This module aims to introduce students to the key concepts and tools required by non – financial managers for managing the financial aspects of their health care practice. The role of finance management will be addressed within the context of the healthcare setting with specific focus on how the finance function contributes to the decision-making process within the organization.

1. Understand the role of financial management and the finance function within the organisation;

2. Critically discuss the budget preparation and control responsibilities of health care providers;

3. Critically analyse the financial planning process and the budgetary tools used in health care;

4. Critically analyse annual financial statements;

5. Critically discuss the concepts of discounting and compounding;

6. Critically reflect on how health care costs are defined and managed;

7. Understand the concepts of efficiency, effectiveness, economy and value for money;

8. Critically discuss the methods by which working capital is managed in a health care organisation;

9. Critically examine the role of Audit in the financial management of health care organisations;

10. Critically examine investment appraisal methods;

11. Critically discuss programme budgeting and business case analysis in healthcare;

12. Critically explore the characteristics of healthcare finance in a selection of international health care settings.

The aim of this module is to develop students’ understanding of the core and current management frameworks, theories and tools as well as develop their competence to assess their relevance to the issues of twenty- first century leadership in health care settings. The module will also explore the use of evidence- based management for effective planning and decision- making by today’s healthcare managers and leaders. Finally, the contributions that change management and organisational development theory make to overcoming the challenge of change in health care will be evaluated.

1. Critically reflect upon a range of leadership styles, management theories, processes and practices as well as the concept of power within healthcare organisations

2. Critically evaluate the efficacy of a range of decision-making models for application in healthcare settings

3. Critically explore contemporary motivational strategies and tools to enhance the healthcare working environment from both a managers and employee perspective

4. Critically evaluate the contribution that change management and organisational theory make to resolve the challenges of change in healthcare settings

5. Critically evaluate how a leaders style of communication can impact on the effectiveness of the health care environment at an individual, team and organisational level

6. Critically debate the managers role in human resource management as well as the efficacy of a range of conflict management models in healthcare

7. Critically evaluate the contribution that operational management theory can provide in support of problem resolution in healthcare contexts as well as the role of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship as it relates to healthcare management

8. Critically explore the global challenges healthcare managers/ leaders are encountering as well as strategies to manage such challenges

This module will enable students to develop an understanding and appreciation of ethical perspectives and issues in health care, so as to enhance their professional managerial practice.

1. Critically evaluate a range of historical and contemporary ethical theories/frameworks.

2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the complexities of autonomy in healthcare.

3. Critically engage with ethical issues which arise in relation to truth-telling and whistle-blowing.

4. Explore critically the complexities surrounding confidentiality in management practice.

5. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the role of informed consent in health care and the role of the manager therein.

6. Critically debate the ethical issues surrounding resource allocation.

7. Critically discuss the manager/leaders role in developing an ethics culture and modelling ethical leadership.

8. Critically discuss ethical decision making in healthcare management.

9. Critically debate the ethical issues encountered in managing individuals and groups.

10. Critically discuss key legal and ethical issues in the health care environment.

11. Critically discuss the concepts of diversity as it relates to ethics: sexual; social; competency.

This module aims to enable the student to examine the International drive for improving quality, safety and governance within healthcare systems. The management of quality through the various stages of the quality management cycle, from needs to analysis as well as audit and evaluation will be explored with an emphasis on governance, leadership and quality improvement approaches.

1. Critique international legislation and policy context relating to the management of quality and governance in healthcare.

2. Critically appraise the international drive for improving quality and patient safety in healthcare.

3. Critically determine the implications for quality healthcare provision considering patient safety concerns in healthcare systems.

4. Critically appraise the concept of quality in relation to ethics, economics, consumerism and patient engagement.

5. Appraise the systems and structures required to ensure effective utilisation of relevant health information pertaining to policy development, service planning, monitoring, management and administration of health services with regards to quality.

6. Critique ‘quality’ as an underpinning concept within corporate governance, clinical governance and risk management, analysing the key elements, structures, systems and processes required to incorporate clinical governance into healthcare organisations.

7. Critically appraise different approaches and models of quality improvement within healthcare.

8. Critically discuss the concept of leadership in the context of quality and patient safety.

The module introduces the students to the nature and purpose of organisations. The structure and design of healthcare organisations is discussed. The module will also explore the various types of organisation that can be utilised in healthcare. The relationship between strategy and organisational design will be highlighted. The theory and practice of strategy be examined. Students will have an opportunity to explore how these practices interact in the provision of healthcare. Specific attention will focus on the role of healthcare managers to influence organisational structure, strategic decision making and within the healthcare sector.

1. Critically explore the purpose of an organisation and how that purpose influences the structure of the health care organisation.

2. Critically discuss the components required in the design and operation of the organisational structure.

3. Critically analyse the contingency approach to the design and operation of healthcare organisations.

4. Critically explore the various types of organisation that can be used in healthcare.

5. Critically compare the structure of the Irish health service with the structure of health systems in other countries.

6. Critically discuss the role of strategy.

7. Critically examine the different approaches to strategy making.

8. Critically discuss the process involved in strategic management in the healthcare sector.

This module aims to develop students' critically analytical skills and understanding of the concept of evidence base project management in contemporary healthcare. Students will be facilitated in planning an evidenced-based project on a specific healthcare quality improvement opportunity. Students will apply project management tools and techniques in the development of their plan and develop a deeper understanding of project management methodologies and their application. Students will be facilitated to develop a plan for the management of the project through the process of action learning. Hence developing their leadership, communication critical analytical and reflective skills

1. Critically examine the feasibility to support an evidence-based quality improvement project opportunity

2. Critically discuss an evidence-based change management project lifecycle and its supporting processes;

3. Produce a road map for the project plan defining the project in terms of measurable outcomes for the project directional phase, analysis phase, strategy making phase and implementation phase

4. Justify in a critical manner an appropriate evaluation framework for the project

5. Critically examine key areas of stakeholder analysis and enrolment time management and the management of risks, human and material resources and communication during the lifecycle of the project

6. Demonstrate critical awareness of areas for personal growth and development in order to ensure successful project implementation

In this module the students will gain a critical understanding of the cycle of evidence-based practice and its basis in clinical decision making and clinical effectiveness. A systematic review of evidence related to a practice topic will be undertaken with the support of a supervisor. This will include developing a PICOT question, evidence searching and retrieval, reviewing, interpreting, appraising, evaluating and synthesising published evidence.

1. Formulate a comprehensive and focused PICOT question related to an aspect of professional practice.

2. Plan and document a strategy to conduct a systematic search and retrieve appropriate evidence based on the PICOT question.

3. Critically appraise and evaluate the quality of evidence for its validity, reliability and applicability to answer the PICOT question.

4. Critically evaluate the research designs and research outputs, appraising the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence.

5. Evaluate and synthesis data from the body of evidence using reliable techniques to show the strength and direction of evidence related to the review question.

6. Critically defend recommendations for practice/policy/education/research that develop from the appraised body of evidence.

7. Appraise the implementation of evidence-based recommendations in the context of clinical decision making and quality improvement.