PNAV1100 — Intro to Patient/Health Naviga
This introductory course provides a basic overview of health systems, exploring the fundamental components and structures that contribute to the delivery of healthcare services. Students will gain a foundational understanding of the key elements shaping health systems with a focus on the interplay between various stakeholders, policies, and healthcare delivery models. This course will include health system basics, definition and components of health systems, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of healthcare, as well as public health and preventive measures. The role of government in healthcare, healthcare financing and insurance models, as well as regulatory frameworks and quality assurance will be covered. An overview of healthcare delivery models and healthcare delivery systems (e.g., fee-for-service, managed care, universal healthcare), as well as emerging trends in telehealth and digital health will be reviewed. The roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals and workforce challenges and solutions will be covered, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration, health information technology, electronic health records and data management will be introduced. This course will introduce the concepts of community health and social determinants of health, as well as the impact of social and economic factors on health and patient outcomes. Community-based healthcare initiatives, addressing health disparities, and emerging issues in health systems will be explored, along with healthcare innovations and technology advances, and an introduction to ethical considerations in patient/health navigations.