COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to develop and strengthen quantitative skills in order to be applied in health care management. Key concepts covered in the course help to increase student’s ability to solve fiscal matters, develop strategic solutions, and increase efficiency across the board within health services organizations.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Required Resources
Lewis, J.B., McGrath, R.J., & Seidel, L.F. (2011). Essentials of applied quantitative methods
for health services managers. Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Supplemental Resources
Anderson, D., Sweeney, D., Williams, T., Camm, J., & Cochran, J. (2013). Quantitative methods for
business (12th ed.). South-Western: Cengage Learning.
Ozcan, Y. (2009). Quantitative methods in health care management: Techniques and applications (2nd
ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Taylor, B. M. (2010). Introduction to management science (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson/Prentice Hall.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Apply general systems models to health services problems.
Apply descriptive and inferential statistics in health services.
Relate the time value of money to health services decisions.
Evaluate forecasting strategies and methods.
Analyze the production capacity of service systems.
Analyze projects using the tools of quantitative methods.
Determine how effective use of quantitative methods can strengthen an organization’s position in the market.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in quantitative methods for health services.
Write clearly and concisely about quantitative methods for health services using proper writing mechanics.
WEEKLY COURSE SCHEDULE
The standard requirement for a 4.5 credit hour course is for students to spend 13.5 hours in weekly work. This includes preparation, activities, and evaluation regardless of delivery mode.
Week Preparation, Activities, and Evaluation Points
1 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 1: The Role and Function of Quantitative Methods in Health Services Management
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
None
20
2 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 2: Working with Numbers
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 2: Exercises 2-1 through 2-5
20
30
3 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 3: Flow Charting
Chapter 4: Time Value of Money
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 3: Exercise 3-3
Chapter 4: Exercises 4-1 through 4-4
20
30
4 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 5: The Art and Science of Forecasting
Chapter 6: Trend Forecasting Techniques (pages 89-92 only)
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 5: Exercises 5-1, 5-3, 5-5, and 5-6
Exam 1: Chapters 1 through 4
20
30
125
5 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 6: Trend Forecasting Techniques (pages 93-112 only)
Chapter 7: Regression Forecasting
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Case Study 1: Forecasting
20
75
6 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 8: Analyzing Capacity and Resources
Chapter 9: Managing Waiting Lines
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 8: Exercises 8-1 through 8-5
Chapter 9: Exercises 9-1 and 9-2
20
30
7 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 10: Decision Analysis
Chapter 11: Economic Analysis
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 10: Exercise 10-2
Exam 2: Chapters 5 through 9
20
30
125
8 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 12: Program Evaluation Review Technique: PERT
Chapter 13: Financial Evaluation of Projects
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 12: Exercises 12-1 through 12-3
Chapter 13: Exercises 13-1 through 13-3
20
30
9 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 14: Quality Analysis
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 14: Exercise 14-2
Case Study 2: Quality Analysis
20
30
90
10 Preparation
Reading(s)
Chapter 15: Quantitative Analysis in Strategic Planning
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Homework
Chapter 15: Exercises 15-1 through 15-3
20
30
11 Preparation
Reading(s): None
Activities
Discussion
Evaluation
Exam 3: Chapters 10 through 15
20
125
GRADING SCALE – GRADUATE
Assignment Total Points % of
Grade
Homework (8 assignments worth 30 points apiece) 240 24.0%
Exam 1: Chapters 1-4
(25 questions; 5 points each; 2.5 hour time limit) 125 12.5%
Exam 2: Chapters 5-9
(25 questions; 5 points each; 2.5 hour time limit) 125 12.5%
Exam 3: Chapters 10-15
(25 questions; 5 points each; 2.5 hour time limit) 125 12.5%
Case Study 1: Forecasting 75 7.5%
Case Study 2: Quality Analysis 90 9.0%
Participation (11 discussions worth 20 points apiece) 220 22.0%
Totals 1,000 100.0%
Points Percentage Grade
900 – 1,000 90% – 100% A
800 – 899 80% – 89% B
700 – 799 70% – 79% C
Below 700 Below 70% F