Healthcare Management Track

The Covid pandemic has challenged the health sectors of countries around the world. The performance of scientists and healthcare professionals in responding to the challenge has been outstanding. Yet the health systems and the healthcare providers have been stressed to the breaking point. The health sector of Cyprus has been no exception; to the contrary, it has been hit at its formative and most vulnerable time as it was undergoing restructuring with the introduction of the General Health System.

While health systems and healthcare providers are still being challenged by the pandemic, it is an opportune time to provide healthcare professionals with additional management tools and methods to optimise resource allocation and cost-effectiveness in the health care sector and prepare them for the next challenge around the corner.

Responding to this opportunity and pressing need, CIIM offers a Healthcare Management Module which integrates health economics, management and policy in the design and delivery of health services and analyses current health management problems. It is ideal for healthcare professionals, who want a fast-track toolkit to sharpen their healthcare management skills and increase their effectiveness in their current position as well as further advance their career in the health sector.

The module is taught by renowned healthcare academics and health management experts. It will greatly benefit professionals from diverse backgrounds, including: clinicians, health services managers, and specialists from insurance funds, governmental and international agencies, and health care, pharmaceutical and consulting firms.

Health professionals can pursue this module by choosing one of two options:

Option A:
You apply for admission into the MSc in Business Management, and follow the Healthcare Management specialization track. Upon successful completion (in 14 months full-time or 18 months part-time) you receive an MSc in Business Management with specialization in Healthcare Management.

Option B:
You apply to join the Healthcare Management Module as a self-standing executive education programme. Upon successful completion of 70 hours of evening classes, spread over two months, you receive an Executive Certificate of Healthcare Management along with 15 ECTS credits towards the MSc in Business Management with specialization in Healthcare Management. If, in addition, you write a short 30-page research paper on a healthcare topic of your choice that will raise your professional standing and support your career goals, you will receive a total of 30 ECTS, one third of the credits needed for the MSc.

Both Options above require a Bachelor degree and proficiency in English.

The Healthcare Management Module is delivered in three 6-8 evening modules. The first course introduces you to theories and concepts of health economics, health financing and health accounting. The second course covers healthcare operations and quality management and the third deals with performance measurement and improvement of health systems and healthcare delivery. All three courses analyse in-depth case studies of health systems and health care management, and the necessary methods to optimise resource allocation and cost-effectiveness in the health care sector.

Following is a brief description of each course:

Applying Economics, Finance & Accounting to Healthcare Management
The objective of this course is to apply economic, accounting and finance concepts and principles to healthcare management, and to actual situations in the healthcare industry. This module will help participants develop a sound working knowledge of application of basic financial statements, budgeting for decision-making and managerial control in healthcare management. It will also provide you with core capabilities for making health management decisions related to budgets and resources. The emphasis is on understanding how economics, finance and accounting can be used in day-to-day decision making in a practical scenario-based approach as to equip you with practical skills that will help you become a better healthcare manager.

Healthcare Operations & Quality Management
The objective of this course is to provide the foundation and principles of operations and operational management within the healthcare environment. An overview of the many operational components that make a medical practice or health system run is described, along with the tools available for managerial decision-making. Application of certain managerial science principles is discussed and applied, enabling course participants to consistently make the right decisions at the right time. Effort is made to help them see all of the components of a large health system, and how each operation is interlocked with other operations and how working across groups can facilitate novel and impactful solutions to problems healthcare managers face.

Performance Measurement & Improvement of Healthcare Systems & Providers
The objective of this course is to help you gain a better understanding of performance measurement in healthcare and the importance of health informatics in supporting performance measurement systems. The course will first explain different models for performance measurement and examine the appropriateness, feasibility, and relevance of different measures and frameworks. It will then implement performance measurement frameworks in a variety of healthcare settings and identify areas for improvement. It will finally outline improvement options and discuss issues specific to several stakeholder groups.