Course Syllabus
HPA 101
Introduction to Health Services Organization
Contents
- • Instructor
- • Course Description
- • Objectives
- • Materials
- • Library Services
- • Assignments
- • Grading
- • Additional Links & Resources
Instructor
- Instructor: To Be Determined
- Email: To Be Determined
- Phone: To Be Determined
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change. Instructors will notify students of any changes and students will be responsible for abiding them. Even if you print this syllabus, please check the online version, especially the course summary (schedule), often.
Course Description
This course examines the social, political, historic, and scientific factors in the development and organization of the U.S. health care system. Through this process students will gain an understanding of the organization and financing of health care in the United States, the role of government in health care, and the social impact of health care.
- Prerequisites: None
- Number of credits: 3 credit hours
Objectives
- Demonstrate knowledge of the organization of the U.S. health services delivery system.
- Describe the major strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. health care system regarding access, cost, and quality of care.
- Demonstrate knowledge of major concepts of health care financing.
- Define major concepts of private insurance.
- Describe the differences between retrospective and prospective payment systems. Identify the major federal public insurance programs and the populations covered.
- Demonstrate knowledge of determinants of individual and population health and risk factors for illness, health behavior and its impact on the health care system
- Describe how demographic and epidemiologic transitions influence health care delivery in the U.S.
Materials
Optional Textbook
Shi, L. & Singh, D. (2022). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System, (6th). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-13: 978-1284235104
Library Services
Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library. The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.
Assignments
Basic information about each assignment group is provided in this section. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information in the Modules tab. Additionally, this section will include information related to due dates and late work policies.
| Type of Assignment | How Many | Points for Each | Total Points Possible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Kick Start Discussions | 11 | 10 points each (lowest score dropped) | 100 |
| Ask Analyses | 3 | 50 points each | 150 |
| Quizzes | 11 | 10 points each (lowest score dropped) | 100 |
| Exams | 3 | 50 points each | 150 |
| Course Total | 505 points |
Participation
Participation points will be awarded for the completion of the Orientation Quiz. This activity will be done during the course Orientation in the first week of the semester.
Kick Start the Conversation Discussions
This course has weekly Kick Start the Conversations which are discussions intended to get you thinking about some of the ideas and concepts we will cover in each lesson. The assignment offers an opportunity for you to review articles, videos, blogs, interactive graphs, etc. and discuss your initial impressions while considering your prior knowledge, assumptions and/or personal and professional experiences related to a topic area before tackling the lesson's content. The lowest Kick Start the Conversation score will be dropped from your overall score.
Ask Analyses
Written Ask Analyses are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your understanding of the course content, applying what you have learned in the lesson to support your thoughts. Within these assignments, you will be expected to integrate personal and professional examples and assess the validity and robustness of Generative Artificial Intelligence tool responses.
You are required to complete one Ask Analysis assignment for each course unit, totaling three papers over the semester. Check the Ask Analysis Assignment Schedule, linked within Ask Analysis assignments, to view the lessons to which you are designated to complete the assignment.
Quizzes
Each lesson has a quiz to evaluate your mastery of the topics discussed. The lowest quiz score will be dropped from your overall grade.
Exams
Each unit will have a comprehensive exam corresponding to the content of the unit.
Due Dates
All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar unless noted otherwise. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas GuideLinks to an external site..
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Late Work Policy
As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make-up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. No assignments will be accepted late for full credit unless there is a valid reason (e.g. hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, military service, natural disaster). In these instances, you must contact the instructor in advance of the due date to request and receive approval for an extension. Students may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make-up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.
Any quiz, exam, discussion, or Ask Analysis submitted after the due date will result in a zero score unless you have received prior approval from the instructor for an extension. In this case, you must submit your assignment by the agreed-upon deadline or your score on the activity will revert to zero. Any assignment turned in after the end of the semester (as defined by the due date for the final assignment) will receive a zero score.
Extra Credit
The Student Educational Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ) is a valuable tool that increases my awareness about your educational experience and provides me with meaningful suggestions on ways in which the course can be improved for future students. The SEEQ is one of the best ways for me to gain your direct feedback on how you've engaged with the course material throughout the semester. In order to encourage participation in this important process, five extra credit points will be awarded to all students if the combined SEEQ response rate for HPA 101 reaches 80% or higher. Please note that NO additional extra credit opportunities are given in this course.
Grading
Final grades will be assigned based on the following grading scheme:
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 95-100% |
| A- | 90-94.99% |
| B+ | 87-89.99% |
| B | 84-86.99% |
| B- | 80-83.99% |
| C+ | 77-79.99% |
| C | 70-76.99% |
| D | 65-69% |
| F | <65% |
Final grades will NOT be rounded up in light of the fact that Penn State uses ½ steps (pluses and minuses) in its grading scale. Please do not ask the instructor to make an exception to this policy. HPA 101 is a required course for the HPA major and “C” letter grade or higher is required for all prescribed courses within the major. Students obtaining a grade lower than a “C” will be required to repeat the course (and achieve a grade of “C” or better) in order to be eligible to graduate.
Additional Links and Resources
Review information related to technical requirements, Penn State policies, and student resources.
- Technical Requirements
Links to an external site.
- This document provides guidance on the technology and software required to successfully complete this online course. Students should familiarize themselves with the various technologies used to enhance learning and participation in this course.
- University Policies
Links to an external site.
- This document includes university policies about copyright, nondiscrimination and equity, disability accommodations, military accommodations, counseling, artificial intelligence, and academic integrity.
- Digital Learning Tools
Links to an external site.
- This document provides an overview of the common technology tools used at Penn State and includes helpful guides, tutorials, and videos to get started.
- Student Health, Well-Being, Career, and Financial Resources
Links to an external site.
- This document provides helpful student health and well-being resources including links and contact information for crisis, general health, disability services, sexual misconduct, college and career services, and campus life.
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Course Summary:
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