HealthXcelerate: Strategy, Policy, and Systems

In Foundations of the U.S. Health Care System, led by Bruce Landon, MD, MBA, MSc, you will gain an overview of the defining features of the U.S. health care system including structure, financing, and stakeholders. 

By exploring the origins and implications of employer-sponsored health care, you will see the challenges and trade-offs of access, cost, and quality. During this course, you will also discover how the U.S. system compares to international systems in terms of health outcomes, costs, payment models, and price regulations.

Learning objectives:

• Articulate the main characteristics of the U.S. health care system
• Understand the significant advancements and persistent issues in the U.S. health care system
• Understand the primary resources and distribution of the financial resources
• Compare the health outcomes of U.S. health care with other developed countries
• Learn about the causes and impacts of rising health care costs in the United States

In Principles and Practice of Health Care Delivery, led by David Levine, MD, MPH, MA, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the structure of the U.S. health care delivery system. 

Uncover the diverse types of care facilities, their primary functions, respective patient goals, and clinical providers through a framework of inpatient, outpatient, and home-based care. You will come to understand the patient’s health care journey through engaging stories detailing the benefits and challenges that come from each setting. This course also looks at how health care delivery is regulated in the U.S. and explores innovations that are underway both in the U.S and around the world.

Learning objectives:

• Identify the purpose and function of outpatient, inpatient, and home-based care settings
• Analyze the benefits and challenges associated with each care setting
• Explore the pathways to health care access in outpatient, inpatient, and home-based care settings
• Recognize the role of government in the regulation and oversight of each care setting
• Discover the role of the health care industry in supplying the equipment, pharmaceuticals, and technology that facilitate care delivery in each setting

In Social Determinants of Health, led by Enrique Caballero, M.D., you will examine how social aspects can shape health outcomes for individuals and communities. 

This course will delve into various social, economic, and environmental factors that impact health disparities and inequalities. You will review evidence-based interventions and strategies to address social determinants and health disparities, foster health equity, and enhance population health.

Learning objectives:

• Identify the impact of social determinants of health on health outcomes
• Analyze how disparities in socioeconomic status and education influence health outcomes
• Explore variations in social determinants of health between the U.S. and other countries
• Evaluate interventions aimed at addressing social determinants of health and reducing health inequalities

In Health Care Policy and Economics led by David Cutler, PhD, you will examine how health policy is determined and implemented in the U.S. and understand its effects at the national and state levels. 

In this course will discover how governments implement these policies, how stakeholders in the health care system interact with them, and how they impact cost-effectiveness, equity, and access. This course also investigates the funding mechanisms for health policies, the trade-offs necessary for different policies, and reform efforts.

Learning objectives:

• Assess how government policies influence health care delivery, access, and affordability
• Evaluate the funding mechanisms utilized in health care and their implications for care delivery and patient outcomes
• Assess how health policies are implemented and enforced by government agencies
• Discern the rationale behind ongoing reform efforts in the U.S. health care system
• Compare approaches to health policies around the globe and evaluate their trade-offs

In Drug Development from Discovery Through Approval led by Jennifer Leeds, BSc, PhD, you will gain an overview of the drug discovery and development process. 

This course offers a high-level understanding of the scientific and regulatory processes that shape the pharmaceutical landscape. You will explore initial discovery through clinical trials and regulatory approval and gain insights into the complexities and decision points that define the U.S. drug development lifecycle.

Learning objectives:

• Discern how unmet needs are identified and translated into new drug
• Explore preclinical methodologies for assessing potential drug candidates’ safety and efficacy
• Recognize how scientists conduct research and design clinical trials to develop new drugs
• Identify the key factors that support or undermine a drug’s advancement to clinical trials
• Explore the regulatory and approval process for drug  development
• Identify key differences in drug regulation and approval in the U.S. compared to global counterparts

In Population Health and Disease Dynamics, led by Jeffrey Levin-Scherz, MD, MBA, you will explore the interplay between human populations and disease. 

In this course, you will gain practical insights into mechanisms for disease control and population health management, as well as the impact of diseases within communities with worldwide examples. This course also discusses prevalent chronic diseases impacting individuals in the U.S. and investigates public health interventions being implemented to prevent and manage them.

Learning objectives:

• Explore the interrelationship between the human population and disease
• Analyze prevalent chronic diseases and public health interventions in the U.S.
• Review the factors contributing to variation in health on an international scale
• Apply practical approaches for disease control and improving population health