Redesigning Healthcare:
Observations and Analysis on
the Frontline
Mid-Semester Module
for Spring 2011
Module Instructors and Field Leaders
Primary Instructors:
Maryam Alavi, PhD
Vice Dean for Faculty and Research
The John and Lucy Cook Chair of Information Strategy
Goizueta Business School
Steven D. Culler, PhD
Associate Professor, Rollins School of Public Health
Associate Adjunct Professor, Goizueta Business School
Module Instructors and Field Leaders
Field Leaders:
Douglas North-Lowery, MD
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Vice Chairman of Emory Healthcare Clinical Operations
Dr. James Jose, MD
Director of Medical Informatics
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Module Learning Objectives
The primary objectives:
To observe frontline healthcare delivery;
To better understand dynamic professional interactions
and the multi-faceted and complex nature of care delivery;
To explore approaches to innovation on the front lines;
To identify and analyze opportunities for enhancing care
coordination, quality, and efficiency.
Major Topics
The Module will cover the following 3 topics:
1. The Paradox of American Healthcare:
- How can the most expensive and technology
advanced system only achieve the average health
outcomes of most other industrialized nations?
2. Healthcare, the mother of all service industries:
- How can we design better ways of delivering care,
with an eye toward the role of systems and technology?
Major Topics
The Module will cover the following 3 topics:
3. Field observations
- Teams of students will observe the delivery of
healthcare at either the Emergency Department of
Emory University Hospital or at Children’s Healthcare
of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Class Schedule
Date
Activity
February 24, 2011
Class discussion - topic 1 & topic 2
February 25, 2011
Field Observation (2-3 hours)
February 28, 2011
Group project work, instructors
available for consultations
March 1, 2011
Class presentations and discussions
Summary
Redesigning Healthcare: Observations and Analysis on the Front Line
Instructors: This module will be co-taught by Maryam Alavi, The John and Lucy Cook Chair of Information Strategy,
Goizueta Business School and Steven D. Culler, Associate Professor, Rollins School of Public Health.
The primary objectives:
•To observe frontline healthcare delivery;
•To better understand dynamic professional interactions and the multi-faceted and complex nature of care delivery;
•To explore approaches to innovation on the front lines; &
•To identify and analyze opportunities for applying information technologies for enhancing care coordination, quality,
and efficiency.
Major Topics: The module will cover of the following topics:
Topic 1:
The Paradox of American Healthcare:
- How can the most expensive and technology advanced system only achieve
the average health outcomes of most other industrialized nations?
Topic 2:
Healthcare, the mother of all service industries:
- How can we design better ways of delivering care, with an eye toward the role
of systems and technology?
Topic 3:
Field Observations:
- Teams of students will observe the delivery of healthcare at either the
Emergency Department of Emory University Hospital or at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Hospital.
Course Deliverables: Students will be required to make a group presentation that summarizes their field
observations; including what appeared to be working well or not working well. In addition, each student will be asked
to turn in a 1000 word essay summarizing of his/her lessons learned from the module, field observations, and group
work. Essays will be due by 4:00 pm on March 2, 2011.
Preliminary Schedule
The expected class schedule is as follows:

February 24, 2011:
Class from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Topic 1 & Topic 2 (lunch provided)

February 25, 2011:
Field observation at healthcare provider (2 to 4 hours)

February 28, 2011:
Group project work, instructors will be available for consultations between 8:30 a.m. and
12:30 p.m.

March 1, 2011:
Class from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - In-class group Presentations and Discussion.

March 1, 2011:
Individual Essay Due by 4:00pm.
Contact Information:

Maryam Alavi

Phone: (404) 727-7867

E-mail: Maryam_Alavi@bus.emory.edu
Steven Culler
Phone: (404) 727-3170
E-mail: sculler@emory.edu