Spring 2020 - HSCI 404 D100

Public Policy and Health Systems (3)

Class Number: 2178

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 20, 2020
    Mon, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    John Calvert
    jrc@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-8163
  • Prerequisites:

    60 units including one HSCI course.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Major public policy issues affecting Canadian and international health care systems. How the public policy process affects financing, delivery, and regulation of health programs and services. Theories of policy development in the health sector. Evaluation of the extent to which evidence influences policy decisions. Controversies, including: finance, regulatory issue, system restructuring, models of governance, public vs. private service delivery and resource allocation.

COURSE DETAILS:

The course will be offered as a 3 hour seminar once a week. It will involve both individual and group work, as well as extensive class dicussions on a variety of policy related issues.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various theories of public policy with a particular focus on their relevance to population health and health care decision making.
2. Describe and analyze the policy processes that shape health policy decision making with an emphasis on the political aspects of these processes
3. Analyze how governments include - or fail to include - health policy considerations in their decision making processes
4. Analyze the roles of policy actors, institutions, ideologies and other factors in shaping policy decisions
5. Carry out an analysis of the way in which the policy process shapes decisions in a number of specific health policy areas or issues

Grading

  • Mid=term exam 20%
  • Final exam 25%
  • Group presentations 20%
  • Term paper 25%
  • Participation 10%

NOTES:

This seminar involves lectures, group work and class discussionss as well as presentations by several guest speakers. The instructor will normally give a short lecture at the beginning of most classes followed by presentations on assigned articles by the groups into which the class will be divided. Attendance is required.

REQUIREMENTS:

60 Credits including at least one HSCI course, preferably HSCI 305 or an equivalent 3rd or 4th year course. Exceptionally, students may be allowed to enrol with permission from the instructor.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The course will primarily rely on a selection of peer reviewed journal articles available through SFU's library system. In addition, it will include some government documents and a few non-peer reviewed articles from NGOs and policy think tanks.

REQUIRED READING:

There is no assigned text. The weekly readings will be from journal articles available from the electronic journal system of SFU's Library.

Supplemental readings will be posted on Canvas

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS