Middle Tennessee State University MGMT 6250 Health Care Resources Management Syllabus

MGMT 6250 Health Care Resources Management

3 Credits
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Richard J. Tarpey
Office Phone: 615-898-5312
Email: Richard.tarpey@mtsu.edu
Office Hours: by appointment outside of the times provided below
 Mondays & Wednesdays: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
 Tuesdays: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

COURSE INFORMATION
Description
This course addresses the forecasting, planning, utilization, and management of resources within the
healthcare industry and peripheral industry organizations. Students examine the full spectrum of
resource management to meet a healthcare leader’s highly complex demands. The course takes a
practical hands-on approach via discussion, readings, case studies, and project work to learn
fundamental operational concepts to be a successful healthcare leader.
This course utilizes spreadsheets and diagramming tools to complete projects and increase critical
computer skills in today’s operations management environment. The class relies on Readings, Videos,
PowerPoints, Discussion Boards, Assignments, and Projects/Activities.

Objectives
This course has the following learning objectives:

 Analyze and predict the impact of healthcare fragmentation and regulatory/policy environments
on operational decision-making.
 Apply the management decision-making process to healthcare-specific operational problems
 Build and design efficient and effective operational models and strategies
 Integrate health care management theory with real-world situations
 Develop skills in using materials, tools, concepts, and technology central to health care resource
management

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Middle Tennessee State University MGMT 6250 Health Care Resources Management Syllabus

Topics Covered
The course is organized into three main modules as listed below:

1. Module #1 - Health Care Operations Introduction

2. Module #2 - Process Management, Six Sigma, and Lean
3. Module #3 – Patient Throughput
4. Module #4 - Productivity and Performance Management
5. Module #5 - Operations Resource Analysis & Capstone

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

 None

COURSE MATERIALS
Required Textbooks
Healthcare Operations Management – Fourth Edition by Daniel McLaughlin, John R. Olson, and Luv
Sharma

Supplementary Materials
Materials for this course and access instructions are loaded in D2L. The course will leverage multiple
internet readings and video sources. Each element will include links and access instructions.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

Grading Procedure
Grades in this course reflect students’ mastery of the skills associated with the course objectives.
Discussion grades assess students’ ability to address a question with thought and clarity, demonstrating
a depth of understanding through applying module content. Students’ assessment includes the ability to
respond to one, two, or more classmates with thoughtful and supportive responses, including
references to course content. Dropbox assignments allow students to apply course concepts to real-
world or simulated problems to formulate solutions. Finally, the final project will enable students to
demonstrate their understanding of the Lean Continuous Improvement process by analyzing and
improving an existing process.

Well-constructed solutions to assigned problems are a requirement for high course achievement

This course is a graduate course. Therefore, expectations are higher for your performance than in
undergraduate courses.  Graduate work is submitted well-structured and on time.  You are expected to
review the assignment requirements, instructions, and rubrics carefully to understand the expectations. 

Dropbox assignments are accepted up to two days late with a letter grade deduction for each day late. 
Submissions later than 2 days will be considered on a case-by-case basis with documented
circumstances*.

 Discussion Board assignments are not accepted late without documented circumstances*.  
 Topic Response assignments are not accepted late without documented circumstances*.  
 Final Capstone Presentations are not accepted late under any circumstances.

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* Documented circumstances include illnesses such as COVID-19.  They do not include things like being
too busy at work, being too busy with other classes, a lack of awareness of due dates, etc. 

Grading Scale

Assignment Points/Percentage
Discussions Approx. 15%
Drop Box Assignments Approx. 25%
Capstone Case Study (Group
Approx. 15%
Presentation Recording)
Topic Responses Approx. 40%
Final Exam Approx. 5%
Total 100%

Late Assignment Consideration Reduction

1 day late 5%
2 days late 10%
No credit without
Past 2 days late
documented circumstances

Grades are based exclusively on points, not on percentages. Therefore, if you earn 89 points, you will
receive a B for the course. There is no rounding or “bumping up” of grades.

Feedback
 I will make all efforts to respond to emails within 24 hours on business days. Emails sent on
weekends will be answered within 48 hours.
 Grades for assignments will be posted in D2L within two weeks of the assignment submission,
depending on the nature and length of the course and assignment type. I will do my best to post
these grades within one week of the assignment submission.
 Assignments must be submitted to the appropriate Dropbox and will not be accepted via email.
 All assignment deadlines are included in the Dropbox and in the calendar in D2L.

Capstone Project
The final project is a case study presented in a group format. You will be assigned to a group in the first
week of the class. Your group will prepare a recorded case study presentation addressing the various
aspects of the case as addressed in the case questions.

PARTICIPATION
Class Participation
Student participation is required in all aspects of the course. Please adhere to the following:

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 participation is required; you are expected to log into the course a minimum of 3 times per
week;
 communication with other students in team projects is expected on a regular basis;
 adhere to all due dates and deadlines as listed in your course calendar;
 utilize the ask the class discussion board when you have questions about course content
 communicate with the instructor as a learning resource;
 check the course homepage for important announcements from the instructor.

Academic Integrity/Misconduct
Please review the information on Academic Integrity and Misconduct. The instructor will be submitting
materials to an online service (Turnitin.com), which will review the work for plagiarism. Students should
also review the report generated for each assignment and self-check for plagiarism. Information on how
to cite work correctly is provided within the course modules or through the University Writing Center.
You may read more about how to avoid plagiarism from the Office of the University Provost.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Such conduct includes, but
is not limited to:

 Submitting as one’s own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer
programs, or other projects prepared by another person
 Knowingly assisting another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials
 Submitting assignments previously used in other courses where you received credit for the work
 Improperly crediting or lack of crediting an original author’s work

Students guilty of academic misconduct are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In
addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions (including expulsion from the university), which may be
imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor
has the authority to assign an “F” or zero for an activity or to assign an “F” for the course. Students guilty
of plagiarism will be immediately reported to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

The True Blue Pledge

MTSU Online students are asked to complete an oath of academic integrity and to verify commitment to
the True Blue Pledge in an ongoing effort to address academic misconduct. 

I am True Blue
As a member of this diverse community, I am a valuable contributor to its progress and success. I am
engaged in the life of this community. I am a recipient and a giver. I am a listener and a speaker. I am
honest in word and deed. I am committed to reason, not violence. I am a learner now and forever. I am
a BLUE RAIDER. True Blue!

Punctuality
Provide course milestones to keep the students on track in an asynchronous environment.

Attendance Reporting
MTSU Administration requires that instructors complete an attendance report for each course each
semester. Regular class attendance is required and will be monitored by the D2L system report,

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participation in the discussion board, and timely submission of course assignments. If several class
assignment submissions are missing, student attendance will be reported as “no longer attending.”

Course Ground Rules

The following are expected of all students in this course:

 learn how to navigate in the learning management system; refer to your D2L resources within
the course for help;
 address technical problems immediately; and
 be respectful to your instructor and peers; refrain from derogatory statements.

Email
Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all course communication will be conducted
using D2L email. Faculty will not respond to student emails via a non-institutional assigned email

STUDENT RESOURCES
Technical Support
D2L Resources are available to MTSU Online Students. You can also find help for some of the basic
functions of D2L used most often directly in your D2L course under the module titled D2L Tools &
Tips_Student.

Students with Disabilities

Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any student
interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website
and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or DAC Email

Tutoring
MTSU Online supports multiple Online Student Services.

Grade Appeals
University Policy 313, Student Grade Appeals, provides an avenue for MTSU students to appeal a final
course grade in cases in which the student alleges that unethical or unprofessional actions by the
instructor and/or grading inequities improperly impacted the final grade.

Title IX
Students who believe they have been harassed, discriminated against, or been the victim of sexual
assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking should contact a Title IX/Deputy Coordinator at
615-898- 2185 or 615-898-2750 for assistance or review MTSU’s Title IX website for resources.

MTSU faculty are concerned about the well-being and development of our students and are legally
obligated to share reports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking with the
University’s Title IX coordinator to help ensure student’s safety and welfare. Please refer to MTSU’s Title
IX website or contact information and details.