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• January Term Home

Institutional Studies

INST 1500: THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM [3]

This course has been cancelled.

Robert D. Powers, MD MPH, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Sociologyr

This course is offered on a Credit/No-credit basis only. se is full.

This course offers students an opportunity to learn about the structure and function of the US health care system. It is of interest to those considering a career in the health professions as well as anyone seeking to be an informed consumer and citizen. Lectures and seminar discussion will cover the history and current status of American health and health care delivery, and identify and discuss the challenges that face providers, patients, payers, and policy makers as health care becomes more effective and more expensive. Issues related to manpower, financing, access, disparities, the law, and technology will be addressed, with discussion centered around approaches to understanding and solving the most significant problems. Critical thinking will be encouraged by analysis of problematic topics including the conflict between profit and care delivery, the growing ranks of uninsured despite a healthy economy, and controversies in areas including malpractice, “lifestyle” medicine, and ethics.

As a final exercise, students will be asked to devise a viable intervention which will result in a 10% increase in the number of patients receiving necessary health care services at either the national, state, or local level.

INST 1500: Leadership and Ethics for Tomorrow's Physicians [3]

This course has been cancelled.

Patricia Tereskerz, Associate Professor

This course is offered on a Credit/No-credit basis only.

This course provides a unique opportunity for pre-med and other health profession students to take an interdisciplinary course from medical school faculty.  The case book method of instruction is used to explore ethical challenges confronted in the practice of medicine and medical research.  In addition to lectures, students will also have opportunity to observe physicians practice medicine as well as attend the ethics consult service.