Department of Health Care Administration

Chair and Professor: Wiggins
Visiting Associate Professor:  Franklin
Assistant Professors: Cellucci, Fassi, Johnson
Adjunct Faculty: Weeg, Wright

The Department of Health Care Administration provides quality education and lifelong learning opportunities to current and future healthcare leaders in Idaho. We support ISU’s Mission as the center for education of health professionals in the State of Idaho by maximizing value to our students and stakeholders, and to our state, in the enhancement of the knowledge and ability of healthcare professionals to lead their organizations, to serve their communities and, in turn, to improve the health status of their communities.

See Faculty Information    
See Admission and Graduation Requirements   
See Bachelor of Science    
See Courses   

Learning Goals
The Department of Health Care Administration delivers state-of-the-art education to traditional and nontraditional students using a theoretical and programmatic approach. We address emerging industry needs using innovative instructional methods to deliver valid competencies and educational outcomes based on industry’s and our constituency’s needs.

Specifically, we:

• prepare individuals for entry or mid-level management positions in group practice, ambulatory care, long-term care, hospitals, managed care organizations, and other health-related organizations.
• develop administrative, technical, problem-solving, conceptual, and human relations knowledge and skills that provide the foundation for future healthcare administrators and leaders.
• use industry competency models and current evidence on teaching and learning to provide student the best quality education possible.
• foster practical educational experiences and promote interaction among students, alumni, and mentors in area and regional health organizations.
• work with each student in the program to ensure proper placement and professional development in administrative internships and initial positions assuring an appropriate match between the individual and the healthcare organization.

Health care facilities constitute some of the most complex institutions in our society. These facilities and the scope of their services are becoming more responsive to the community they serve. The health care administrator is at the forefront of these activities and is in demand in a number of organizations, including hospitals, extended-care facilities, group practices, insurance companies, state and federal health agencies, educational programs and research institutions. The purpose of the undergraduate program in health care administration at Idaho State University is to prepare students for the wide range of activities needed for administration of health care facilities and to provide service courses for students majoring in other health-related programs. Also, the program is designed to provide students with the basic requirements to pursue a graduate degree in the field. The curriculum leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration. Students may enroll in the program at the beginning of any semester and must meet requirements provided below:

Admission and Program Graduation Requirements

Application forms for admission as a major in health care administration should be requested from the department office. Completed application forms and copies of transcripts of previous college work must be submitted to the department not before the end of the student's first semester, sophomore year. Applications are considered by the department's admission committee as they are received. Cumulative college or university grade point averages of 2.75 or higher are required for admittance as a major. The following courses are prerequisites for admission as health care administration major: ACCT 201, ECON 201, HCA 115, Goal 1 requirements, and MATH 143.

Students are required to earn a grade of C- or better in all business, HCA, and required courses. Students who receive a grade of D or below twice in the above required courses will not be admitted and if admitted will be dropped from the Bachelor of Science program. All such decisions will be reviewed by the department's admission committee.

Students whose cumulative GPAs fall below 2.75 will be unable to continue in the program until the cumulative average is 2.75 or better.

HCA 400-level courses are reserved for HCA majors. Non-HCA majors must secure the permission of the instructor to enroll in HCA 400-level courses.

Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration

Courses Which Fulfill Both General Education Goals and Major Requirements

Goal 11

ECON 201        Principles of Macroeconomics		3 cr

Goal 12

ANTH 100        General Anthropology			3 cr
           OR
PSYC 101        Introduction to General Psychology I	3 cr
           OR
SOC 101         Introduction to Sociology		3 cr
						 TOTAL: 6 cr

Other Required Courses

ECON 202	Principles of Microeconomics		3 cr
ECON 303	Health Economics			3 cr
MATH 143	College Algebra				3 cr
						 TOTAL: 9 cr

Business Core Requirements

ACCT 201	Principles of Accounting I		3 cr
ACCT 202	Principles of Accounting II		3 cr
FIN 315		Corporate Financial Management		3 cr
MGT 216		Business Statistics I			3 cr
MGT 217		Business Statistics II			3 cr
MGT 312		Individual and Organizational Behavior	3 cr
MTG 329		Operations and Profuction Management	3 cr
MKTG 325	Basic Marketing Management		3 cr
						TOTAL: 24 cr

Health Care Administration Core Requirements

HCA 115		U.S. Health System			3 cr
HCA 215		Healthcare Leadership			2 cr
HCA 220		Health and Society			2 cr
HCA 310		Insurance and Reimbursement		2 cr
HCA 330		Health Information Systems		2 cr
HCA 340		Healthcare Policy			2 cr
HCA 375		Health Law and Bioethics		3 cr
HCA 384		Human Resource Management
		  in Health Care Organizations		3 cr
HCA 453		Healthcare Finance			3 cr
HCA 455		Health Organization Management		3 cr
HCA 460		Operations and Quality			3 cr
HCA 480		Strategic Management in Healthcare	3 cr
HCA 495		Administrative Internship		4 cr

Plus 2 credits from the following courses:

MKTG 325	Basic Marketing Management		3 cr
HCA 452		Long Term Care Management		2 cr 
HCA g473	Marketing For Health Care Organizations	2 cr
						TOTAL: 37 cr

Elective courses

The student is required to select 58 semester hours of goal and elective courses. Elective courses should be selected according to the student's interests and career needs, in conjunction with a faculty advisor. No more than a total of 32 credit hours (required and elective) may be taken in the College of Business.

Total required credits for Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration: 128.

Health Care Administration Courses

HCA 110 Introduction to the Allied Health Professions 2 credits. Introduction to the allied health professions with emphasis on interrelationships and the team approach to health care. F, S

HCA 115 US Health System 3 credits. An introductory, comprehensive overview of the healthcare industry, health and disease, health professions, institutions, populations, and reimbursement, addressed from the three point perspective of history, terminology, and current issues.  F

HCA 210 Medical Terminology and Communication 2 credits. Terminology and vocabulary basic to all areas of medical science, hospital services, and allied health specialties. Develops skills in correct written and oral usage of medical terms. Cross-listed as H E 210. F, S

HCA 215 Healthcare Leadership  2 credits.  This course actively teaches the relational, operational, and analytical skills key to success in health management.  S

HCA 220 Health and Society 2 credits. The theoretical foundations of epidemiology, public health, and medical sociology are used to explore and understand the personal and societal impacts of disease. F

HCA 310 Insurance and Reimbursement 2 credits.  In-depth examination of insurance and reimbursement practiced in today's healthcare industry, their history, current status, and their future. Topics include fee-for-servcie, prospective and retrospective reimbursement, public and private insurance systems, and managed care.  PREREQ:  HCA 115. F

HCA 330 Health Information Systems  2 credits.  An overview of the information system methodologies and approaches in the administration and delivery of health services including data content and structure, quality, and legal issues related to collection, use, and the security of health information. PREREQ:  HCA 115, MGT 216  S

HCA 340 Healthcare Policy  2 credits. This course investigates the formulation of healthcare priorities, the development of legislation, the implementation of legislative provisions through administrative action, and the modification of health policy within the context of the provision of services. PREREQ: HCA 310. F

HCA 350 Organizational Behavior in Healthcare 3 credits. Study of individual and group behavior in HCOs. Topics include social responsibility and ethics; decision making; motivation; leadership; communication; power, politics and stress; organizational culture, change and development. F

HCA 375 Health Law and Bioethics 3 credits. This course develops a roadmap to facilitate risk management in the provision of healthcare services. Issues addressed include regulation and licensure, liability, regulation, selected aspects of public programs, and ethical issues regarding death, reproduction, and research. S

HCA 380 Critical Issues in Health Care Administration 3 credits. Examines theories of health economics, social aspects of medicine, bioethics, public health, and epidemiology and their impacts upon our health care industry and the health of our nation. S

HCA 382 Health Services Organization and Policy 3 credits. U.S. health care organization and delivery and how governmental policy affects it. Emerging trends, vital statistics, the impact of economics and financing, cost containment, and political aspects will be examined. F

HCA 384 Human Resource Management in Healthcare Organizations 3 credits. Create and maintain a productive health workforce by understanding the science and practice of managing the employment relationship, including human resource planning, job analysis, recruitment, selection, development, performance planning, compensation, employee relations, and the legal environment PREREQ:  HCA 350 OR MGT 312.  F

HCA 401 Internship 8 credits. Exposure to administration of health facilities. Student completes 440 hours within a semester/summer in approved health facility. PREREQ: Senior, HCA major, completed goal and required courses, and one HCA elective or permission of instructor. F, S, Su

HCA 451 Hospital Management 2 credits. Topics include hospital governance, medical staff, hospital programs, nursing service, administrator's tasks and functions, management of quality, costs and conflict, unionization and collective bargaining, and government financial regulations. PREREQ: HCA 382. F

HCA 452 Long-Term Care Management 2 credits. The management of nursing homes and other long term facilities. Includes supervisory policies, labor relations, human relations, gerontology and geriatrics, nutrition and housekeeping, patient care, reimbursement policies, purchasing, inventory, and financial analysis. F

HCA 453 Healthcare Finance 3 credits. The application of financial management principles, practices, and techniques used in healthcare organizations.  An understanding and analysis of how these financial tools are used in decision making and how they are integrated into the healthcare organization's planning process. PREREQ: ACCT 202 and FIN 315. S

HCA 455 Health Organization Management 3 credits.  The application of managerial concepts and practices to healthcare organizations. Compares and contrasts governance, strategy, structure, firm conduct, and performance across different sectors, levels, and types of health organizations.  PREREQ: HCA 330, HCA 375, HCA 384, and MGT 312.  F

HCA 460 Operations and Quality 3 credits.  Course examines the manager's role in improving healthcare quality and outcomes, including clinical and organizational improvement, technology assessment, and quality improvement practices. PREREQ:  All HCA 300 level courses and MGT 329.  S

HCA 465 Managed Care 3 credits. Introduction to managed health care; the health care delivery system; medical management; selected topics in health plan operational management; public sector managed care; and regulatory and legal issues. PREREQ: HCA major. S

HCA g473 Marketing for Healthcare Organizations 2 credits. Current marketing trends in the health care marketplace. Consumer orientation; health care marketing plans and strategy development. PREREQ: MKTG 325. S

HCA 480 Strategic Management in Healthcare 3 credits.  Integrate the principles of organization management, finance, and marketing, including competitive and community market analysis and positioning, strategic planning and program development, strategy formulation and implementation. PREREQ:  HCA 455.  COREQ:  HCA 453 or HCA 460.

HCA 481 Independent Problems in Health Services Administration 1-3 credits. Student selects an area of special interest through independent study. A report will be required giving results. May be repeated for up to 6 elective credits. PREREQ: HCA major. D

HCA 495 Administrative Internship 4 credits.  In-depth field experience in an area of interest to the student and approved by the professor.  Application of course theories and techniques to practice in a health organization setting. Graded S/U. PREREQ: Senior standing, HCA major, completion of all goal and required courses and one HCA elective, and permission of instructor. F, S, Su

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY Academic Information  Contact: webmaster@isu.edu Revised: May 2002