The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of business administration with particular regard to healthcare companies and the relationships that the healthcare company has with its stakeholders. The course will focus on the economic components of the health care system, with the aim of initiating students to the knowledge and understanding of the main problems and tools of health care systems, the interactions in health care between planning, evaluation, organization and management, the main methods and tools of governance for the management of health care companies.

1. Knowledge and understanding
Acquire fundamental knowledge of the financing mechanisms of the Italian National Health Service (SSN), understand how healthcare organizations (Local Health Authorities – ASL, and Hospital Trusts) operate, and their organizational structures.

2. Applied knowledge and understanding
Ability to apply accounting reporting tools and management control systems. Use performance evaluation methods and tools such as financial statements, cost analysis, and management control.

3. Autonomy of judgment
Ability to critically assess the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of healthcare services. Capacity to interpret data and impact indicators (economic and health-related) in order to make informed decisions and manage the complexity of healthcare systems.

4. Communication skills
Ability to communicate clearly and using appropriate technical language the management strategies of healthcare organizations, the performance achieved, and critical issues to both specialist and non-specialist audiences (e.g. corporate management, healthcare professionals, policy makers).

5. Learning skills
Develop self-learning skills necessary for continuous updating on organizational models, healthcare regulations, and technological innovations.

The course will include lectures with the aid of MS-power point.

None.

Mandatory

FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS (7 h)

• Introduction: business administration and the firm (slides)

• The Italian NHS: characterizing aspects (chapter 2 - Zangrandi)

• Corporatization and healthcare companies (slides)

• The principles of good governance and the autonomy of healthcare companies (Part 1, chap. 2 - Sorci)

• Healthcare seen through the eyes of economists (chapter 1 - Zangrandi)

• Financing of the NHS (chapter 2 - Zangrandi)

• Business success and entrepreneurial formula (Part I, chap. 5 - Sorci)

TOOLS FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF HEALTHCARE COMPANIES: GENERAL ACCOUNTING ...

• The financial statements and the financial statements of a healthcare company (Part II, chap. 1 - Sorci)

... AND ANALYTICAL ACCOUNTING (7h)

• Management control as a system (Part III, chap. 7 - Sorci) 

• Static cost analysis and allocation criteria (Part III, Chapter 1 - Sorci)

• Dynamic cost analysis and profitability diagram (Part III, Ch. 2 - Sorci)

• Sorci C., Lezioni di Economia aziendale, Giuffrè, Milan, (second edition) 2014, part I, ch. 2 and 5; part II, ch. 1; part III, ch. 1, 2 and 7.
• Zangrandi A., (2010). Economia e Management per le professioni sanitarie. McGrawHill, ch. 1 and 2.
• Slides provided by the teacher.

Written exam: 10 multiple choice questions, each worth 3 points; the test is passed with at least 6 correct answers; test duration: 15 minutes.

• What are the basic principles of governance?
• What are the funding criteria of the NHS?
• What do DRG and LEA mean?
• What are the characteristics of the financial statements of a healthcare company?
• What variables are present in the profitability diagram?
• What are the main criteria for allocating indirect costs?