Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Health Management

• code 10020
• course 5
• term Semester 2
• type op
• credits 3

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English,

Head instructor

Lc. Alberto MIRANDA - miranda@uic.es

Office hours

I am available for any queries you may have. However, for purposes of coordination, please contact me first via e-mail at miranda@uic.es. Thank you.

The environment in which our society operates makes it impossible to compartmentalise different areas of knowledge. It is difficult to imagine areas in which a set of skills, abilities and knowledge can be separated from the rest and be sufficient to perform any activity successfully.

This is even more evident when the activity in question must necessarily be entered into a market environment.

This is why a cross-cutting view of basic business management concepts, even when not essential from a purely technical point of view, acquires great importance. This knowledge will enhance future professionals in the alignment and creation of added value in the areas in which they perform their work. 

Appropriate business management of technical and scientific knowledge is the only guarantee of the long-term survival of the activity.

There are no prerequisites for this subject, though a certain degree of curiosity and interest in the business world is highly recommended.

Without some basic management skills, any operation of economic significance may be threatened in terms of feasibility. Even where there is already a high level of technical efficacy, the profitability and service components are essential in our market environment. The aim of this course is to transfer this approach to the training process for new dentistry professionals.

In addition to technical expertise, appropriately adapted skills belonging to the field of business management must be developed. These skills are what allow inefficiencies in terms of the use of resources, service quality and people management to be overcome.

This applies to both the management of the dental clinic and to the creation of related services and products. Therefore, it would not seem appropriate for highly qualified professionals to complete their training without having been exposed to basic knowledge of healthcare management.

The objectives of this course aim to provide an introduction to the world of business.  The course has been specifically designed to provide a broad but highly practical view for people whose professional future necessarily involves contact with an economic activity either from a business perspective or from within an existing organisation.

Consequently, the objectives of this subject for each student are as follows:

1. Knowledge of the company’s role in an economic environment and familiarisation with basic economic and business vocabulary.

2. Implications arising from dental practice in an economic and legal environment.

3. Understanding the necessary managerial functions for the management of any organisation.

4. Being able to distinguish the activities which add value to mere dental practice: finances, marketing, production and human resource management. Particular emphasis on quality and service activities.

5. The maturing process in relation to combining professional activity with personal development.

At an overall group level for students taking this subject, the primary objective is to achieve the interaction and exchange of preconceived ideas relating to the individual aims of each student in light of the immediate entrance into the job market.

• 01 - Being aware of the essential elements of the dental profession, including the ethical principles and legal responsibilities it involves.
• 02 - Understanding how important these principles are in order to benefit patients, society and the profession, with particular attention being paid to professional secrecy.
• 03 - Knowing how to identify the concerns and expectations of patients, as well as how to communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing, with patients, family members, the media and other professionals.
• 04 - Understanding and recognising the social and psychological aspects that are relevant in terms of treating patients.
• 05 - Knowing how to apply the correct principles to control anxiety and stress in oneself, in patients and in other memebers of the dentistry team.
• 06 - Understanding the importance of achieving a professional practice that respects the independence, beliefs and culture of all patients.
• 07 - Promoting new knowledge and techniques being acquired through autonomous learning, as well as the motivation to achieve quality.
• 08 - Knowing how to share information with other healthcare professionals and how to work as part of a team.
• 41 - Being aware of the behavioural and communication sciences which facilitate dental practice
• 17 - Understanding and recognising the principles of ergonomics and safety at work (including the control of cross infection, radiation protection and occupational and biological diseases).

Development of a scheme of analysis which allows for an understanding of the different functions and objectives of business management, as well as the relationship between them.

An understanding of the contribution of each area of a business and how different areas should coordinate amongst themselves.

Identification of the main obstacles to the success of a corporate project and the ability to find an approach that allows such situations to be avoided.

Acquisition of a basic vocabulary together with its economic definition in order to be able to express and understand the corporate solutions that should be implemented in each situation.

1. The economic context and the economic environment that affects us 

2. Ethics, responsibilities and legal environment 

3. The company: entrepreneurship and management 

4. Business management: managerial roles. Strategy 

5. Business management: business organisation 

6. Value activities: marketing

7. Value activities: finance

8. Value activities: the management of human resources 

9. Value activities: production. Service and quality

10. Your life and business

11. Conclusions  

Working sessions will combine the exposition of theoretical concepts supporting the foundations of business management with their implementation in specific business case studies.

Reference texts will be analysed and used to situate the theoretical concepts exposed in the sessions.

A deeper understanding of the concepts will be reinforced through the analysis of cases specially developed for their application in the context of health management.

Breakdown of the applied methodology:

Exposition session (55%)

Personal study (10%)

Evaluation (10%)

Case method (25%)

Participation will be considered highly important, in addition to attendance, during course sessions. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to prepare the lectures in advance. 

Partial                                                    35% 

Final                                                      35% 

Attendance and participation. Readings and complementary work             30%

There is no single textbook for this course.

Different materials specially prepared for the course will be used, which will be exposed on the basis of the presentations made during the working sessions. The materials will be complemented with articles from the health field.

For each learning area, students will have access to a basic literature list so that they can further develop the presented concepts (in Spanish or English).

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

• E1 28/05/2019 08:00h A20
• R1 06/06/2019 09:00h A12
• E2 18/06/2019 08:00h A20
• R2 25/06/2019 08:00h A14