SYLLABUS FOR HCM 412 – Budgeting & Financial   

                                               Control in Healthcare

 

Term:                                    Spring, 2006

Course Number:               HCM 412

Course Dates:                    February 7, 14, 21, 28 & March 7, 2006

Course Time:                     Thursday, 6:00 – 10:00 PM

Course Location:             Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, IN

                                                Classroom #415

 

Instructor:                           Conrad Brown 

Home:                                   (219) 769-6107

Office Phone:                     (219) 736-6032 (Merrillville) or 886-6765 (Gary)

E-mail:                                                  cbrown@methodisthospitals.org (work)

                                                CMRSNM@comcast.net  (home)

 

Instructor Background:

 

                Education –       M.B.A., Indiana University Northwest, 2001

                                           B.A., Organizational Management, Calumet College of St. Joseph, 1991  

 

                Certifications –   RT (Radiology & Nuclear Medicine), CNMT (Nuclear Medicine)

 

                 Experience -     Over 30 years in healthcare; Radiology and Nuclear Medicine.

                                            The past 25 years have been in management. Currently the

                                            Supervisor for the Nuclear Medicine & MRI

                                            Departments at Methodist Hospitals, Northlake & Southlake

                                            Campuses.

 

Course Description:        This course provides an examination of the underlying concepts upon which the framework of health services financial management are based.  Emphasis is placed on the financial management function, financial accounting and statement analysis, management accounting, and finance decision-making in health care organizations, both public and private, profit and nonprofit.

 

                                                The focus of the course is on managers and the kinds of decisions healthcare managers must make.  Four basic premises underlie the content of the course:  (a) managers are decision makers;  (b) under any set of circumstances there may be more than one “right” decision  (c) there is never enough information upon which to make decisions, however, whatever information is available can be structured to facilitate decision-making; and (d) better structured information leads to better decisions.

 

Prerequisites:  None

 

Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:

Students in this course will:

·                     Develop familiarity with the language and terminology of financial management.

·                     Develop a basic understanding of financial management techniques.

·                     Develop essential skills and knowledge in the application of financial management techniques and concepts to aid in decision making.

·                     Develop and apply analytical, decision-making and communication skills in healthcare financial management.

 

Textbooks:                          The Financial Management of Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations, Third Edition. Michael Nowicki. Health Administration Press, 2004.

                                               

Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers,  Fourth Edition, William G. Droms, Perseus Books, 1997.

 

 

 

Learning Strategies:

Group Project Case Study & Presentation, Lectures, In-class assignments and class discussions.

 

Assessment:

The components of your grade will be weighted as follows:

 

Weekly Quizzes (classes 2,3,4, and 5)                                            25% of grade

Case study Paper                                                                                                25% 0f grade

Presentation                                                                                         20% of grade

In-class assignments                                                                         10% of grade

Employable Skills (see note)                                                          10% of grade

Group evaluation                                                                                               10% of grade

Total                                                                                                      100%

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Class Policy for Assignments: 

Students will be given sufficient time to work on assignments & projects.  All work must be turned in the next session following their assignment unless otherwise indicated.  Late assignments will be marked down one letter grade.

 

Grading Scale:

 

92-100   A

72-77   C

 

90-91    A-

70-71   C-

 

88-89    B+

68-69   D+

 

82-87    B

62-67   D

 

80-81    B-

60-61   D-

 

78-79    C+

59 and Below   F

 

 

 

Class Policy on Attendance:

It is a serious matter when a student misses even one session due to the accelerated format of the program.  If the student misses more than one session, the student is required to withdraw from the module by contacting the Academic Advisor and their instructor.

 

 

 

Class Policy on Tardiness:

Students need to be prepared to begin class at 6:00 p.m. and are expected to remain for the duration.  Tardiness and early releases impair learning and distracts other students as well as the instructor.  More than two tardies or early releases will require the student to withdraw from the module.  Unusual circumstances may be discussed with the Program Director.  

 

Class Policy on Electronic Devices:

Due to the disruptive nature of cell phones, pages, etc., it is requested that these devices be deactivated during class sessions.  If the student is “on-call”, please communicate this in advance to the instructor so an exception can be made.

 

Course Outline:

                                                                                                                Topics/Assignments:

 

Week 1                                  Class session # 1                                Nowicki                 Chapters 1 – 5

                                                                                                                                                Class divided into groups

                                                                                                                                                Case study handed out     

Week 2                                  Class Session #2                                Nowicki                 Chapters 6 – 9

                                                                                                                                                Quiz 1- In Class

Week 3                                  Class Session #3                                Nowicki                 Chapter 10 & 13

                                                                                                                                                Quiz 2 – In Class

Week 4                                  Class Session #4                                Nowicki                 Chapters 11, 12, 14

                                                                                                                                                Quiz 3 – In Class                

Week 5                                  Class Session #5                                Nowicki                 Chapter 15

                                                                                                                                                Quiz 4 – In Class

Case Study

Presentations

                                                                                                                                                Evaluations (Instructor & Class)

Case Study & Presentation:                                        

During the first night of class, students will be divided into groups of 3 or 4 students (depending on class size) and a case study will be provided to each group.  The topic of the case study will be healthcare finance related.  Each group will prepare a paper of from 3 to 5 pages in length and the case study will be presented on the final night of class.  Each group may use Power Point, overheads, handout materials, flip charts, etc. as necessary for their presentation.  Financial calculations necessary for the Case Study must be provided with the case study.   

 

Case study presentations should be 5-7 minutes in length.

                                               

Employable Skills:         

This assessment category is comprised of but not limited to: (1) class attendance, (2) class

 participation, (3)  a positive attitude, (4) desire to learn, (5) punctuality, (6) promptness of

 completion of assignments, (7) professional presentation of assignments, and (8) cooperation in

 group work.   Further, I strongly encourage each of you to participate in class discussions.  It is a proven

 fact that learning is enhanced through group discussion where each member of the group contributes

 to the knowledge base of the entire group.

                                                               

Class Participation:

Class Participation is vital to the learning process.  Students will be prepared to discuss the assigned material.  Class participation may affect the student’s final grade.

             

 

 

Center for Academic Excellence:

Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas.  This assistance is available to students who are struggling in a course or for those who are doing well and would like to improve their work.  Online tutoring is also available.  Call to make an appointment or obtain additional information, 1(219) 473-4287.

 

Statement of Plagiarism:

If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner pg.27)

 

 

Citation Guidelines:

Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.).  All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore.  These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.

 

Withdrawal from Classes Policy:

Please see the Degree Completion Program’s Student Handbook for withdrawal policy.  All withdrawals are completed through the Degree Completion Academic Advisor’s office.