Course:           INTS 1XXX:  World Comparative Health Care Systems [Summer 2015]

                         

Location:        Graz, Austria

 

Instructor:      Orin A. James    

 

Credits: 4 credits (4 weeks)                               

 

Textbook:       TBA

 

The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in the health sciences field will grow anywhere from 20 to 50 percent between now and 2022. As universities and hospitals try to keep pace with the sharp increase of demand for skilled workers in this field, it is also important to remember that this field will not remain static.  As America faces new opportunities for technological uses and an ever evolving diverse population, there remain possibilities to restructure not only our health care system, but also the laws affecting our health care system, thereby making for a more efficient and effective system.  Leaders knowledgeable broadly about the healthcare system will be needed in all areas of healthcare: nurses, physicians, allied health workers, among many others -  This study abroad experience will immerse the student in an international environment where health care and policy differs significantly from the United States,  in order that the student may learn a different approach  than what is being practiced in America.

 

Objectives: Upon completion of this experience.  Students will have knowledge of how the American health care system works, what are some of the fundamentals ideas that have framed it and the processes taken to modify it.  Students will also gain knowledge of the health care system in various parts of Europe along with some of the fundamental ideas that have framed it and the processes taken to modify it.  Students will also understand the various ways in which health is defined, how the elderly are cared for and the role the environment plays in health.  Objectives will be met by way of in class discussions and lectures, excursions to various hospitals in Austria and possibly a series to trips to surrounding countries.

 

Missed Classes and Extra Credit: This abroad experience is a great way for you to gain real world -experience with your global counterparts.  Therefore, it is imperative that you attend all meetings and excursions.  With the exception of extenuating circumstances, you are not permitted to miss any planned meeting or excursion.  There will be plenty of time and opportunity for you to travel and sight see on your own.

There will be no other work assigned for extra credit. 

 

Grading:  Grades will be assigned as follows.

 

A+       96.7  - 100%                C          73.4  - 76.6%

A         93.4  - 96.6%               C-        70.0  - 73.3%

A-        90.0  - 93.3%               D+       66.7  - 69.9%

B+        86.7  - 89.9%               D         63.4  - 66.6%

B          83.4  - 86.6%               D-        60.0 – 63.3%

B-        80.0  - 83.3%               F          <60%

C+        76.7  - 79.9%

 

                Attendance, Participation (assignments)                 20%

                First Exam                                                               20%

                Second Exam                                                          20%

    3 Quizzes                                                                 15%

    Presentation*  (see below)                                      25%

 

Classroom Civility:  To establish a comfortable learning environment, we must have mutual respect and civility.  This includes coming to class on time, and respecting each other’s  viewpoints.

 

Academic Integrity:  Students in this class will be expected to adhere to The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Academic Integrity Policy that reads as follows:

 

Members of the University community, both faculty and students, bear a serious responsibility to uphold personal and professional integrity and to maintain complete honesty in all academic work. Violations of the code of academic integrity are not tolerated. Students who cheat or plagiarize or who otherwise take improper advantage of the work of others, face harsh penalties, including permanent dismissal. Incidents of forged signatures that are associated with any academic endeavor at Pitt-Bradford, in addition to being a criminal offense, are viewed as violations of academic integrity.  The academic integrity guidelines set forth student and faculty obligations and the means of enforcing regulations and addressing grievances. Violations of academic integrity will be tracked by the Dean of Academic Affairs. Refer to the Pitt-Bradford Student Handbook for general guidelines on academic integrity. Copies of the complete Guidelines on Academic Integrity are available in the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs (232 Swarts Hall.)

 

The Following links may be useful:

Pitt-Bradford’s Student Handbook http://www.upb.pitt.edu/uploadedFiles/Student_Life/Student-Services/StudentHandbook2008-2009.pdf

The University Library System’s tutorial on Plagiarism: http://www.library.pitt.edu/services/classes/infoliteracy/tutorials/pl2/plagiarism.htm

 

The Provost’s sites on academic integrity:

http://www.provost.pitt.edu/info/acguidelinespdf.pdf

http://www.provost.pitt.edu/info/ai1.html

 

Please pay particular note to the prohibition against plagiarism. You must use your own words in any written work!  Any evidence of plagiarism will immediately result in a failing grade for that assignment. Continued plagiarism beyond this initial warning or cheating on exams may result in the student being brought before administrative review.  If you are unsure of how to properly “paraphrase” sources, please come see me.

 

Accommodation for Disability: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact your instructor.

 

Contact information: Emergency contact information will be provided before courses begin

.

This is a tentative schedule to which we will adhere as closely as possible.

 

WEEK

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1

Intro/Tour of City

 

 

Defining Health in America

 

 

Intro to Policy and Politics

 

Quiz 1

Role of Nurses/Health Care Professionals in Policy Making

 

 

Trip to local Hospital/ Guest speaker on health insurance coverage in Austria

2

US Healthcare system

Healthcare Delivery and Financing in US

Financing Health Care in US Children-Adults.

Quiz II

Intro to Gerontology.

End of Life Care in America

 

 

Exam I

Trip to Local Nursing Home

3

Intro to Austrian/European

Health Care System

Policy and Politics in Government as it Relates to Austria

Policy and Politics in Science as it relates to Health Care in Austria

Gerontology: End of Life Care in Austria/Europe

 

 

Trip to Town Hall to observe the political process in Austria

4

Lobbying Policymakers in Austria: Individual and Collective Strategies

Policy and Politics in the Community: Homelessness and Health in Austria

Role of Community in Sustaining Policy

Quiz III

Presentations

Exam II

Trip to historical nursing site in Austria.

Presentation:  Each student will identify an Austrian healthcare policy and determine a key strategy used to implement this policy.  Strategies may include lobbying efforts, the media, special interest groups among others.  More information about this will be provided at the beginning of the course.  Each presentation will last a minimum of 15 minutes.

 

Additional local site visits may be planned

Weekend Trips may be added.