University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Program in Public Health
MPH Degree Program
Course Syllabus – Fall 2010
Title: PUBH 505 - Introduction to Public Health Policy and Management
Course Units: 1.0 c.u., Contact Hours: 42 hours
Course Description: This course is an introduction to health policy and management. It
examines both the historical and current state of health policy in America and integrates these
concepts within the context of public health practice. We will examine key concepts in
understanding US health care organization, financing and delivery, our current political and
economic debate on health care reform, examining the role and management issues of public
health departments, and case studies in public health policy and management.
Placement / Room Assignment:
Wednesday, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
BRB 252
Course Directors:
Walter Tsou, MD, MPH
(Course Coordinator)
walter.tsou@verizon.net
Office Hours: By Appointment.
Course Overview: This course is an introduction to health policy and management. It
examines both the historical and current state of health policy in America and integrates these
concepts within the context of public health practice. We will examine key concepts in
understanding US health care organization, financing and delivery, our current political and
economic debate on health care reform, examining the role and management issues of public
health departments, and case studies in public health policy and management.
Co-requisites: PUBH 500 Introduction to Public Health
Course Objectives:
1. Understand the major national health programs: Medicare and Medicaid
2. Explain current concepts of health policy around costs, quality and access to care
3. Describe the current problems in public health workforce and future needs
4. Introduce management skills in budgeting, media, and advocacy
Teaching Methods: An 80 minute interactive lecture followed by student presentations based
on assigned readings. Students will be paired to discuss a topic of policy with particular
emphasis on the new health reform law. An open book, multiple choice and short answer exam
based on the prior week’s lecture, student presentations and readings will be given via
Blackboard by Saturday which must be completed by Wednesday prior to class. The quiz will
be done independently on an honor system on Blackboard. All students will complete a 5 minute
NARRATED powerpoint presentation on a public health policy or management issue of your
choice that will be put into the assignment box by December 8, the last day of class.
Evaluation Methods:
45%
25%
15%
15%
Quizzes
Assigned presentations with references
5 minute Powerpoint policy presentation
Class attendance
Assigned Readings: All online. You don’t have to buy any books. Yea!
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to adhere to the University’s Code of Academic
Integrity. Care should be taken to avoid academic integrity violations, including: plagiarism,
fabrication of information, and multiple submissions. Students who engage in any of these
actions will be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity, which investigates and decides on
sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty.
See link for more information: http://www.upenn.edu/academicintegrity/index.html
MPH Academic Standing Policy/Academic Probation: According to University policy, a
graduate student must maintain a ‘B’ average or better to be considered in good academic
standing. A student who does not meet the University policy of a ‘B’ /3.0 average will be
reviewed by the MPH Program Director, the Associate Director and the Academic Progressions
Committee. A student may be put on academic probation for a period of 1 semester to improve
his/her overall average may be put on academic probation for a period of 1 semester to improve
his/her overall average.
Any course in which the student receives a grade below a B- will not be applied toward
the Master of Public Health degree. The record of any student who receives an unsatisfactory
grade (less than a ‘B-‘) in a course or who does not meet the University policy of a ‘B’ /3.0
average will be reviewed by the MPH Program Director, the Associate Director and the
Academic Progressions Committee. A student may be put on academic probation for a period of
1 semester to improve his/her overall average
Students may continue to take other courses during the probation period and the student
must make arrangements with the course director to remediate any grades lower than a B-. These
arrangements must be approved by the MPH Program Director with input from the Academic
Progressions Committee as needed. Any student who is on academic probation for a period
greater than 1 semester will be referred to the Academic Progressions Committee for review and
recommendation. This committee is authorized to dismiss the student or allow the student to
remain in the program on a probationary basis. A return to good academic standing is contingent
on receiving an acceptable grade (B or higher) in all remaining courses.
The MPH grading policy is at the discretion of the individual course instructors.
Please find below the generally used grading scale for the MPH Program.
A+ 97-100
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
A
93-96
B
83-86
C
73-76
A- 90-92
B- 80-82
C- 70-72
Please note that an A+ carries the same weight (4.0) as an A.
F
0-69
Incomplete Grade: It is expected that a matriculated Master of Public Health student shall
complete the work of a course during the semester in which that course is taken. A student who
fails to complete a course within the prescribed period shall receive at the instructor’s discretion
either a grade of I (incomplete) or F (failure). If the incomplete is given, the instructor may
permit an extension of time up to one year for the completion of the course. In such cases, any
course which is still incomplete after one calendar year from its official ending must remain as
incomplete on the student’s record and shall not be credited toward the MPH degree. Students
who receive two or more incompletes within a semester may not register for the subsequent
semester(s) without the permission of the Department.
For additional information on academic policies, please refer to the corresponding sections in the
Student Handbook.
Course Outline / Assignments:
Class
1
Date
9/8
2
9/15
3
9/22
4
9/29
5
10/6
6
10/13
7
10/20
8
10/27
9
11/3
10
11/10
Class Topics
Brief Introduction to Course
Historical roots of Medicare
Introduction to Medicaid
Organization of DHHS
A Closer Look at Medicare and Medicaid
Private health insurance
Models of Insurance, Consumer directed
healthcare
Cost of Health Care
Factors for health care costs
Cost containment strategies
Quality of Care
Pay for Performance
Access to Care
Uninsured
Strategies for Accessing Care
Organization of Health Care Delivery
Primary Care, Tertiary Care
Public Health Advocacy and Developing
Public Policies
Budget and Personnel
Public Health Workforce
Public health departments
Public health approach to problem solving
Information Management Systems
Faculty
Dr. Walter Tsou
Alice Hoffman
John Whitelaw
Dr. Dalton
Paxman
Dr. Walter Tsou
Dr. David
Grande
Readings
On
Blackboard
Dr. Walter Tsou
On
Blackboard
Dr. Walter Tsou
On
Blackboard
On
Blackboard
Dr. Giridhar
Mallya
On
Blackboard
On
Blackboard
Dr. Walter Tsou
On
Blackboard
Dr. Walter Tsou
Dennis
Gallagher
On
Blackboard
On
Blackboard
Susan Salkowitz
On
11
11/17
Social Marketing
Ennis Carter
12
13
11/25
12/1
Thanksgiving Break
Health Care Reform
Dr. Walter Tsou
14
12/8
Leadership Case Study
TBA
Blackboard
On
Blackboard
On
Blackboard
On
Blackboard