Master of Public Health
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MPH Concentration of Study in Health Planning/Administration
The University of Tennessee
Health
Planning/Administration (HPA) has been available as a distinct
MPH concentration of study at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
since fall 1972. Building on the foundation courses of public
health, the HPA concentration offers professional preparation
courses and other learning opportunities for those interested
in managerial and planning positions with public health and health
services organizations. A
concise or universally-accepted definition of health administration
is somewhat elusive due to marked variations in the types of administrative
functions and levels of responsibility that may be involved. The
generic roles of a health administrator may be defined as managing
an array of resources and providing leadership within a guiding
framework of established organizational goals to achieve positive
outcomes related to health.
Managing
resources in the complex and political arena of health care is
dynamic and exciting, with new challenges frequently arising. The
aspiring health administrator must develop wide-ranging skills
in team leadership, financial management, human resources management,
communications, program planning and administration, and the
facilitation of change. In addition, health policy formulation
and policy impacts must be understood by managers and policy
planners seeking to address such important issues as: access
to care, quality improvement and assurance, cost containment,
specialized needs of population groups, and partnerships with
others to improve the health of the public.
In
close alignment with public health philosophy and practice,
a major focus of the HPA concentration is
to improve capability for population-based program management,
especially in community-oriented health settings. These
settings include: federal,
state and local public health or other government agencies, voluntary
health agencies and social services organizations. Administrative
roles in other health settings also may be of interest, especially
for HPA students with clinical credentials or prior experience
in the health care field. These include: ambulatory
care clinics, home health services, medical practice groups,
managed care organizations, consulting firms and other evolving
service delivery systems or the traditional institutional settings
such as long term care and hospital facilities. Accordingly,
significant roles for HPA faculty at UT are to counsel individual
students regarding possible career paths and to design course
experiences and field internships which increase opportunities
for employment in various health settings.
Placement
of HPA students in administrative internships with an affiliated
health organization for an equivalent of nine
weeks is an essential component of the MPH degree program. The
site of the internship is selected by each individual HPA student
in consultation with a major professor. The intern typically
functions as a staff assistant with a practicing health administrator
serving as mentor. Although rotating through several units
of an organization provides opportunity for gaining orientation
and general experience, the intern is assigned a specific project
or two for in-depth problem-solving. The field experience
is guided by a set of learning objectives mutually developed
by student and supervising preceptor during the first week of
the internship.
By the time of graduation, the health planning and administration student
is expected to have developed the following competencies:
- Guide use of Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships
(MAPP) planning
tool for improving community health.
- Apply appropriate strategic
planning methodologies for competitive positioning of health
organizations.
- Develop mechanisms to monitor and evaluate programs
for their effectiveness and quality.
- Advocate for resources for
public health programs.
- Link the budgeting process to planning
and management control.
- Interpret the statement of operations
and the balance sheet.
- Evaluate proposed capital projects.
- Apply theories of organizational
structuring to modern management practice.
- Utilize leadership,
team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to
build consensus and partnerships.
- Identify
principles for managing human resources in health care organizations.
Consider
a career in health administration if you view yourself
as organized, skilled in setting objectives and coordinating activities
to achieve those objectives, comfortable with the dynamics of a
changing field, and capable of facilitating the work performance
of others. The MPH degree with a
concentration of study in Health Planning/Administration offers an educational
route to acquiring values, knowledge and skills associated with the practice
of health administration. Various undergraduate degrees offer appropriate
educational preparation for graduate study in HPA, because health administrators
use theories and techniques from many different disciplines. Introductory undergraduate
courses in accounting, statistics and public health are standard prerequisites
for degree admission at UT. Competitiveness for admission
may be increased for those with prior work experience in the health
field.
Strengths
of the MPH graduate are the breadth of perspective and the ability
to function professionally in the health field on a multidisciplinary
basis. Effective
and efficient health care program delivery requires competent health
administrators. Graduates of the HPA concentration are experiencing
success and professional satisfaction in a multitude of health
organizations and facilities.
Additional MPH Information
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