University – Graduate Council Graduate Course Approval Form
All courses numbered 500 or above must be submitted to the Graduate Council for final approval after approval
by the sponsoring College, School or Institute.
Graduate Council requires submission of this form for a new course or any change to existing courses. For a
new course, please attach a copy of the syllabus and catalog description (with catalog credit format, e.g.
3:2:1). The designated representative of the College, School or Institute should forward the form along with the
syllabus and catalog description, if required, as an email attachment (in one file) to the secretary of the Graduate
Council. A printed copy of the form with signatures and the attachments should be brought to the Graduate
Council meeting. Please complete the Graduate Course Coordinator Form if the proposed changes will affect
other units.
Note: Colleges, Schools or Institutes are responsible for submitting new or modified catalog descriptions (35
words or less, using catalog format) to Creative Services by deadlines outlined in the yearly Catalog production
calendar.
Please indicate: New_______ Modify___X____ Delete_______
Department/Unit:__Health Administration and Policy/CHHS_ Course Subject/Number:___HAP
704_____
Submitted by:____Jay Shiver___ Ext:___3-1955____ Email:__ shiver@gmu.edu_______________
Course Title:_Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Leadership and Management_ ______
Effective Term (New/Modified Courses only): ___Spring 2009__ Final Term (deleted courses
only):____________
Credit Hours: (Fixed) __3__ (Var.) ______ to ______ Grade Type (check one): ___X__ Regular
graduate (A, B, C, etc.)
_____ Satisfactory/No Credit
only
_____ Special graduate (A, B,
C, etc. + IP)
Repeat Status*(check one): ___ NR-Not repeatable ____ RD-Repeatable within degree ____ RT-
Repeatable within term
*Note: Used only for special topics, independent study, or internships courses Total Number of Hours Allowed:
_______
Schedule Type Code(s): 1._LEC_ LEC=Lecture SEM=Seminar STU=Studio INT=Internship
IND=Independent Study 2.____ LAB=Lab RCT=Recitation (second
code used only for courses with Lab or Rct component)
Prereq ___ Coreq ___ (Check
one):_______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________
Note: Modified courses - review prereq or coreq for necessary changes; Deleted courses - review other courses to correct prereqs that list the
deleted course.
Description of Modification (for modified courses): The objectives were changed to to address the expectations
of CAHME.
Special Instructions (major/college/class code restrictions, if
needed):__________________________________________
Department/Unit Approval Signature:_________ _______ Date:
_____________
College/School Committee Approval Signature:__________________________________
Date:_____________
Graduate Council Approval Date:____________ Provost Office
Signature:_________________________________
George Mason University Graduate Course Coordination
Form
Approval from other units:
Please list those units outside of your own who may be affected by this new, modified, or deleted
course. Each of these units must approve this change prior to its being submitted to the Graduate
Council for approval.
Unit: Head of Unit’s Signature: Date:
Unit: Head of Unit’s Signature: Date:
Unit: Head of Unit’s Signature: Date:
Unit: Head of Unit’s Signature: Date:
Unit: Head of Units Signature: Date:
Graduate Council approval: ______________________________________________ Date:
____________
Graduate Council representative: __________________________________________ Date:
____________
Provost Office representative: ____________________________________________ Date:
____________
SYLLABUS
Course HAP 704
Number:
Course Title: Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Leadership and Management
Course (x) Core ( ) Concentration ( ) Elective ( ) Pre-requisite
Placement: ( ) Course(s) recommended before taking this course:
Faculty: John M. (Jay) Shiver, MHA, FAAMA, FACHE
703-993-1955
E-mail:
jshiver@gmu.edu
Course Review and analyze contemporary issues in healthcare and their potential impact.
Description: Study a variety of critical issues, such as: organizational development, change
management, human relations and diversity, quality management and clinical
effectiveness, technology and delivery system redesign.
Course Upon passing this course the student will be able to:
Objectives: 1. Identify trends impacting the management of health systems.
2. Discuss effectiveness the impact of changing incentives on provider behavior,
clinical outcomes and cost containment strategies.
3. Analyze trends in redesigning delivery systems, managing healthcare systems,
improving service and clinical quality and other strategies to improve
organizational productivity.
4. Examine the roll of ethics in decision making in health care systems.
5. Analyze strategies associated with change and adaptation in the healthcare
industry (including system right-sizing and reengineering).
6. Explain roles, expectations and practice strategies associated with visionary
leadership in complex and diverse health care organizations
7. Network with senior healthcare executives
Required www.healthleaders.com
Textbook(s) Cases in Health Services Management, Health Professions Press, by Rakich, Longest
and/or and Darr, ISBN 1-878812-89-0
Materials: Six Strategies for Highly Successful Organizations; Griffith, White and Cahill, ISBN:
1-56793-209-6
Futurescan 2008, Health Administration Press, ISBN 978-0-9800290-I-7
Course Teaching Strategy:
Requirements:
1. Discussion utilizing a Socratic Methodology
2. Presentations
3. Papers
4. Final project with oral presentation
Class Participation
Each student is expected to play an active role in the classroom, which starts with
attendance. Opportunities for class participation will include but not be limited to
reviewing assigned readings; discussing homework assignments; participating in
interactive lectures; engaging in weekly discussion topics; participating in role play,
and the final group project. Participation is taken seriously in this class and is valued
twenty percent of the final grade.
Weekly Discussion Questions
During each class session, we will engage in an active discussion on a topic of current
interest from the news, press, government, courts or local healthcare activity. Each
student is expected to discuss a current issue at each class.
Course Requirements
1. Healthcare Leader Interview: (Due for the 4th class of the course)
Each student will interview a leader in the healthcare industry who is in a
senior decision making role. The purpose of the interview is to gain insight
into the organization, the role of the leader, general nature of the strategic
directions the business is taking and how the interviewee views their role in
implementing this strategy. The interview will be focused on how the business
was created, grew and developed, and what issues it is now facing. The student
is expected to learn how healthcare leaders perceive themselves and their
organization’s role in the industry and present this in a presentation not to
exceed 5 minutes. The purpose of the presentation is to present an objective
understanding of the role of leadership as perceived by the interviewee, permit
the presenter the opportunity to make a convincing presentation and teach the
other students about what the interviewer learned. The oral presentation will be
accompanied by visual aides and must not last more than the allocated 5
minutes (a firm presentation timeframe will be enforced, Q & A time is not
counted). The student will be graded on the quality of their presentation. A
copy of the audiovisual presentation must be presented to the instructor prior to
the presentation and include identifying information.
2. Student Paper/Presentation (Papers due at the 5th week of the course)
Oral Presentations due at the 6th week)
Each student will prepare a written evaluation and oral presentation of a
contemporary issue facing a healthcare organization – hospital, physician
organization, insurer or vendor/supplier.
General Instructions:
Prepare a paper on one of the course topics.
Minimum length of paper is 8 typed, double spaced (12 point-font)
pages; maximum length 12 pages.
The paper will be based on a personal interview with a senior executive
of a healthcare organization, research regarding the issue involved and
background research about the organization.
Paper format is important. It should not be formatted in an academic
fashion. The intent here is to convey a message to another leader. The
format should be in memo fashion. It is important that the student
present their findings in a manner consistent with a business
memorandum.
Each paper should include a cover page including the student’s name,
topic of the paper, course title and date. This page is not counted in the
allocated pages for the paper.
A blank page should be appended to the end of the paper for the
instructor’s comments and grade. This page is not counted in the
allocated pages for the paper.
Oral presentations on the paper topic will be made the following class.
The oral presentation should cover the topic thoroughly but be no
longer than 5 minutes. It must be accompanied by audiovisual
illustrations. The student should approach this presentation as though
they are the executive interviewed and should present a statement of the
issue, its impact on the organization, recommendations for resolving
the issues, barriers and steps to overcome the barriers. Be careful to
identify yourself at the beginning of the presentation.
Procedural Instructions:
Begin by identifying an executive within your selected organization
and select one of the following for the focus of your paper:
Leadership
Managerial Control
Organizational Design
Professional Integration
Quality Improvement
Performance Improvement
Change Management
Accountability
Identify the organizational dilemma/issue.
Conduct an interview with the individual. Below are thoughts for
framing the questions:
Concerning (identified dilemma) in this organization:
What issues does this raise for the organization?
How might this impact the performance of the organization?
How do you believe these issues should be addressed?
What will be the challenges to addressing these issues?
How can these challenges be overcome and are there alternative
ways to deal with them.
Each paper will consist of the following:
Identify yourself.
Summarize the conceptual focus chosen and its significance in a
contemporary healthcare organization.
Present the organizational dilemma identified.
Discuss the status of this issue as identified by the interviewee.
Evaluate the strategic approaches to resolving the issues
identified.
Make recommendations based on your research and evaluation
of the organization dilemma.
Evaluation Exam (Midterm) % Group Project 0% Participation 20%
Methods/Tools: Exam (Final) % Healthcare 20% Topical 40%
Leader Presentation
Presentation
External Eval. % Healthcare 20% Quizzes %
Leader Paper
Other: %
Teaching (x ) Case Studies ( ) Independent Research (x) Student as Instructor
Methods/ (x ) Class Discussion ( ) Lab (x ) Student Presentations
Strategies: (x) Field Visits (x ) Lecture (x) Visiting Lecturers
(x ) Group Projects/Exercises (x) Papers ( ) Other:
Course/Topical Class 1 August 30
Outline: Lecture Course Introduction & Healthcare in America
Class Exercise Tell us about yourself and your experience and what you anticipate
gaining from this course
Readings Consumer Revolution? Not so fast. Futurescan 2008, Introduction
Due this week by Seymour
Healthcare Policy, A Rocky Road Ahead for Providers, Ferman
Assignments
Due next week
Class 2 September 13
Lecture Integrated Delivery Systems & Healthcare Financing
Class Organizing Integrated Delivery Systems, Practical and Legal
Discussion Issues
Readings Finance: Nonprofit Perfromance Peaking Amid Growing Head Winds,
Due this week Furturescan 2008,Arrick, Governance and the Healthcare System: The
times they are a changing, Futurescan 2008, Orlikoff
Finance: Nonprofit Performance Peaking Amid Growing Head Winds
Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Hospitals, Futurescan 2008, Colombo
Assignments
Due next week
Class 3 – September 27
Lecture Planning and Marketing In Healthcare & Ethics In Healthcare
Class Current trends in healthcare planning and marketing
Discussion
Readings Why Innovation in Health Care Is So Hard, HBR May 2006, Herzlinger
Due this week
Assignments
Due next week
Class 4 – October 11
Lecture Compliance & Healthcare Leader Interviews
Class Implications of Compliance Regulations
Discussion Presentations / Student Teaching
Readings
Due this week
Assignments Healthcare Leader Interview
Due next week Technology : New Technologies Demand New Business Models,
Futurescan 2008, Hwang, Christensen
Class 5 – October 25
Lecture Ambulatory Care & Healthcare Information Systems
Class Past and Future of Ambulatory Care
Discussion
Readings Physicians: Employment Reemerges as
Due this week Strategy to Align Incentives, Futurescan 2008, Kaufman and Consumer
Revolution? Not so fast, Futurescan 2008, Seymour
Assignments
Due next week
Class 6 – November 8
Lecture Human Resource Management & Organization Dynamics
Class Utilizing Management Engineering to Improve Performance
Discussion Guest Lecturer
Readings
Due this week
Assignments
Due next week
Class 7 – November 22
Lecture Material and Resource Management
Class Managing supplies and material
Discussion
Readings
Due this week
Assignments Issues Paper Due
Due next week
Class 8 December 6 LAST CLASS
Lecture Healthcare Issues Presentations
Class Exercise
Readings
Due this week
Assignments
Due next week
Honor Code: “To promote a stronger sense of mutual responsibility, respect, trust, and fairness among all members of
the George Mason University community and with the desire for greater academic and personal
achievement, we, the student members of the university community, have set forth this honor code:
Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or
lie in matters related to academic work” (George Mason University Catalog, 2008-2009, p. XX).
Individuals George Mason University is committed to complying with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by providing reasonable accommodations for disabled
applicants for admission, students, applicants for employment, employees, and visitors. Applicants for
Disabilities: admission and students requiring specific accommodations for a disability should contact the Disability
Resource Center at 703-993-2474, or the Equity Office at 703-993-8730. Applicants for employment
and employees should contact Human Resources at 703-993-2600 or the Equity Office. Students and
employees are responsible for providing appropriate documentation and requesting reasonable
accommodation in a timely manner (George Mason University Catalog, 2008-2009, p. xx).
E-Mail: All students are required to activate and use their GMU email accounts. All correspondence related to
the course, with the course faculty, GM advisors and students will utilize GMU email only. It is the
responsibility of the student to maintain their individual email account, and check it frequently to read
and respond to course and other official university correspondence.