The following objectives should be met by the end of this first module:
- Define management and understand its dual aspects as a science and an art
- Model the management process
- Understand the roles of and interactions among first-, middle-, and senior-level managers in healthcare organizations
- Understand the work of managers in terms of functions, skills, and roles
- Understand the work of managers in terms of a "trinity" of roles: organization strategist, designer, and leader
- Fully appreciate the relationship between management and organizational performance
- Review history of the profession of healthcare administrator
- Understand educational preparation of a healthcare administrator
- Review code of ethics as provided by the ACHE for healthcare administration
These notes are intended only to supplement your readings. The best way to ensure each module is absorbed is to complete all the readings prior to reviewing these lecture notes. I will try to highlight what I believe to be the most important topics from your module readings. If you have any questions or concerns or there is something you do not understand, please ask me. You can either post on the webboard the question you have (that way others can benefit from the response), or you can e-mail me if you want a more private response. Either way it is extremely important that you have a complete and thorough understanding of the material for the module. Good luck and have a great semester!
This module will focus on the roles and responsibilities of the healthcare administrator in the first reading. The following reading assignments are links that will begin to introduce you to the profession of health care administration. The links include the major professional association's homepage (ACHE), an article describing the career path for a healthcare executive, then some links for electronic and print resources in the area of health care administration. I would also like for you to review the ACHE homepage in detail.The reading from your text (chapter #2) should again be mostly review. The functions, skills and roles of the healthcare administrator are discussed. Functions include leading, organizing, planning, and controlling. A manager must also hold many roles as portrayed in the Mintzberg Model on page 51.
Ethics are reviewed as they pertain to the health care administrator. This is not an oxymoron, there does exist a code of ethics for the healthcare administrator. A link is provided below to access the code of ethics for health care administrators, please review it. Managers must recognize ethical issues and then act responsibly on them. They must also work within the parameters of the law. "Managers who aspire to ethical behavior face considerably more ambiguity than those who aspire to do only that which is legal". Unfortunately, we tend to only hear about the unethical and unmoral behavior in healthcare these days. Ethical behavior does still exist, not to worry.
ACHE Code of Ethics From your readings last week in Rakich (page 47, chapter 2), the history of the healthcare administrator was reviewed. The profession began in 1934 with the establishment of a master's degree program at the University of Chicago. The American College of Healthcare Executives was founded the year before in 1933. By 1991, 60 graduate degree programs had been established and accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration. Currently, degrees exist in both graduate and undergraduate programs. The graduate programs prepare graduates to become senior-level line or staff managers while the baccalaureate programs train middle-level supervisors or department managers. Licensure currently only exists for state long term care administration. The ACHE does provide a certification program which include passing an exam and continuing education. Areas of work for the healthcare administrator range from traditional acute care to newly recognized telemedicine clinics. The work is also just as varied with plenty of excitement due to the ever-changing field.
That is it for notes for module #4! Let me know if you have any questions.