REGULATIONS FOR THE BACHELOR OF COMMERCE DEGREE IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT (BS04)

 

Duration	4years
Credit Load	480
Minimum Credit Load	480
Maximum Credit Load	540
Maximum MBKs Credit Load	216
ZNQF Level	8

 

1. OBJECTIVES (PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME)

1.1 The Departmental Regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Faculty Regulations and the General Academic Regulations for Undergraduate degrees herein referred to as General Regulations.

1.2 The degree will be awarded to candidates who have successfully completed the programme and passed examinations in accordance with the Faculty Regulations.

1.3 The duration of the degree program shall normally be a minimum of 4 levels including a period of Work-Related Learning in a relevant industrial/commercial setting during the third level.

2. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

2.1 The programme provides knowledge which develops the students’ intellectual and critical thinking ability as well their managerial and entrepreneurial skills. It fosters ability to behaviour, analyse and interpret information for decision-making while instilling and indicating high moral standards of personal and professional behaviour which are consistent with positions of trust and leadership in society and ever changing environment

3. 3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Normal Entry

English and Mathematics at ‘O’ Level, must have obtained at least two passes at ‘A’ level in Management of Business, Accounting, Economics, Mathematics and Geography.

3.2 Visiting School Programme

Diploma (Institute of Bankers), ND in Business Studies, Accountancy, Purchasing, Diploma in Education, Institute of Administration and Commerce (IAC), Institute of Personnel Management (IPMZ), Diploma in Business Administration (ZIM), Diploma in Marketing and any other relevant tertiary qualifications deemed to an equivalent or passes in relevant ‘A’ Level subjectsand must be at least 22 years old with 2 years relevant working experience and proof of employment.

3.3 Mature Entry

Refer to faculty General Regulations.

3.4 Special Entry

3.4.1 This applies to students who may wish to transfer from other universities while undertaking Healthcare management related degree programme.

3.4.2 An applicant may be exempted from certain level modules and shall be required to register additional modules to make up for the full component of that level.

3.4.3 Successful completion of the Work-Related Learning component at Level III is compulsory for all candidates.

4. PROGRAMME CHARACTERISTICS

• Areas of study:Healthcare systems, financial issues in Healthcare,
• Specialist Focus: Healthcare management systems
• Orientation: Training people with potential to get into Operations positions and leadership in Healthcare institutions
• Distinctive Features: The programme builds on enterprising student and focuses on knowledge development and application of concepts.

5. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

• Employability: Administrators in private and public health institutions, Healthcare procurement personnel.
• Further Studies: Master’s and doctoral studies in strategic management and corporate governance, Master’s and doctoral studies in Healthcare management.

• PROGRAMME DELIVERY
  • Teaching and Learning Methods: Lectures (face to face and online), tutorials, seminars, group work, industrial visits, industrial attachment, research project, individual independent study.
  • Assessment Methods:Written, practical and oral examinations, in-class tests, assignments, presentations, Work-Related learning report, final year research project report.
• LEARNING OUTCOMES
  • Use relevant research methods to identify, analyse and solve management and commercial problems in a systematic, critical and creative way as well as create new insights into the healthcare field.
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Healthcare management fundamentals.
  • Produce a holistic graduate able to integrate in any business form.
• Contribute towards the extension of knowledge of business management and administration in a healthcare context.
• Acquire a critical understanding of how to manage people, resources and processes in a healthcare context.
• Apply the techniques and methods used to evaluate health information systems and identify current threats and opportunities associated with the management of information systems.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Refer to faculty and general regulations

9. ASSESSMENT

Refer to faculty and general regulations.

10. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE

Refer to General Regulations

11. WORK-RELATED LEARNING GENERAL GUIDELINES

Refer to the Faculty Regulations

12. DEGREE WEIGHTING

Refer to the Faculty Regulations

13. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

Refer to the Faculty Regulations.

14. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION

Refer to the Faculty Regulations.

9. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Level 1 Semester 1

Code Module Descriptions Prerequisites Credits

HCS135          Introduction to Information Technology 12

CS131 Basic Communication Skills 12

GSB211 Gender Studies for Business 12

BHC131 Introduction to Healthcare Management 12

BM133     Financial Accounting for Business 1A 12

CMI131 Principles of Marketing 1 12

BM131 Principles of Management 12

Level 1 Semester 2

Code Module Description Credits

BHC132 Current Issues in Healthcare Policy & Practice 12

BHC135 Concepts of Health Promotion 12

BHC136 Medical Law and Risk Management 12

BM132 Business Communication 12

BHC134 Behavioural and Cultural Issues in Healthcare 12

BHC133 Health Insurance and Reimbursement 12

Level 2 Semester 1

Code Module Description Credits

BHC231 Human Resource Management in Healthcare 12

BHC232 Strategic Planning & Marketing in Healthcare 12

ENT131 Principles of Entrepreneurship 12

BHC233 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare 12

BHC234      Healthcare policy and evaluation                         12

Level 2 Semester 2

Code Module Description Credits

BHC235 Contemporary Health Systems 12

BHS239 Healthcare Supply Chain Systems 12

BM238 Business Research Methods 12

BHC236 Healthcare Informatics 12

BHC238 Healthcare Economics from a Population Perspective 12

BHC239 Occupational Health and Safety 12

LEVEL 3 SEMESTER 1 WORK-RELATED LEARNING

BHC 340 Work-Related learning Preliminary Report 40

LEVEL 3 SEMESTER 2 Work-Related Learning

Code Module Description Credits

BHC341 Work-Related Learning Continuous Assessment 40

BHC342 Work-Related learning Report 40

Level 4 Semester 1

Code Module Description Credits

BHC431 Sustainable Healthcare Systems 12

BM432            Project Management 12

BHC432 Healthcare Organisation theory & Behaviour 12

BM431 Change Management 12

BHC434 Healthcare Quality Management 12

Level 4 Semester 2

Code Module Description Credits

BM437 Production and Operations Management 12

BM439 Corporate Governance 12

BHC433 Research project 12

BHC436 Health data and Analysis 12

16. MODULE SYNOPSES

BHC131 Introduction to Healthcare Management

In this module, students examine management concepts and theories designed to influence and improve the performance of healthcare organizations. They identify and examine the external and internal environments of organizations as well as key management functions, roles, and responsibilities. Exploring essential aspects of healthcare management, students engage in a variety of conceptual and practical activities, such as profiling a healthcare manger, assessing the value of leadership in decision-making, and comparing strategic plans.

BHC132 Current Issues in Healthcare Policy and Practice

In this module, students examine the nature of healthcare facilities, major factors influencing the quality of care, and the impact of policy initiatives on all stakeholders, including providers and consumers. They explore the major issues in acute and long-term healthcare policy and practice from the perspective of the patient and the provider.

BHC133 Health Insurance and Reimbursement

Students in this module will examine the history of third-party reimbursement, the culture of patient expectations for healthcare, and Medicare and Medic-aid reimbursement funding and management. Students will consider how healthcare policy, insurance, and reimbursement impact on quality and population health.

BHC134 Behavioural and Cultural Issues in Healthcare

In this module, students examine the cultural and societal factors within communities affect the management and delivery of healthcare services. Students will also identify and analyse health disparities attributable to diverse cultural and behavioural factors and discuss their implications for healthcare policy.  

BM131Principles of Management

The module deals with the history and development of management thought, functions of management, organizational structure, decision-making, globalization, leadership and motivation, controlling, budgetary and non-budgetary controls, and change management.

BM133 Financial Accounting for Business 1A

Students take a top-down approach to understanding introductory accounting documents and procedures by exploring a business’s financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement in this module. Students explore the practical uses for information that can be gleaned from these statements, individually and as a whole, through a detailed examination of the properties and characteristics of each statement.

BHC135 Concepts of Health Promotion

In this module, students formulate a definition of health and discuss the many influences that shape our individual and collective perceptions of health. Students consider the health-wellness continuum, including a number of factors, such as behavioural, demographic, psychological, and social forces. Additionally, students reflect on ways to shape their future careers in health and to promote positive change.  

BHC 136 Medical Law and Risk Management

The module is designed to equip students with basic but concise legal knowledge to enable students to make legally sound and informed business decisions at work or as managers. The module is an introduction to general principles of law and its interpretation, law of contract, purchase and sales, agency, negotiable instruments, insurance, partnership, law of derelict, insolvency and consumer protection.

HCS135 Information Technology & Computer Applications

Refer to the Department of Information and Marketing Sciences for module synopsis

ENT 131 Introduction to Entrepreneurship

The aim of this module is to develop entrepreneurial acumen in students, to appreciate the importance of entrepreneurship to the individual and in nation building, to analyse and explain how PESTLEG factors affect the entrepreneur, design a bankable business plan, and evaluate various options available to the entrepreneur to go global. The emphasis of this module is to define entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and innovation; understand the nature and importance of entrepreneurship for economic development; identify business opportunities and generate business ideas; develop a bankable business plan; understand the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur; identify the challenges being faced by entrepreneurs.

CMI131 Principles of Marketing

Refer to the Department of Information and Marketing Sciences for module synopsis.

BM132 Business Communication

The objective of this module is to expose students to concepts and theories of business communication and to assist them develop into competent communicators. It focuses on the development of student’s ability to communicate effectively and concisely in written, oral and any other forms of communication. It also considers different styles in the use of English in business settings, interpersonal communication skills as well as effective business writing.

BHC136 Medical  Law and Risk management

The module is designed to equip students with basic but concise legal knowledge to enable students to make legally sound and informed business decisions at work or managers. The module is an introduction to general principles of law and its interpretation, aw of contract, purchase and sales, agency, negotiable instruments, insurance, partnership, law of derelict, insolvency and consumer protection.

ENT131 Entrepreneurship 1

The aim of this module is to develop entrepreneurial acumen in students, to appreciate the importance of entrepreneurship to the individual and in nation building, to analyse and explain how PESTLEG factors affect the entrepreneur, design a bankable business plan

Evaluate various options available to the entrepreneur to go global. The emphasis of this module is to define entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and innovation; understand the nature and importance of entrepreneurship for economic development; identify business opportunities and generate business ideas; develop a bankable business plan; understand the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur; identify the challenges being faced by entrepreneurs.

BHC231 Human Resource Management in Healthcare

This module enables students to explore and discuss the role of HR in healthcare organizations as related to the recruitment, retention, and management of the healthcare workforce. They examine workforce development models, employee benefits, and compensation strategies. Students also explore methods used by HR professionals to develop goals and expectations for evaluating employee performance and promoting effective employee relations, and they investigate HR problem-solving strategies, such as conflict resolution, collective bargaining, and arbitration methods.

BHC232 Strategic Planning and Marketing in Healthcare

The module covers important strategic planning issues in healthcare institutions. Key concepts related to strategic planning, including the relationship of the plan to the organization’s mission, values, and vision, are presented in this module. In this module, students examine and apply assessment techniques and methodologies for evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) of a healthcare organization. They also explore the relationship between strategic planning, marketing, and organizational performance.

BHC233 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare

In this module, students examine the legal and ethical issues that are fundamental to the practice of healthcare and the conduct of health-related research. They also investigate and assess issues of privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, licensing, and malpractice, among others. Additionally, students consider ethical, decision-making models for assuring the quality, safety, and appropriateness of healthcare and services.

BHC 234 Healthcare policy and Evaluation

This module teaches qualitative research skills for project planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities. Students will analyse  In collaboration with an organization in their local community, students will complete practical assignments that require the application of several data collection techniques.

GSB211Gender Studies for Business

The module empowers students with knowledge and skills that enable them to be gender sensitive in the university, workplace and in all social interactions. Topics covered include understanding gender, theories of gender inequalities, historical development of gender, gender analysis, gender issues in society, redressing gender imbalances, empowerment and strategies for creating a gender responsive environment. Every student has to pass the module in order to graduate.

BHC235 Contemporary Health systems

The purpose of this module is to enlighten students’ knowledge and comprehension of current challenges and deficiencies in health systems and provide recommendations for proper planning, management, direction and control of resources; personnel and dynamics of healthcare institutions to provide responsive  and appropriate healthcare.

BHC236 Health Care Informatics

The students are prepared to examine data sets so that they discover and analyse patterns of  activities pertaining disease control and distribution of supplies. The module develops students’ ability to make decisions relating to internal control systems with in organisations, and an understanding of analytical tools, strategies and technology to detect and deal information.

BHC 237 Healthcare Supply Chain Systems

After exploring enablers for successful and ethical health supply chain management (SCM) and how to develop effective strategies, the module will examine key management issues and priorities. These include achieving efficient operations and logistics, harnessing data and technology, ensuring compliance, monitoring and evaluating performance, and tackling risks within the supply chain, including corruption.

BHC238 Healthcare Economics from a Population Health Perspective

Students are provided with the foundation for economic evaluation from a population health approach. Students can develop an understanding of healthcare as a market, compare supply-and-demand principles in healthcare versus a typical business, discuss how economic losses or gains impact healthcare policy changes, sectors of the population, physician staffing, nursing staffing, and stability. Students in the module also explore epidemiological, social, global, and future economic impact of healthcare.

BHC 239 Occupational Health and safety

The modules looks at Current Occupational Health and Safety Legislation in Zimbabwe Who is responsible for workplace safety programs Critical connections and work site analysis Basic definitions of workplace safety programs and their purpose Challenges for those practicing safety management Safety and Special Hazards

BM238  Research Methods

In this module, students examine the basic components required for the conduct of health-related research and provides students with the analytic tools needed to understand and assess research methods described in the scientific literature. Basic research methods are described, including surveys, observational studies, experimental and quasi-experimental design, use of primary and secondary data, and statistical techniques for analyzing and interpreting data.

BHC 431 Sustainable Healthcare Systems

This module looks at the key pillars of sustainability in health; i.e. energy management, waste management, air quality management and water management. Emphasis is made on how to enhance sustainability, i.e.  healthcare without harm through reduce, reuse, recycle, rethinking and repairing. The principles of sustainable healthcare are also explained in this module.

BHC432 Healthcare Organization Theory and Behaviour

The individual and group behaviours within healthcare organizations often have a direct impact on organizational success and the ability to deliver quality care. In this module, students examine the theories of behaviour of healthcare organizations at the macro (organization-wide) level and micro (individual and team performance) level.

BM431ChangeManagement

The module focuses on the management of change in organisations.It will also dwell on the types of organisations that are in existance, and how the differing structures impact on change management to include: performance, designing strategies, concept of power, organisational politics, change model, resistance, models for growth and decline, structural forms and the management of change.

BHC434 Occupational Health, Quality and Safety

A lack of quality service in healthcare, including medical errors, unnecessary surgery, and neglect, accounts for preventable deaths and a continual increase in the cost of delivery. Students in this module explore major quality and safety issues within healthcare organizations. They also examine methods of assessing quality and techniques to improve quality as well as opportunities to prevent adverse events.

BHC 436 Health and Data Analysis

This module explores quantitative methods in project planning, monitoring, and evaluation. It provides opportunities for students to design quantitative evaluations and apply statistical measures to test hypotheses. Students will explore the use of statistical software in managing and manipulating data and the production of descriptive and analytical reports that meet the guidelines and expectations of professional practitioners in the field. They will develop an understanding of an often intimidating and difficult subject with an approach that is informative, personable, and clear as they are guided through various statistical procedures, beginning with descriptive statistics, correlation, and graphical representation of data through inferential techniques and variance.

BM432 Project Management

The module involves a detailed study of network analysis and project scheduling techniques, project structuring, project finance, hiring and management of personnel, control of materials, monitoring the project, budgeting and project completion

BM437 Production and Operations Management

Topics covered in the module include developing production/operations management strategies, the strategic role and objectives of production/operations, production/ operations management strategies- designing, planning and controlling the production/operations management system, process technology, materials requirements planning, JIT planning and control, quality planning and control and project planning.

BM439 Introduction Corporate Governance

The module examines the history and development of business Ethics by highlighting some models of moral behaviour and how they could be related to various situations in the business world. It explores the variant ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontological ethics, and egoism. The module seeks to develop an understanding and appreciation of significant corporate governance concepts and issues in the contemporary business world, definition of corporate governance, key concepts associated with best practices, powers and rights of, and relations between directors and shareholders, history of corporate governance etc.

BHC433 Research Project

Students carry out an independent research project under the supervision of a tutor /supervisor. The length of the dissertation should be 10000 words.