Medical Process Management – An Innovative Master of Science Program Addressing the Challenges Faced by Health Care Systems H. Mang1, H.-U. Prokosch2, and J. Schüttler3 1
Program Coordinator, Master of Medical Process Management, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany 2 Chairman of Medical Informatics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany 3 Program Director and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
Abstract—Medical process management, an innovative master’s program, was started by the faculty of medicine, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in October 2008. It appeals to graduates with a bachelor’s degree in economics, engineering, computer, natural or social sciences. We aim at inspiring a new appreciation for business process management in medicine and procure skills to analyse, model and optimize workflows in health care. An additional focus of the curriculum is on the foundations and practice of patient-centred medicine. Graduates will be able to develop and implement tailored and cost-effective products and services for medical counselling, diagnosis and care. Keywords—Health care, master of science, medical process management, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
I. INTRODUCTION A. Challenges Faced by Health Care Systems The accelerating pace of the demographic transition in high-income countries will prove to be one of the key factors in the development of society in the coming decades. This process is driven by falling mortality rates and a decline in birth rates, which reduces population growth rates and increases the share of older people. In addition, technological innovations help diagnose diseases earlier which means that more and more people are becoming patients. As a result, costs in many of the world’s health care systems are growing. However, a steady supply of financing from later generations is, to a great extent, not guaranteed. B. From Business to Medical Process Management Historical and, in many cases, inefficient links and work practices between all participants of the health care system, between for example, GPs, radiological practices, hospitals, pharmacies and health insurance suppliers, need to be examined and improved. Isolated solutions have become obsolete; measures for optimizing work procedures that have already been tried and proven in industry, in combination with information technology, are also required in the health care system. Improved efficiency and quality with
simultaneous cost savings can only be achieved through a continuous information and data flow along the entire process chain – from prevention to diagnosis and therapy to follow-up. Ideas are being sought on how existing solutions can be optimized in such a way that boosts performance while keeping costs to a minimum.
II. MASTER
OF SCIENCE PROGRAM
Rationale: Medical Process Management is a sciencebased management approach for highly-developed and complex health care systems. It provides both, the medical knowledge to understand and manage general hospitals (“Solution Shop Hospitals”) as well as the competence to design and run focused special hospitals (“Value-Adding Process Clinics”) [1]. Our master of science program Medical Process Management teaches students medicine and health care management as well, thus preparing them for a health-care system established on patient-centred medicine and value-based competition on results, too [2]. It is in the combination of both aspects where the greatest potential can be found for facing the challenges. Application Requirements: We accept students who have completed their undergraduate studies in natural sciences, engineering, computer science, economics or social sciences with high marks and are interested in medical science or health care. Curriculum Description: Medical Process Management is a non-consecutive master which is structured according to the Bologna Process. One term corresponds to 30 ECTS credit points that are equivalent to 900 hours of study. The master’s program comprises four terms; courses are arranged in modules (Table 1). Between terms, students can do traineeships with health care providers, health insurers, the medical device or pharmaceutical industry. The twoyear degree program pursued by students culminates in a final master’s project during the fourth semester. The master’s project is an independently prepared science-based paper required of all candidates for the master's degree. Course management and teacher-student communication are basically online using Moodle [3], a free and open source
O. Dössel and W.C. Schlegel (Eds.): WC 2009, IFMBE Proceedings 25/XII, pp. 366–367, 2009. www.springerlink.com
Medical Process Management – An Innovative Master of Science Program Addressing the Challenges Faced
e-learning software platform. Student evaluation of teaching provides invaluable feedback and is managed anonymously with software by EVALuna [4].
Educational Objectives and Skills: Students will gain • medical knowledge • an understanding of the coordination and cooperation between health professionals • experiences in the conceptual structuring of products and services for medical counselling, diagnosis and care with regard to o standardization o the continuous improvement process and o patient-centred care • a competent knowledge of business process reengineering and change management
Table 1 Curriculum description Modules and courses
ECTS/ module
First term Module: Medical foundations
ECTS/ term 30
10
Functional anatomy & physiology Introduction to pharmacology Medical first aid and organisation of emergency services Module: Health care management I
367
Employability: Career opportunities are excellent: Hospital networks, healthcare consultancies, insurance companies, the medical device and pharmaceutical industry are all looking for graduates with an expert understanding of the health care system and how it can be improved.
10
Total quality management Communication & cooperation in health care Medical information systems Healthcare financing Module: Fundamentals of clinical diagnostics
5
Traineeship I
5
Second term Module: Introduction into clinical medicine Common clinical pictures and important disease patterns Anatomy relating to clinical medicine: Imaging Surgical and invasive procedures, intensive care medicine and artificial organs Module: Health care management II
III. CONCLUSIONS 30
Medical Process Management • is a postgraduate medical science program • is only offered by the faculty of medicine at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg • deals with quality, efficiency and patient-centricity to the benefit of all stakeholders in health care • sets the stage for a professional life which is closely linked to other healthcare providers and patient’s needs
5
10
Public Health and Evidence-based Medicine International comparison of health care systems Medical Quality Management Module: IT Support for Healthcare Processes Module: Business Process Management
5
Traineeship II
5
Third term Module: Imaging, radiotherapy and radiation protection Module: Health care management III Financial management of hospitals and healthcare organisations Risk management in health care
REFERENCES
5 1. 30 5
3. 4.
10
Author address:
Strategic management of health care systems Module: Case management and clinical pathways
5
Module: Business Process Management Systems
5
Traineeship III
5
Fourth term Master thesis (oral examination) Total ECTS
2.
Christensen CM, Grossman JH, Hwang MD (2009) The Innovator's Prescription: A Disruptive Solution for Health Care. McGraw-Hill Professional, New York Porter ME, Teisberg E (2006) Redefining Healthcare. Harvard Business School Press, Boston Moodle at http://moodle.org/ EVALuna at http://www.evaluna.net/
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Prof. Dr. med. Harald Mang Medizinische Fakultät Östliche Stadtmauerstraße 30a 91054 Erlangen Germany
[email protected] http://www.mpm.med.uni-erlangen.de
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