This course introduces the U.S. healthcare system and compares it to systems in other developed nations. Emphasis is given to the government's dominant role in health care delivery, payment and regulation, as well as the differences between public health and health care systems. The social justice implications of cost, quality and access are highlighted.

This course introduces students to the language of the health professions. Word structure, prefixes and suffixes, and rules of building and analyzing medical words are introduced. Students explore terms relating to anatomy, pathology, diagnostic and clinical procedures, and select medical specialties. Emphasis is given to defining, interpreting and pronouncing medical terminology.

This course provides an introduction to healthcare administration careers. Students explore the various sectors and supporting industries making up the larger healthcare enterprise. Administrative career options and industry growth patterns are presented. Students are introduced to working professionals and professional organizations representing various sectors of the healthcare industry. Class discussions integrate healthcare industry vocabulary and jargon.

Social determinants of health, comparative health systems, global health initiatives and their effects on health outcomes are addressed. Students examine current issues impacting global population health and improvements in care locally and worldwide. Roles of governmental, institutional and corporate organizations in financing, governing and delivering worldwide healthcare are studied.

This course examines healthcare delivery models designed to meet the needs of older adults and those with disabilities and chronic health conditions. It explores the experience of the patients and caregivers receiving these services as well as the professional workforce who provides them. It also examines the methodologies used to make decisions that impact internal and external customers.

This course introduces the concept of health equity and provides an overview of health disparities in the U.S. Students examine the root causes of and explore populations most affected by health inequities. The course explores system approaches and strategies aimed at improving health equity.

This course offers a comprehensive examination of human resources management (HRM) in healthcare, emphasizing its strategic application. It addresses the technical and legal facets of HRM while also fostering the development of professionalism and equipping students to thrive in the ever-evolving healthcare environment.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of ethical leadership within healthcare management. Students will examine historical and contemporary ethical issues that impact the management of healthcare organizations, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and responsibilities faced by healthcare leaders. The course emphasizes the importance of personal moral perspectives, encouraging students to compare their views with those of their peers and the dominant positions of the day to foster a nuanced appreciation of diverse ethical opinions.

This course introduces the fundamental principles of project management in healthcare organizations, emphasizing the processes, tools, and methodologies necessary for successful project execution. Students will learn how to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects in healthcare settings, with a focus on strategic alignment, risk management, and stakeholder communication. The course also emphasizes the development of teamwork, leadership, and managerial skills required to effectively manage diverse teams and navigate challenges in dynamic healthcare environments. Through practical applications, students will gain hands-on experience in creating project plans, managing resources, and ensuring successful project outcomes.

This course examines the role of management in measuring performance and achieving quality in healthcare organizations. Emphasis is on the historical evolution, current concepts and future trends associated with measuring and evaluating health care quality. Students explore fundamental concepts of quality improvement design, planning, and methodology.

This course introduces students to the process of health program planning, including development of program objectives, methods, needs assessment, budget, timelines, contracting and marketing. Health program evaluation will emphasize design of a program evaluation including measurement and analysis of program outcomes, costs, and impact on community health concerns. Psychometric, economic, political and ethical issues related to health program planning and evaluation are explored.

This course introduces fundamental concepts related to financial management of healthcare organizations. Students explore financial-decision tools and the role of financial decision-making in managing delivery of care. How the U.S. health system impacts an organization's financial health and management is considered. Major concepts include cost-accounting, budgeting, cost/benefit analysis, and reimbursement mechanisms.

This course explores the foundations of healthcare law. Key topics include informed consent, joint ventures, medical staff issues, credentialing, liability, and bioethical concerns such as end-of-life decision-making. Additionally, the course explores risk management strategies, fraud and abuse regulations, and other critical healthcare laws. Students will gain insight into the law-making process, the role of regulatory bodies, and their impact on healthcare operations. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying these concepts to case studies and real-world healthcare management scenarios.

This course offers an overview of healthcare strategy and marketing, focused on strategic management and marketing fundamentals and tools. Students work individually and in groups to apply strategies specific to healthcare consumers, markets, products and services; developing and presenting the marketing component of a healthcare business plan at the end of the semester.

This course explores government's role in organizing, financing and delivering healthcare. With an emphasis on policy formation, advocacy and change, students apply policy analysis tools to contemporary public health and healthcare problems. Using examples such as Medicare, Medicaid or mental health policy, the course highlights the role of leadership as a key component of successful policymaking.

The role of data analytics in supporting informed decision-making is emphasized. Topics include data manipulation, analysis, and visualization. Practical business intelligence tools, such as Microsoft Excel® or Tableau®, are used.

The capstone course is designed to demonstrate accumulated knowledge in healthcare administration. Skills and theories gained throughout the curriculum are integrated into an original team project. Students apply central concepts such as operations, strategy, quality, finance and project management to a specialized area of healthcare in a manner congruent with the Jesuit value of social justice.

This course explores the research process and the regulatory requirements in health sciences research. It provides a foundation for application of evidence-based practices in healthcare services. The fundamentals of research design, methodology, interpretation, and critical appraisal are introduced. The course requires critical thinking to determine the relevance of novel research. Emphasis is given to practical applications to decision-making in healthcare administration. Students will present a critical analysis of multiple types of research studies.

This professional experience provides exposure to and experience in the healthcare environment. Under the supervision of a field preceptor and faculty advisor, students work with a healthcare organization integrating content gained through prior HCA coursework. Students develop and refine skills and practical knowledge by conducting a goal-based project(s) of value to the internship site. Project objectives are developed in concert between student, faculty, and preceptor. The experience involves three on-campus seminars, preparation of seminar deliverables plus a minimum of 196 on-site hours fulfilled on a weekly basis as mutually agreed between student and preceptor. The field experience as facilitated by Loyola University Chicago and the HCA Program concludes at the close of the semester and may or may not be compensated.

This course introduces basic concepts and methods of design thinking and entrepreneurial training through lecture, discussion and experiential activities. Students will form collaborative teams to develop innovative healthcare products, processes or services especially relevant to promoting health equity and reducing health disparities - by practicing customer discovery, problem identification, ideation, prototyping, testing and pitching. Course is open to Juniors and Seniors at the Parkinson School as well as students in the LUC Interdisciplinary Honors Program.

This course familiarizes students with the profession of healthcare administration by providing an overview to leadership, management, organizational development and change. Reflecting the uniqueness of the healthcare sector, students are introduced to key principles, practices and theories that support the socially just and ethical management of healthcare organizations.

This course explores the management and leadership of health information systems in the healthcare industry. Students will examine the types, purposes, and attributes of clinical and administrative systems used in healthcare organizations. Topics include the value of health information systems in enhancing organizational performance, the systems development lifecycle, and the role of management and leadership in system implementation. Additional focus is placed on addressing privacy, security, and ethical challenges, as well as evaluating the impact of emerging trends on healthcare delivery.

This is a directed study course in public health for approved students, supervised by a member of the faculty. Students must have an assigned professor, written objectives, planned outcomes and timelines. Must be enrolled in the undergraduate Healthcare Administration program.