This course provides an important introduction and overview to the American health care system, including familiarization with most actors and organizations comprising our broader health care systems. The class will briefly explore the history of health system design and medical education in the United States; examine the influence of social, cultural, and other factors on our current health and well-being; and examine the complexities of our current health care system. We will spend some time on the Affordable Care Act as well as emerging policies and their potential impact on our society. Additional topics include the latest changes in health care practice, laws, and technological trends that impact our current health care delivery system.The course begins with a discussion of our health care system and utilizes an internal critique to understand and address issues within the American health system including, but not limited to, public health issues, quality and cost of care, ongoing innovation in medicine and medical education, payment mechanisms, consumer behavior, the legal and regulatory framework, and emergency preparedness. It then articulates the demographic challenges ahead as well as the impact on both household and federal finances. It then provides students with an overview of the various methods and parties used to pay for health care as well as the massive and at times unnecessary complexity that imposes unparalleled burdens on physicians, other providers, and on health care delivery organizations. The course will also explore the impact of new technologies across the entire continuum of care – focusing on transitions and care in the home. It concludes with some coverage of both the opportunities and threats posed by rapid technology advancement.
Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills regarding the U.S. health system and will be exposed to the broader societal and cross-disciplinary context in which clinical informatics must be applied. This broader environment requires multiple groups to operate with greater degrees of coordination. It will argue the need for a new and more comprehensive approach to health informatics organization, overall governance, and national policies.