Scatterplot – the unruly darlings of public sociology



SOC 783-QLHealth Care Delivery Systems (Online)Spring 2019Instructor: Magda Szaflarski, PhD Department of SociologyUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)Office: Heritage Hall (HHB) 460QEmail: szaflam@uab.edu PreambleHealth is clearly among the most precious treasures we have. What do we mean by health? The capacity to live a full, active and breathing life. Where does our health come from? It is the result of a complex interaction between our genetic, the environment we live in, the society we part of and our lifestyles. Thus, health systems are not at the origin of our health. But they play a fundamental role: they help people maintain and improve their own health. That’s why it is so important to make sure that health systems perform at their best. And, in order to lead them to their best performance, we have to understand how they work… Testori Coggi (2013: xi)*COURSE DESCRIPTION & OVERVIEWKnowing how health care delivery systems work is always a necessity, but it is even more imperative in the times of economic turmoil, fiscal constraints, and ideological debates about what health means and about the role of health care in society. This course will provide an overview of health care systems as a social phenomenon. Students will then study in depth the US health care system and health policy as well as comparative health systems to understand how health care is organized in America and around the world. Health care quality and equity will be addressed as important facets of health care systems. Another emphasis in the course will be on health care for vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, and, in the US, specifically, we will examine the problem of uninsured. Methodological approaches and data sources to study health care systems will also be reviewed and incorporated into applied projects.COURSE OBJECTIVES The course objectives are:To define health care from the sociological perspective and introduce a conceptual framework as well as methods and data sources for studying health care systems To examine the US health care system and health policy, including the organization, financing, and delivery of health care in AmericaTo review health care systems around the world and assess how the US system compares to other systems and global health care standards (e.g., quality and equity)To discuss special populations (children, the elderly, low-income, minorities, and uninsured) in terms of their health care needs, access, and service delivery.COURSE STRUCTUREThis is an online course delivered via Canvas. The course will place a strong emphasis on online discussion and small collaborative projects. Regular and frequent participation online is required and will constitute a large portion of the course grade. There will be no standard tests or exams in this course, but there will be a comprehensive individual final project requiring students to apply course knowledge and other materials to address a health care related problem or issue.REQUIRED READINGSBooksBarr, Donald A. 2016. Introduction to US Health Policy: The Organization, Financing, and Delivery of Health Care in America. 4th edition. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-2072-1Rosenthal, Elisabeth. 2018. An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-311085-9Other Required ReadingsThe following items will have web links (full-text free online) or pdf copy posted under each week’s readings. They will be grouped by week and reading sequence as follows:Week 1Figueras Josep and Martin McKee (eds.). 2011. Health Systems, Health, Wealth and Societal Well-being: Assessing the Case for Investing in Health Systems. Open University Press, European Observatory on Health systems and Policies (selected chapters)*Papanicolas, Irene, and Peter C. Smith. 2013. Health System Performance Comparison: An Agenda for Policy, Information, and Research. World Health Organization (selected chapters)Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). 2017 National Health Care Quality and Disparities Report, Introduction and Methods, US Department of Health and Human Services Week 2Mechanic, David. 1990. “The Role of Sociology in Health Affairs.” Health Affairs 9(1): 85-97.Selected article/s from: August 2016 issue of the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law (JHPPL), “Bringing the Social Sciences to Health Policy: An Appreciation of David Mechanic,” edited by Carol A. Boyer and Bradford H. GrayBoyer, Carol A. and Bradford H. Gray. Introduction (available free online)House, James. “Social Determinants and Disparities in Health: Their Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ultimate Triumph(?) in Health Policy” (pdf will be posted)Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ). 2017 National Health Care Quality and Disparities Report, Report - Executive Summary, US Department of Health and Human Services Week 8Papanicolas, Irene, Liana R. Woskie, and Ashish K. Jha. 2018. “Health Care Spending in the United States and Other High-Income Countries.” JAMA 319(10): 1024-1039.Accompanying editorials:Ezekiel, Emanuel J. 2018. “The Real Cost of the US Health System.” JAMA 319(10: 983-985.Baicker, Katherine and Amitab Chandra. 2018. “Challenges in Understanding Differences in Health Care Spending Between the United States and Other High-Income Countries.” JAMA 319(10): 986-987.Parente, Stephen T. 2018. “Factors Contributing to Higher Health Care Spending in the United States Compared with Other High-Income Countries.” JAMA 319(10): 988-990.Week 14Schoen, Cathy, Robin Osborn, David Squires, et. al. 2010. “How Health Insurance Design Affects Access To Care and Costs, By Income, In Eleven Countries.” Health Affairs 29(12): 2323-2334.Woolf, Steven H. and Laudan Aron, eds. 2013. Summary, pp. 1-10 and Chapter 4, “Public Health and Medical Care Systems,” pp. 106-137 in US Health in International Perspective: Sorter Lives, Poorer Health (Consensus Study Report), 2013. National Research Council, Institute of Medicine. Consensus Study Report. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (available free online)Week 15Crossing the Global Quality Chasm: Improving Health Care Worldwide. Summary (pp. 1-18). 2018. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (available free online, download available after creating account)Dzau, Victor, et al. 2017. “Vital Directions for Health and Health Care Priorities from a National Academy of Medicine Initiative.” JAMA 317(14): 1461-1470.Selected Other Resources and Further Supplementary Reading (for projects etc.)Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) Data Sources, including:Compendium of US Health Systems, 206Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) DatabaseHCUP Statistical Briefs and HCUPnet (county-level data)Kid’s Inpatient Database (KID)Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS), incl. Access to Care, Children’s Health Insurance Coverage, Disparities, Elderly HealthCurrent articles in Health Affairs (available via UAB Libraries)JAMA Special Issue: “Critical Issues in US Health Care,” 2013: 310(18) (available via UAB Libraries)Sered, Susan and Rushika Fernandopulle. 2006. Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity, Updated with a New Afterword. ISBN: 9780520250062Buckley, Gillian J., John E. Lange, and E. Anne Peterson. 2014. Investing in Global Health Systems: Sustaining Gains, Transforming Lives. National Academies Press (available free online)Integrating Research and Practice: Health System Leaders Working Toward High-Value Care: Workshop Summary. 2015. National Academies Press (available free online)He, Wan, Daniel Good kind, and Paul Kowal. 2016. “Health Care Systems and Population Aging.” Pp. 65-90 in An Aging World: 2015, International Population Reports: March. US Census Bureau (available free online)NOTE: If you use edited sources in your projects/reports, make sure to cite specific chapters with page numbers etc. (unless you’re actually referring to a full edited book or report).COURSE REQUIREMENTSWeekly Discussions (20%)The goal of weekly discussions is to review and debate the topic and course content assigned for each week. A prompt for each discussion will be posted on the discussion board (Canvas Discussions tab). Students are responsible for responding to the prompt and talking to each other about the given issue and readings over the course of the week. Please complete the readings and start participating in the discussion early in the week to get the full benefit of group discussion and to contribute several meaningful and well written posts that will be graded (a grading rubric will be provided for each discussion).Mini-Projects (30%)There will be three small collaborative research and/or applied projects throughout the semester (each worth 10% of the course grade). Groups will be assigned by the instructor and may vary from assignment to assignment. The first project will be assigned about two weeks into the semester. You will have 1-2 weeks to complete each mini-project. Make sure that you’re up-to-date with the readings and discussions, so that you can start working on each assignment as soon as it’s posted, and apply the learned content as needed. The schedule for the assignment and submissions of the mini-projects is included in the Course & Reading Schedule below.Final Project (50%)Each student will individually prepare a Final Project on a student-selected health care/health system related topic or issue. The focus of the project can be policy, research, or applied (e.g., study of a health care organization or setting). The submission will be in a form of a research report that will incorporate material/concepts from the course and use empirical data that address the selected topic or issue. The choice of topic and project approach should be discussed with the instructor over email early in the semester. General guidance and feedback on early concepts and along the way will be provided as needed. Further details regarding this course assignment will be posted during the first week of classes.SUMMARY OF GRADED WORKThe weighted distribution of the final grade based on the course requirements will be as follows:Discussions20%Mini-projects (1-3)30%Final course project50%COURSE GRADESCourse grades will be assigned according to the following scale:90-100%A80-89%B70-79%C60-69%DBelow 60%FMISSED WORKAssignments not submitted on the due date will receive 0% credit unless you have an official written excuse (e.g., medical) and/or have made special arrangements with the instructor. Missed exams will receive 0% credit unless you have an official written excuse (e.g., medical) and have made special arrangements with the instructor. Makeup exams will be administered only in cases of officially documented illness and/or officially documented personal/family tragedy. In cases where a student misses an exam, he or she is responsible for contacting the instructor as soon as possible, preferably before the exam. The instructor reserves the right to make decisions about extenuating circumstances for missed exams and other deadlines on a case-by-case basis.ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION POLICYCanvas-based email will be the main route for communication in this course. In addition, course materials, assignments, assessments, and grades will be posted on Canvas. The instructor will check her email daily Monday through Friday for communication with students and respond, if needed, within 24 hours (except when not available due to illness, conference attendance, etc.).WITHDRAWAL, PASS-FAIL, & AUDIT POLICIESSee University guidelines (UAB website) for withdrawal, pass-fail, and audit policies. Specifically, consult the UAB Registrar’s office and Academic Calendar 2018-2019 for important dates related to these policies. ACADEMIC INTEGRITYThe University rules, including any codes of conduct, and other documented policies of the department, college, and university related to academic integrity will be enforced. Any violation of these regulations, including acts of plagiarism or cheating, will be dealt with on an individual basis according to the severity of the misconduct. Please consult the UAB Student Conduct Code for details.DSS ACCESSIBILITY UAB is committed to providing an accessible learning experience for all students. If you are a student with a disability that qualifies under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and you require accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services for information on accommodations, registration and procedures. Requests for reasonable accommodations involve an interactive process and consist of a collaborative effort among the student, DSS, faculty and staff. If you are registered with Disability Support Services, please contact DSS to discuss accommodations that may be necessary in this course. If you have a disability but have not contacted Disability Support Services, please call 934-4205 or visit or Hill Student Center Suite 409. TITLE IX The University of Alabama at Birmingham is committed to providing an environment that is free from sexual misconduct, which includes gender-based assault, harassment, exploitation, dating and domestic violence, stalking, as well as discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. If you have experienced any of the aforementioned conduct, we encourage you to report the incident. UAB provides several avenues for reporting. For more information about Title IX, policy, reporting, protections, resources and supports, please visit for UAB’s Title IX Policy, UAB’s Equal Opportunity, Anti-Harassment Policy and Duty to Report and Non-Retaliation Policy.MODIFICATIONSThis syllabus represents a tentative plan and may be subject to modification by the instructor. Adequate prior notice of any modifications will be given. More detail on specific items in the syllabus may be available under other Canvas course items.COURSE & READING SCHEDULE See next pages.SOC 783-QL - COURSE & READING SCHEDULESpring 2019WeekDateTopic/ActivitiesRequired ReadingsOther Assignments11/7-1/11Course introductionIntroduction to health systems: health system definition/s and assessment frameworksFigueras & McKee 2011, Chapters 1-2Papanicolas & Smith, 2013, Chapter 2AHRQ, 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, Introduction and Methods (note: read intro/skim technical info)Discussion 1: Introductions21/14-1/18Sociological contributions to understanding health policy, health systems, and health careMechanic 1990Boyer and Gray 2016House 2016AHRQ, 2017 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (read Executive Summary, browse thru report and website)Discussion 2: Health system definitions and assessment; medical sociology perspectives31/21MLK Holiday1/22-1/25Health policy and system in AmericaBarr, Preface and Chapters 1-3Kaiser Family Foundation (), ACA update and news (FYI, browse links)Discussion 3: ACA/health care reform; market; cultural valuesMini-project 1 assigned41/28-2/1Health policy and system (cont.)Barr, Chapters 4-6Discussion 4: Health professions and organization of health care52/4-2/8Health policy and system in America (cont.)Barr, Chapters 7-9Discussion 5: Vulnerable populations; disparities in access and careMini-project 1 due62/11-2/15Health policy and system in America (cont.)Barr, Chapters 10-12Discussion 6: For-profit health care expansion, “Big pharma”72/18-2/22Health policy and system in America (cont.)Barr, Chapters 13-14, AppendixKaiser Family Foundation (), ACA update and news (just FYI again)Discussion 7: Other access issues, future of reformMini-project 2 assigned82/25-3/1Health care costs in the USPapanicolas et al. 2018, with 3 editorialsRosenthal, Introduction and Chapters 1-2Discussion 8: Health care costs, health care industry93/4-3/8How healthcare became big business…Rosenthal, Chapters 3-5Discussion 9: Insurance, hospitals, physiciansMini-project 2 due103/11-3/15SPRING BREAK113/18-3/22How healthcare became big business… (cont.)Rosenthal, Chapters 6-8Discussion 10: Pharma, medical devices, ambulatory servicesMini-project 3 assigned123/25-3/29How healthcare became big business… (cont.)Rosenthal, Chapters 9-11Discussion 11: Research, for-profits, conglomerates134/1-4/5How healthcare became big business… (cont.)Rosenthal, Part II (full/finish book)Discussion 12: Taking back health careMini-project 3 due144/8-4/12Further cross-national comparisons Schoen et al. 2010Woof and Laudan 2013, Summary and Chapter 4Discussion 13: Cross-national comparisonsFinal Project work/progress check154/15-4/19Health care quality in the US and globallyCourse conclusionCrossing the Global Quality Chasm 2018, Summary, p. 1-18Dzau et al. 2017Discussion 14: Health care delivery improvementsFinal Project work/progress check 164/22-4/26FINALS WEEKFinal Project due 4/22 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download