George Mason 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
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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__X_____
Modify_______
Delete _______
Department/Unit: CHHS/ Health Administration Policy Course Subject/Number: HAP 702 (3:3:0)
Submitted by: Jim Vail
Ext: 3-1913
Email: jvail@gmu.edu
Course Title: Managerial Accounting in Healthcare
Effective Term (New/Modified Courses only): Fall 2007
Credit Hours: (Fixed) 3
(Var.) ______ to ______
Final Term (deleted courses only):
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=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):____________________________________________________________________
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
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Head of Unit’s Signature:
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Unit:
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Date:
Unit:
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Unit:
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Unit:
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Graduate Council approval: ______________________________________________ Date: ____________
Graduate Council representative: __________________________________________
Date: ____________
Provost Office representative: ____________________________________________
Date: ____________
George Mason University
College of Health and Human Services
COURSE NUMBER:
HAP 702
COURSE TITLE:
Managerial Accounting in Health Care Organizations
SCHEDULE:
FACULTY:
Stephen F. Brown, MS, CPA
Home telephone : (703) 455-9384
Office telephone: (540) 741-2541
E-mail Addresses:
Use ALL THREE of these:
Office: steve.brown@medicorp.org
Home: scbrown1975@aol.com
GMU:
sbrown4@gmu.edu
REQUIRED
TEXTS:
Louis C. Gapenski Healthcare Finance An Introduction to Accounting and Financial
Management Third Edition Health Administration Press, Chicago, Illinois
AUPHA Press, Washington, D.C. 2004.
Louis C. Gapenski Cases in Healthcare Finance Second Edition Health Administration Press,
Chicago, Illinois AUPHA Press, Washington, D.C. 2003.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
Practical examination of the controllership function of health care
organizations and systems (for-profit and not-for-profit) with emphasis on
policy formulation and evaluation of performance including cost methods
and systems, measurement criteria, and managerial planning, methods
and techniques.
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Understand a variety of different managerial accounting and other financial management
concepts and principles, and how they are used in effective decision making.
2. Understand the particular differences in managerial accounting and financial management
practices between health care organizations and other organizations.
3. Become competent in the use of various financial and accounting concepts and techniques
used in financial management.
4. Develop experience, through case studies and class room discussion, in using the financial
and accounting forms of analysis that are actually practiced in the management of health care
organizations.
5. Be knowledgeable of the sources of information regarding financial management that are
available.
REQUIREMENTS AND
GRADING STRUCTURE:
To achieve a good understanding of accounting and financial concepts, each student is expected
to read the assigned chapter(s) in the text before class, read any other reading material assigned,
review the problems at the end of each chapter of the text, and complete any internet or other
assignments given out in class. Grades will be based upon a combination of class participation,
homework and take home case studies, a written paper, and a final exam. Group collaboration on
all homework assignments, especially case studies, is strongly encouraged. The relative grading
weights of these elements are as follows:
Class attendance and participation
20%
Case studies and homework assignments
Paper 20%
Final exam 20%
Total
100%
40%
CASE STUDIES
ASSIGNMENTS:
During the semester you will be required to review the case studies assigned in class. Some will
be directed studies where you will be given questions to answer. Others might be non-directed
where more analysis is required and relevant questions will need to be raised by you. The
purpose of the exercises will be to get familiar with the particular concepts, techniques, practices
and procedures being studied; to show how these concepts are used in actual practice; and to
sharpen your analytical skills. The case study text includes a PC disk with excel spreadsheets
already developed for the case. This is an excellent tool to make the case study more efficient
and at the same time become better skilled in the use of spreadsheet analysis.
The more time one puts into working on the exercise, the better the achievement of these
objectives and generally the better the grade earned. In some cases you will be only looking at
one component of a case, so be sure to look at the specific case assignment each week before
putting your work down on paper.
I will be introducing a number of relevant Internet websites throughout the course and I encourage
the exploring of these sites.
WRITTEN REPORT
ASSIGNMENT:
During the semester you will be required to prepare a written report drawing upon five (5) articles
from any periodicals, journals, or books of your choice.
The purpose of this assignment is fourfold: to expose you to financial writings found in the health
care literature; to better your understanding of financial concepts; to relate the financial concepts
in the articles you have chosen to the material studied in class; and to relate the concepts in the
articles and class to your own experiences in the real world.
The paper should focus on one topic of your choosing, however it must relate to health care
financial management. You might consider a format that either takes a position on a subject or
explains why you agree or disagree with it. Or use a format that poses a question and addresses
it drawing upon your selected articles, your experience, and the class material.
I am not looking for anything elaborate, just a demonstration that you’ve read and thought about
the material. Your final product should be typed. It should be as long as you need to comfortably
cover the topic, although the minimum should be at least five (5) pages in total.
The final report should be turned in during the class on April 14th, but you may turn it in earlier if
you desire. Copies of the articles, which I may keep, should be turned in with the paper.
Typical journals from which you may choose include, The Journal of Nursing Administration;
Nursing Economics; Health Care Supervisor; Nursing Management; Nursing & Health Care;
Nursing Administration Quarterly; American Journal of Nursing; Health Care Financial
Management; Harvard Business Review; Health Care Management Review; Health Care
Management Quarterly; Topics in Health Care Financing.
These may be found in the school library or at your work.
A NOTE ABOUT GMU’s
WebCT and THE INTERNET:
The value of the internet as a tool for learning can not be overestimated. The wealth of
knowledge available is considerable and as such numerous references to sources on the internet
will be made throughout this course. You will need to establish a site where you can conveniently
access the world wide web; develop your internet skills; and explore the vast amount of useful
information available.
We will also be making extensive use of the University’s communication tool “WebCT”. All of the
handouts for each lecture will be posted on WebCT as well as other organizing material such as
this syllabus and the class roster. You can reach WebCT over the web from either a campus PC,
or from your home or work. The address is: http://webct38@gmu.edu. There is a bulletin board
that can be used for class questions and discussions. While you are free to ask any questions via
email, any done using WebCT will have the benefit of being available to all students.
George Mason University
College of Health and Human Services
Managerial Accounting in Health Care Organizations HAP 702
Outline:
Date
Session—Topic / Case Study
I. Introduction of Course
Text
Assignment
Chapters 1
and 2
A. Course content, structure, and objectives
B. Managerial Accounting—what is it? How is it helpful?
II. Profitability Concepts
Chapters
5, 6, and 7
A. “Six-Line Thinking”
Ethics mini-case 4 Bayview Surgery Center
Profitability Concepts, continued
III.
IV.
Performance Measurement Concepts
A. Operating Indicators and Benchmarking
Chapter 17
(focus on Chapter 17 starting with page 571 from 2 nd Edition;
page 547 from 3rd Edition)
Case 1 Eastside Memorial Hospital Operating Indicators
V.
Performance Measurement Concepts, continued
VI.
Capital Investment Concepts
Chapters 14
and 15
Case 19 Boca Grande Hospital Project Analysis
VII. Capital Investment Concepts, continued
A. Mergers and Acquisitions
Case 24 Akron Family Practice Valuation Analysis
Ethics mini-case 5 Jefferson General Hospital
VIII. Management Control Concepts
A. Variance Analysis
IX. Planning and Budgeting
Chapter 8
Case 29 Eastside Memorial Hospital, Financial Forecasting
X.
Planning and Budgeting continued,
A. Business Plans
B. Cash Budgeting
Case 8 Beaver Creek Clinic Cash Budgeting
XI.
Asset Management Concepts
Chapter 10
A. Financial Risk, Return, and Investment Management
Case 12 University Medical Foundation, Inc. Financial Risk
Paper due this week
XII.
Asset Management Concepts, continued
A. Working Capital Management
Chapter 16
Case 27 Down East Pharmaceuticals
Receivables Management
Ethics mini-case 1 Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield
XIII. Other Techniques of Analysis
XIV. Course Summary
Take home final exam handed out
Final Exam Period
TAKE HOME EXAM TO BE TURNED IN BY
, THE SCHEDULED EXAM DAY