sources of error. Application to global health and public health strategies for disease prevention, surveillance and controls are discussed. 

4

All courses in this block are required, total is 11 credit hours.

course name semester hours

DHS 8125: Preparation Forum

Students should enroll in this course within one to two semesters of matriculation into the DHSc program. 

This is a 1-credit course in which students work closely in a one-on-one fashion with the course instructor/mentor to develop appropriate learning objectives and experiential plans for the internship (8130) and a substantial developmental project for the practicum (8140). Together, the internship and practicum form the capstone of the program. Attention is also paid to appropriate preparation for the form and style of the written deliverables of the internship and practicum and appropriate timelines for completion. Successful completion of 8125 will include the following: completion of APA style quizzes, approval of topic for DHS 8130 at least one semester prior to enrollment, approval of topic for DHS 8140 one to two semesters prior to enrollment, and completion of an error-free proposal for 8140 at least one to two semester prior to enrollment.  Students will be continuously enrolled in 8125 until all three tasks are accomplished

1

DHS 8130: Internship

This course is the capstone of the program. The student will perform an internship at a community health care institution, clinic, educational facility, etc., which is approved in the DHS 8125 course at least one semester prior to enrolling in DHS 8130. The student should spend a minimum of 80 clock-hours learning skills from a mentor.  Examples of acceptable internship experiences include teaching assistantships to learn on-site or online teaching skills, volunteering at non-profit organizations to learn about particular topics in health promotion and disease prevention, or shadowing an executive to learn leadership and executive skills among other experiences.  Students on the global track must have an internship experience that has an international basis. The student will write a report that describes the institution, defines the population served, and details the health promotion activities observed. A critical evaluation should be made that details strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the institution in order to analyze if the skills delineated were able to be learned. 

5

DHS 8140: Practicum

The practicum is a written project that is developmental in nature.  The practicum project must be approved in the DHS 8125 course one to two semesters prior to enrolling in DHS 8140.  Enrollment in the practicum course must be preceded by a proposal that contains the project idea and a preliminary literature review, which will be written in the DHS 8125 course at least one to two semesters prior to enrolling in DHS 8140. The student will be required to choose a health promotion topic and create a health promotion program or educational resource that can be used for a community education program. An implementation and evaluation plan must be included in the final product. Examples of appropriate educational resources include developing a presentation for a national conference, developing a presentation for an in-service, or developing a course curriculum.  Students on the global track must have an international basis for the project.

5

All courses in this block are required, total is 12 credit hours.

course name semester hours

DHS 8010: Statistics and Research Methods

This course allows the student to develop an understanding through critical analysis of the basic research methods utilized in healthcare. Students will be taught how to critically analyze medical information and perform effective literature reviews. 

4

DHS 8071: Conflict Resolution for Health Care Leaders

This course examines and analyzes the nature and dynamics of human conflict within healthcare leadership and management. Various methods and theories of leadership and management, both in and out of healthcare, and their impact on productivity, profitability and employee satisfaction will be explored. Learners will acquire and engage practical strategies to improve leadership skills applicable in a variety of settings. Additionally, critical analysis of the different types of approaches to mitigating conflict in healthcare leadership will be required to research, develop and evaluate diverse practice environments and their role in health outcomes. Through the completion of various assignments, the learner will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter via application of the theories and information presented in the assigned readings, participation in the discussion board and other learning activities.

4

DHS 8195 and any two additional courses are required - any additional Core 1 and Core 2 classes may also be taken as an elective.

course name semester hours

DHS 8100: Alternative and Complementary Medicine

This course examines and analyzes alternative and complimentary medicine and their impact on the healthcare industry. The approach to the subject is to present selected alternative and complimentary medicine fields in an informative, non-judgmental format. 

4

DHS 8165—Human Trafficking: Legal Issues, Public Health, and Advocacy
for the Health Care Professional

This course will examine the issue of human trafficking
through a health care, policy, and public health lens. Through
investigation of current resources in their communities, as
well as researching primary resources (research articles,
public polices and human trafficking laws, governmental and
nongovernmental agencies reports), students will analyze
the consequences of human trafficking at the individual and
community levels. Students will identify gaps in research and/
or policies and will formulate potential solutions. Building on
this new knowledge, students will build a plan to influence
change and advocate for victims locally, nationally, or
internationally.

4

DHS 8180: Medical Writing for the Health Professional

This course examines in practical terms the elements required for the successful publication of a journal article or clinical case review. Methods of document preparation, proper word and punctuation use, and the requirements for authors of biomedical journal articles will be discussed. 

4

DHS 8195: Academic Health Program Development

This course explores the major steps to be undertaken when considering the development of new academic health programs at a college or university. Special emphasis is given to the needs assessment and how to conduct the needs assessment, Budget will be discussed and developed; the course will highlight the development of faculty and the specific qualifications of faculty needed for a particular program specialty. Emphasis will be placed on the resources needed and resources available in the targeted community. Through the completion of various projects, the student will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the subject matter via application of the material and information presented in the assigned readings, participation in the discussion board and participation in the course activities.

4

DHS 8199—Interprofessional Health Care

The changing landscape of health care delivery systems will
continue to be more challenging as patient care becomes more
complex. The health care team involves multiple disciplines,
whose providers form the health care team along with the
patient and caregivers. Health care providers must be able to
transition into clinical practice settings prepared to participate
in relationship-centered interprofessional and intra-discipline
teams. This course prepares the learner to gain experience
in applying strategies that promote a collaborative-practice
style that has the ultimate goal to improve the quality of an
integrated and comprehensive, medical and oral, patient care delivery system. Using a competency-learning approach
to coursework, the student will acquire the skills of patient centered care that is relationship focused, process oriented, and
applicable across professions and practice settings. Students
will develop a comprehensive health care plan that includes
oral health considerations for a patient case study.

4

DHS 8200: Independent Study A

The course is a self-directed, faculty-supervised experience for the student. The student will be required to develop a proposal regarding the topic of study, a learning contract with specific objectives and a plan of action to include methods of obtaining the information and the material produced to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the subject areas. A faculty member will be assigned to the student for the supervised study and will follow the approved learning contract for successful completion of the course. The purpose of this course is to allow the student to explore an area of interest in the field of health care or health sciences. The secondary benefit of the course is to allow the student, with the assistance of the faculty, to develop and complete a doctoral level course of study.

1-4

DHS 8250: Independent Study B

This course is a self-directed, faculty supervised experience for the student. The student will be required to develop a proposal regarding the topic of study, a learning contract with specific objectives and a plan of action to include methods of obtaining the information and the material produced to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the subject areas. A faculty member will be assigned to the student for the supervised course. The purpose of this course is to allow the student to explore an area of interest in the field of health care or health sciences. The secondary benefit of the course is to allow the student, with the assistance of the faculty, to develop and complete a doctoral level of study.

1-4

DHS 8700: Comparative International Health Systems

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the principles, structure, and function of international health systems through a comparative analysis of various countries' health care systems. The course will explore how national systems have evolved and how countries confront the emerging issues in healthcare. The course will explore and develop a systematic comparative analysis of the evolution, administrative structures, societal choices, financing, and provision of health care services in underdeveloped, developing, and developed countries. 

4

DHS 8775: Survey of Health Law

This course is designed to introduce DHSc students to health law, or law as it affects the professionals and institutions that deliver health care in the United States. The course focuses on the traditional areas of concern for courses on health law, including: 1) access to health care; 2) the cost of health care; 3) the quality of health care; and 4) protection of the person of the patient. 

4

DHS 8820—Telehealth Concepts, Applications,
and Future Trends

Telehealth involves any technology-medical communication
that facilitates health services, such as the exchange of
information in coordinating patient care. This course explores
the foundational concepts that support telehealth within a
health care environment, including information privacy
and security standards that support health information
systems and technologies. Students will examine the current
applications of telehealth and propose recommendations that
resolve common issues within clinical settings. The course
has an emphasis on the legal and ethical considerations with
implementing telehealth programs. Furthermore, students will
appraise future trends by reviewing current telehealth products
and anticipating upcoming innovations or practices.

4

DHS 8825—Technological Infrastructures of Telehealth

The health industry’s technology has been rapidly evolving—
with telehealth placed as an area of value and growth potential.
Telehealth, which involves the use of any technology in
providing clinical services, requires health professionals to
develop strong skills in information systems and technologies.
This course introduces aspects of technology management
relevant to telehealth practices. Students will discover ways
in which data is captured, transmitted, stored, and retrieved.
Students will learn how to uphold information security and
privacy through contemporary approaches in technology
management. The course presents technical concepts from a
leadership perspective; learners will be able to determine the
types of skills used by technology experts in the management
of telehealth services or programs. Upon successful completion
of the course, students will be able to apply telehealth
approaches across various areas of medicine and different
health care organizations.

4

DHS 8830—Strategic Planning for Telehealth Programs
and Services

Telehealth services utilize health information technologies
and systems to facilitate health care operations, clinical
procedures, and the exchange of health information. Health
care organizations have found it necessary to coordinate the
rapid growth of telehealth/telemedicine services by building
partnerships, exploring business ventures, and launching
comprehensive programs. This course examines telehealth
strategies and initiatives through case-study analysis and class
discussions. Students will practice hands-on management of
telehealth technologies, systems, and operations. Throughout
the course, students will engage in a comprehensive strategic
planning process—honing professional communication,
teamwork, and customer service skills.

4

DHS 8900: Narrative Medicine

There is great value in listening to patient narratives and reflecting upon what is communicated through these stories about health, illness, suffering, and recovery. In this course, students will explore written forms of patient narratives as well as multimedia presentations, movies, music, song and visual arts to improve their understanding patient experiences. Students will learn how to enhance their own listening, self-reflection and communication skills, and in the process, they will develop narrative competencies that emphasize empathy, compassion and other affective components of quality care. The course will explore ways in which a study of the medical humanities contributes to a deeper understanding of personal and social features that affect the quality of patient care. 

4

Any additional transfer credits. 

(Up to 8 hours of Doctoral Level coursework may be transferred)

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