POPLHLTH 301 : Strengthening Health Systems

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The New Zealand health system in an international context. Health system reform, priority setting and rationing. Managed care and health integration. The future of healthcare in New Zealand.

Course Overview

The primary purpose of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to apply theoretical frameworks, knowledge and skills developed throughout the BHSc degree to understand, evaluate and develop appropriate, evidence-based solutions for challenges facing the New Zealand health sector. Throughout the course you will be challenged to use a variety of tools and frameworks to consider:  

  • The importance of access, equity, financing, efficiency and quality goals 
  •  How you know if the health system is performing well
  •  How improving one aspect of the health system affects the other aspects

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 202, 215

Course Contacts

Course Director: Prof Paula Lorgelly
email: paula.lorgelly@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand the main components of a health system, the key stakeholders involved, as well as the criteria used internationally to assess the performance of a health system and understand why access, equity, quality and efficiency are key criteria to use to assess the performance of health systems. (Capability 1.1 and 2.1)
  2. Identify the factors that contribute to and the factors that alleviate, inequity of access to health services and critically analyse access related to a particular health service. (Capability 1.2, 2.1 and 3.2)
  3. Define and describe quality as it relates to health care, key measures of quality, the quality improvement cycle and two quality improvement tools. (Capability 1.2 and 3.2)
  4. Identify and discuss the main strategies that have been used in New Zealand to improve efficiency and quality and discuss the strengths and weaknesses or different financing arrangements. (Capability 1.2 and 2.2)
  5. Demonstrate the contribution of a current initiative in New Zealand Health Policy and consider their contributions to improving health system performance against the goals of access, equity, efficiency, cost containment and quality. (Capability 2.2, 3.2 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 1 Background Paper 20% Individual Coursework
Assignment 2 solutions Paper 20% Individual Coursework
Think Tank 10% Individual Coursework
Group Presentation 10% Group Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignment 1 Background Paper
Assignment 2 solutions Paper
Think Tank
Group Presentation
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

There is no prescribed textbook for this course but most of the lectures have recommended readings. Students are expected to have completed these readings before the relevant sessions and to be prepared to discuss issues and questions arising from both. The readings have been designed to help students expand their reading on each topic and assist with assignment work. Students are, however, encouraged to read more widely. Student assignments are expected to go well beyond the references listed by staff.
Recommended readings are available through Talis Reading Lists for each module on the CANVAS site. Students will be advised of any additional readings  the week before the relevant lecture, with electronic copies posted on CANVAS where available.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students reported positively about the quality of the course (organisation, clarity of aims, resources available, assessments, intellectually stimulating, frame thinking skills, small group teaching, overall).  

Other Information

This course is held at The University of Auckland Grafton Campus. Lectures are at 9-11 am on Thursday, Tutorials are 11-12 noon Thursday or 12 noon-1pm Thursday.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 17/07/2023 09:48 a.m.