Core NHS Courses in Capella’s MHA Program:

1. NHS5001: Healthcare Systems and Structures

  • Description: This course provides an overview of healthcare systems, structures, and the economic forces that influence them. Students will explore different healthcare models around the world and focus on how U.S. healthcare systems function.

  • Key Topics: Healthcare delivery models, economic systems, regulatory frameworks.

2. NHS5002: Healthcare Policy and Advocacy

  • Description: Focuses on understanding healthcare policy, developing advocacy skills, and examining the role of healthcare administrators in influencing health policy decisions. Students learn how to advocate for policies that promote public health and improve healthcare delivery.

  • Key Topics: Healthcare policy, advocacy strategies, healthcare reforms.

3. NHS5003: Healthcare Financial Management

  • Description: This course dives deep into the financial management of healthcare organizations. Students will learn about budgeting, financial analysis, and cost control in healthcare settings, as well as the financial implications of healthcare decisions.

  • Key Topics: Healthcare budgeting, financial analysis, cost management.

4. NHS5004: Healthcare Leadership and Organizational Behavior

  • Description: This course covers leadership styles and strategies for managing healthcare organizations. Students will learn to analyze and improve organizational behavior in a healthcare setting and apply leadership principles to real-world challenges.

  • Key Topics: Leadership in healthcare, organizational behavior, conflict resolution.

5. NHS5005: Healthcare Law and Ethics

  • Description: Covers the legal and ethical issues that arise in healthcare administration, including patient rights, compliance with regulations, and ethical dilemmas healthcare leaders face. Emphasis is placed on understanding the legal landscape that governs healthcare.

  • Key Topics: Healthcare law, patient rights, ethical decision-making.

6. NHS5006: Quality and Patient Safety in Healthcare

  • Description: This course focuses on improving patient safety and healthcare quality through system changes, leadership, and evidence-based practices. Students will learn quality management strategies that aim to reduce errors and improve patient outcomes.

  • Key Topics: Patient safety, quality improvement, evidence-based practices.

7. NHS5007: Health Information Systems and Technology

  • Description: Examines the role of health information technology in improving patient care and healthcare administration. Students explore electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, and other technological innovations that affect healthcare delivery.

  • Key Topics: Health IT, EHR systems, data management.

8. NHS5008: Strategic Healthcare Planning

  • Description: This course teaches students how to formulate and implement strategic plans for healthcare organizations. It covers market analysis, strategic forecasting, and the development of business plans tailored to healthcare.

  • Key Topics: Strategic management, forecasting, market analysis.

Elective NHS Courses (Example)

These electives allow students to specialize further within the healthcare administration field. The electives can focus on specific areas such as healthcare leadership, operations, or finance.

1. NHS6001: Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations

  • Description: Focuses on marketing strategies and the public relations tactics used by healthcare organizations to engage patients and the community. Students learn about branding, patient engagement, and communication strategies.

  • Key Topics: Healthcare marketing, patient engagement, public relations.

2. NHS6002: Healthcare Human Resource Management

  • Description: Provides a deep dive into managing human resources in healthcare organizations. Students learn how to handle staffing, recruitment, employee engagement, and legal issues related to healthcare employees.

  • Key Topics: Staffing, recruitment, employee relations, labor laws.

3. NHS6003: Global Health Systems

  • Description: This course examines global healthcare systems, focusing on healthcare delivery and challenges in various countries. Students explore the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, along with strategies to improve global health.

  • Key Topics: Global healthcare disparities, international health systems, global health policy.

Capstone Project in NHS Courses

At the end of the MHA program, students are required to complete a Capstone Project (such as NHS6000), which is a culminating experience where students apply their knowledge and skills to solve a real-world healthcare problem. Students identify a challenge within a healthcare setting, analyze relevant data, and propose evidence-based solutions.

Summary of Key NHS Course Features

  • Health Systems & Policy: Courses like NHS5001 and NHS5002 emphasize understanding healthcare systems, policy analysis, and strategic advocacy for healthcare reforms.

  • Financial & Operational Management: NHS5003 and NHS5008 cover essential topics like healthcare finance, strategic planning, and organizational management.

  • Quality & Leadership: Many NHS courses, such as NHS5004 and NHS5006, emphasize quality improvement, patient safety, and leadership skills in healthcare administration.