Master of Health Science
Health Care Risk Management Concentration
This concentration is designed for health care professionals seeking to enter or be promoted in the rapidly expanding field of health care risk management, compliance and patient safety. The courses in this concentration will prepare graduates with the skills and background necessary to reduce medical errors, control adverse events, analyze health informatics data, and implement a quality improvement and patient safety initiative. The curriculum of the concentration is designed to assist graduates with the academic preparation for the following certifications:
- Certified Professional in Health Care Risk Management - (CPHRM)
- Certified Professional in Patient Safety - (CPPS)
- Certified in Health Care Compliance - (CHC)
Completing this concentration requires 37 credits as detailed below.
*** Disclaimer: there are other requirements for the above certifications and completion of the concentration courses and degree requirements is not a guarantee of certification.
Note: All courses are delivered and organized as distance learning.
12 credits total.
| course name | credit hours |
|---|---|
| MHS 5003: Current Trends and Cultural Issues in Health Care This course serves to familiarize the student with current and cultural issues in health care that may impact the patient, the health care system, as well as the ability to deliver high quality health care. Discussion and analysis of current trends and cultural topics facing those who work in health care will be explored. |
3 |
| MHS 5203: Writing for Allied Health Professionals This course entails the study and practice of writing style used in allied health: scientific writing. Scientific writing is a different format than other kinds of writing used as an undergraduate. It is more precise and succinct, which is different from the way we speak to each other. Scientific writing is written for an audience with the purpose of informing or possibly persuading the audience. American Psychological Association (APA) style and standard English formatting will be reviewed. The papers written in this course will give the student a foundation for all MHS courses. |
3 |
| MHS 5501: Epidemiology and Biostatistics The ability to understand the conceptual and practical aspects of biostatistics and epidemiology in health care is critical to understanding research and analyzing population data about disease. This survey course will improve the ability of the student to understand and apply these concepts. |
3 |
| MHS 5521: Ethical Issues in Healthcare The student will examine the ethical issues that confront health care providers and patients. The medical, scientific, moral and socioeconomic bases of these issues and the decision making process that providers and patients engage in are analyzed. Topics will include informed consent, the role of institutional review boards, euthanasia, and the allocation of scarce resources. |
3 |
15 credits total.
| course name | credit hours |
|---|---|
| MHS 5530 Principles of Management in Healthcare This course will discuss the various principles of management and its associated issues as they relate to the modern healthcare professional. The course will explore topics such as concepts of organizational management, decision-making, strategic planning, resource management and allocation, conflict, and the concept of power. |
3 |
| MHS 5537 Health Care Leadership Quality Assurance/Risk Management The student will examine health care quality assurance and risk management in the United States and the methods that are utilized to achieve improvements in health care organizations. Upon completion of this course the student will be prepared to implement continuous quality improvement and performance improvement in management and performance improvement in management and performance systems, by interpreting and understanding of data available to devise, generate, and apply quality performance improvement programs. |
3 |
| MHS 5538 Patient Safety Compliance in Health Care This course will provide the framework for developing a patient safety program. Specific topics will include: The link between patient safety and legal and regulatory compliance; the role of accreditation standard-setting organizations in patient safety; evidenced-based outcomes and standards of care; the creation and preservation of reports, data and device evidence in medical error situations; and managing patient safety compliance through accountability-based credentialing for health care professionals. The student will be expected to complete a case study on the implementation of a patient safety initiative in a health care setting of their choice. |
3 |
| MHS 5539 Health Care and Regulatory Compliance This course will cover recent developments in compliance regulations resulting from federal and state laws governing health care in various settings, including HIPPA and HITECH. Students will learn about the seven essential elements of an effective compliance program and how to implement them. Course topics include: setting up and maintaining a compliance program, the role of the health care compliance officer, investigating, reporting, enforcement and discipline. Students will have the opportunity to explore a case study on ethics in compliance and to develop sample compliance forms and policies that can be used in a variety of health care settings. |
3 |
| MHS 5540 Enterprise Risk Management This course provides a framework for the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management as a means for implementation of a comprehensive risk management process and plan that encompasses the entire enterprise, which crosses departmental barriers. Course topics include: enterprise risk management (ERM) and its evolution, risk financing methods, contract management, claims management, environmental compliance, human research, peer review and credentialing, due diligence in business transactions, consent to treatment, advent of e-discovery rules and the impact of the electronic health record (EHR). Students will be expected to complete a case study on the implementation of enterprise risk management in a health care setting of their choice. |
3 |
10 credits total.
| course name | credit hours |
|---|---|
| MHS 5207: Practicum The practicum is a cumulating experience for M.H.Sc. Students. Under supervision of an M.H.Sc. faculty advisor, students will develop community- based, health promotion and disease prevention interventions with underserved and/ or non-traditional populations. |
5 |
| MHS 5309: U.S. Health Policy This course will explore how US health policy is made and the interests and roles of various stakeholders and state, local and federal governments. Students will analyze health policies and discern what impact proposed and executed health policies will have on health care entities, groups, individuals and healthcare practice. Students will gain the skills necessary to conduct a policy analysis that examines a health care or public health issue or concern. |
5 |
Total of 37 credits
Concentration for Recognition
In order to gain recognition in the " Health Care Risk Management, Patient Safety and Compliance " concentration of the MHSc program, the student must complete all five courses for 15 total hours. Those completing the concentration will be recognized as such with appropriate credentials. If you have any questions of how this may apply to your MHSc completion, contact the program or your academic advisor for assistance.
If you have any questions regarding the concentration in Health Care Risk Management please contact the program or your academic advisor.