PUN640 Health System Challenges and Opportunities
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PUN640 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | PUQ640 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,040 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,597 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,312 |
| International unit fee | $4,620 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUN640 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | PUQ640 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Nil |
| Coordinator: | Sam Toloo Sheikhzadeh Yazd | sam.toloo@qut.edu.au |
Overview
A detailed understanding of the structure and function of health systems is essential for health service managers. This unit explores the way health systems are designed and operate. It also examines several issues that influence how health services are delivered and resourced. There is a particular focus on the Australian health system, but within an international context. These issues are critically analysed, along with the health reform agenda and key drivers for change, nationally and internationally. This unit is relevant to health professionals seeking to lead and influence the future direction of health systems.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Identify and evaluate the factors which have influenced the design and operation of health systems, both in Australia and internationally.
- Apply conceptual frameworks for system evaluation, such as equity, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Critically analyse the issues, opportunities and challenges faced by health systems, and options for system development.
- Critically appraise proposals for health system reform, and their underlying rationale.
- Apply professional verbal and written communication skills to present information to senior healthcare executives.
Content
This unit will cover the following:
- An overview of health and health systems, including examination of cultural variations in the meaning of 'health', and the different types of health service organisations in the Australian health system, for example CALD and refugee health, community services and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
- Health resources, including pharmaceuticals, the health workforce and digital technologies.
- Systems of evaluation, which aim to assess and enhance the performance of health systems.
- Drivers of policy reform aiming to ensure the sustainability of health systems and the health of communities they serve.
Each topic is examined holistically from multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures
- guest speaker presentations
- tutorials
- online readings and learning materials
- real world examples of health system reform
In order to maximise your learning experience in this unit, preparation in advance of lectures and tutorial sessions, and active participation is expected of you. In addition to in-class learning, there will be opportunities for engaging with learning materials online, including recorded lectures and tutorials. You can engage with the online learning materials at your own pace.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
There will be opportunities for guided self reflection, as well as feedback from peers and academic staff each week during the lectures and tutorials. Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with individual and generic written feedback on each assessment item, based on specific marking criteria as you progress through the unit.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments in this unit.
1. Compare Two National Health Systems - This presentation will consolidate core knowledge regarding the design and formation of modern health systems, while also requiring the application of advanced public speaking and professional communication skills.
2. Report - This realistic assessment will provide an opportunity to apply understanding of health system drivers and factors influencing contemporary health policy reform.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Compare Two National Health Systems
You will take on the role of a health manager to investigate national health systems and present your findings and advice to senior healthcare executives.
In your presentation, you will describe and contrast two national health systems in regards to:
- governance and structural arrangements
- financing arrangements and key resources
- factors that influenced the design, sustainability and outcomes of both systems
- common themes across the systems
- strengths and weaknesses of each system
- lessons learnt for health system re-design
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Report
The World Health Organization (WHO) are looking at sustainable change and reform at a global level. To aid this, they are gathering case studies from a range of nations on specific policy reforms that have been proposed or recently implemented to address inequity in health of the population. Imagine you have been asked by your CEO to prepare one of these case studies on a policy reform or health service type of your choice. The chosen reform could have the aim of, for example, increasing healthcare access, utilisation, acceptability or outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. You are to describe the relevant health system in which the reform is situated, then evaluate its performance using an established framework. A comprehensive justification of the reform's rationale is also required, highlighting its potential to improve health system performance and Interdisciplinary and interprofessional health practice, along with recommendations for implementation and sustainability.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Duckett S. (2022). The Australian Health Care System (6th ed.). Australia: Oxford University Press.
Risk Assessment Statement
No specific risks are expected with this unit. Substantial computer-based work will be required. Students should ensure that they take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
ACHSM Master Health Service Management Competency Framework 2022
A.a): Action - Communication
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems
Relates to: Report
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report
E.b): Enabling - Impact and Influence
E.c): Enabling - Health Systems
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report
E.e): Enabling - Professionalism
Relates to: Report
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU77 Graduate Diploma in Health Management and Leadership
- Design innovative and strategic responses to health leadership and management challenges to improve consumer, community, organisational and system level outcomes.
Relates to: Report - Critically analyse research to inform ethical, evidence-based health management and policy decisions.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report - Formulate strategies for culturally safe and inclusive approaches that optimise health system design and service delivery.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report - Plan ways to communicate, collaborate and negotiate with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to co-design equitable outcomes and sustainable performance in healthcare.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems
PU87 Master of Health Management and Leadership
- Design innovative and strategic responses to health leadership and management challenges to improve consumer, community, organisational and system level outcomes.
Relates to: Report - Critique and engage in research to inform ethical, evidence-based health management and policy decisions.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report - Formulate strategies for culturally safe and inclusive approaches to optimise health system design and service delivery.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems, Report - Communicate, collaborate and negotiate with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to co-design equitable and sustainable healthcare.
Relates to: Compare Two National Health Systems