Mississippi College Graduate School
HSA 6555
Health Services Administration Seminar
Fall 2015
Melanie L. Fortenberry
e-mail: forten00@mc.edu* PREFERRED
Phone: (601-925-3982)
Thursday, 6-8:45 pm
Prerequisite: Twenty- four semester hours of work toward the MHSA degree may be taken
simultaneously with the last required course of the major.
Course Description: This capstone course is designed to give flexibility to meet the emergency
needs of the healthcare professional, both locally and globally.
Learning Objectives:
The student will be able to:
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

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Discuss relevant and appropriate research as it relates to chosen topics within the
healthcare administration professions.
Utilize appropriate terminology and concepts for effective healthcare supervision.
Synthesize knowledge from theory and experience as it applies to effective healthcare
administration.
Incorporate principles, standards and expectations into supervisory practice with in a
diverse global society.
Discuss the impact of managed care upon the delivery of health care and its significance
to managerial success
Evaluate the communication process from the administrator’s perspective in the
healthcare profession.
Course Outline:
I.
The Healthcare Setting
A. Changing environment
B. Health care vs. industry
C. Character of supervision
D. Basic function of management
II.
Becoming a Supervisor / Administrator
A. Delegation / Empowerment
B. Time management
C. Being effective as a supervisor
III.
The “Employee”
A. Interview skills
B. Supervisor / employee relationships
C. Leadership styles
D. Motivators
E. Discipline/problem employees
IV.
The Task of Being the Administrator
A. Ethical decision making
B. To change or not to change
C. Therapeutic/organizational communication
D. Budgets
E. Performance improvement
F. Knowing the law
Method of Instruction:
Lecture, class discussion, student presentations, written work
Required text:
McConnell, C. R. (2015). The Effective Health Care Supervisor. 8th ed. Jones & Bartlett:
Boston.
ISBN: 978-1-284-05441-5
Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (2010) 6th ed., 2nd printing.
APA: Washington.
ISBN: 978-1-4338-0561-5
Evaluation Methods:
Class participation
Scheduled tests and unannounced quizzes
Research article critiques/ Presentations
Portfolio paper/ Presentation
Article Critique
Diagnosis by the Decade. Beginning with the 1970s, select as a topic a medical diagnosis, such
as diabetes, heart disease, specific types of cancer, etc., and choose a defining article from that
decade which identifies and describes the manner in which that diagnosis was managed. You
will keep this topic for all 4 assignments. Only scholarly journal articles will be accepted. Four
consecutive articles and summaries are required; 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Focus is on
US healthcare delivery.
Each summary shall be a two – three page typed document of content, or approximately 400500 words using APA format. Articles should only be from scholarly, peer reviewed research
journals. Students will be expected to present and discuss articles in class at designated class
meeting times. A printed copy of the article should be attached to the written critique. These will
be printed prior to class to be turned in on the due dates. Electronic submissions are not
accepted. Students will also be required to enter into discussions with classmates as to other
factors which may have contributed or affected the focus of the treatment. All students are
expected to listen attentively to each other and ask thoughtful questions of the speaker to
promote discussion and understanding. Test questions will come from these presentations.
Additional Course Information:
Attendance Policy
Class attendance is an essential part of your educational process. The 2015-2015 catalog
provides guidelines for tardiness and absences. An automatic “F” will be assigned if absences
exceed 25% during the semester. (4 absences are the maximum allowed for classes meeting once
a week.) Tardies are noted. Three tardies = 1 absence, 3 absences is the maximum allowed. 4
absences = a grade of F.
Students are responsible for notifying the professor should an absence be anticipated.
All written work must be turned in on due dates unless other arrangements have been made.
Late work will result in the loss of one letter grade for each day it is late, including weekends
and holidays.
Special Accommodations
If you need special accommodations due to learning, physical, physical or other disabilities,
notify the professor at the first or second class meetings in order for arrangements to be made.
The counseling center and Office of student success are available as resources as cited in the
current Graduate Catalog.
Academic Honesty
In accordance with the university policy 2.19, students are to be scrupulously honest.
Dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, will be regarded as a serious offense. Please refer
to the Mississippi College Graduate Handbook page 14 for further information.
HSA 6555
Grading Criteria and Scale
4 Article summaries w/ reference
40%
3 Test Grades
30%
Portfolio Assignment
20%
Class participation
10%
TOTAL
100%
93 – 100
90 – 92
84 - 89
81 - 83
75 – 80
70 – 74
60 – 69
=A
= B+
=B
= C+
=C
=D
=F
HSA 6555 Class Schedule
Fall 2015
UPDATED 10-1-15
October 1
Discuss chapters 5-6, read chapters 7-8
Article presentation #2 – 1980s
October 8
Special Class- Distinguished Lecturer- Aven 6 pm
Portfolios due *or may be turned in earlier
October 15
Discuss Chapters 7-8
Article presentation #2 – 1980s
October 22
Test #2 Chapters 5-8 and 1980s presentations
Read Chapters 9-10
October 29
Discuss Chapters 9-10, Read Chapters 11-12
Article presentation #3 1990s
November 5
Test #3 Chapters 9-12 and decade of 1990s
Read Chapters 13-14
November 12
Discuss Chapters 13-14, Read Chapter 15
November 19
Discuss Chapters 15
Article presentation #4 2000s
November 26
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY- (Gobble gobble!)
December 3
Test # 4 Chapters 11-15
Final day of class
*Be prepared for a brief test at the beginning of each class. The content of the test will be
related to the underlying principles and/or concepts covered in the previous week’s
assignments.
Sign and return the last page and return to the professor. Below is a copy of the statement you
will sign.
I have read and understand the syllabi for HSA 6555. I agree to abide by the
syllabi and understand that the instructor has the authority to change the
schedule and any part of this syllabus. It is my responsibility to obtain any notes
and any deviations from the schedule should I fail to attend a class or arrive late. I
understand that make-up exams are not given and should I miss an exam I will
receive a 0 for the missed exam.
Mississippi College Graduate School
HSA 6555 Health Administration Seminar
Grading Criteria
For Oral Presentations
Presentation
Student
Date
Criteria
Identified self and topic.
5
4
3
2
1
Provided handouts to peers and professor.
10
9
8
7
6
Diction clear and audible. Enthusiastic. Related
effectively to peers.
Used time effectively. Do not exceed 15-20
minutes time frame.
Information organized, presented in logical
sequence.
Topic covered thoroughly and appropriately.
10
9
8
7
6
15
14
13
12
11
15
14
13
12
11
15
14
13
12
11
Utilized and identified references
15
14
13
12
11
Identified critical teaching points for the consumer.
15
14
13
12
11
Total
HSA 6555
Health Services Administration Seminar
Portfolio Assignment
Fall 2015
A professional portfolio, for purposes of this class is defined as a sampling of one’s best
work for graduate students enrolled in the Master of Health Services Administration
program. This presentation will include information as may be of interest to a
prospective employer and will include the following:
Current resume/ cover letter
Academic transcript (unofficial)
Letters of recommendation- suggest three (3)
Examples of research papers* written assignments (3)
Examples of PowerPoint presentations (3)
Copies of professional licensure, certificates, and other information as deemed
appropriate (Not everyone will have these. It will not count against you.)
This activity is designed to promote critical thinking, design authenticity, and provide a
student centered, hands-on activity and qualitative assessment of written assignments
gleaned during graduate studies in Health Services Administration at Mississippi
College.
This activity will have input from professionals both on and off campus with a final
presentation scheduled at the end of the semester.
Each student must have examples of their writing and research* included in their
portfolio.
*Samples of several different research papers are required for each portfolio.
All written examples must be clean, with no grades, corrections or other blemishes on
the final draft. Only APA 6th Edition style is acceptable in the research examples .
Do your own work. In keeping with the honesty standards of the university, plagiarism
and all forms of cheating will not be tolerated.
Students will demonstrate competencies in various areas of study. Community
professionals in Health Service fields will be invited to Mississippi College to examine
the portfolios and conduct a one on one interview with each student. Based on their
recommendations and the recommendations of the examining faculty, each student is
encouraged to further refine their portfolio in order to demonstrate their best attributes in
future job/post-graduate school interviews. By having a physical artifact to display,
Mississippi College HSA graduates should have an advantage over other competing
applicants.
Portfolio checklist
HSA 6555
All Items will be evaluated using a 10 point scale
1. ____ 3 ring binder/ labeled with ‘Professional portfolio,’ student’s name,
Mississippi College, fall 2012. Typed. Professional.
2. ____ Table of Contents
3. ____ Clear, drop in pages w/ tabbed dividers
4. ____ Introductory letter
5. ____ One page resume -American style- with documentation* of Career
Service appt.
6. ____ Unofficial academic transcript from MHSA program- printed from
Banner
7. ____ Letters of recommendation (at least three) On letterhead, when
possible, dated and signed.
8. ____ Examples of professional writing – research papers, etc. Clean copy,
ungraded. Include at least three examples of your best work.
9. ____ Other professional presentations, such as power point. These should
be printed with two slides per page for ease of reading.
10. ____ *Documentation of Career Services consultation.
____ Copies of professional licensure and certificates as appropriate. N/A if
none exist (no points given )
_____Total
Comments_____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Reviewer _____________Date_________________
*Remember that this is designed to provide a “snapshot” of your graduate academic
achievement. All undergraduate work, while certainly important, may be considered “available
upon request.”
HSA-6555 Health Services Management Seminar
Portfolio Assignment
Fall 2015
http://www.mc.edu/career
Above is the link for mc.edu Career Services. There are 5 different documents listed.
Print and read the documents. They will help you write your resume.
You may also get help to write a generic cover letter, interview tips and other skills to
help you be your most successful best.
With regard to resumes, remember, one page with most recent experience first. This is
not an application for Graduate School or immigration.
You are expected to make an appointment with the Career Services center for one of
the professional staff to critique your resume and cover letter and to coach you on
interview skills. This is to be completed during the beginning of the semester you are
enrolled in HSA 6555. Ph 601-925-3901, M-F, 8 – 4:30 pm. This may be done face to
face or OL thru email with a printout attached for evidence based documentation.
Include documentation of these visits in your portfolio as partial credit for your portfolio
grade.
Best regards,
M. L. Fortenberry, BSN,MHS
Director and Instructor
Health Services Administration
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS.39058
Health Services Administration Seminar
HSA 6555
AGREEMENT
I have read and understand the syllabi for HSA 6555. I agree to abide
by the syllabi and understand that the instructor has the authority to
change the schedule and any part of this syllabus. It is my
responsibility to obtain any notes and any deviations from the
schedule should I fail to attend a class or arrive late. I understand that
make-up exams are not given and should I miss an exam I will receive
a 0 for the missed exam.
______________________________________ ______________
Signature
Date
______________________________________
Printed Name
Please provide an e-mail address and phone number should the professor need
to contact you. You are encouraged to use your mc.edu e-mail and check it
regularly.
E-Mail:
____________________________
Phone: (Cell phone preferred)
____________________________