| Unit name | Accounting and Finance in Healthcare Organisations |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACFIM0001 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Gebreiter |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Accounting and Finance forms a broad range of tools and techniques that aim to support organisations in developing, executing, and financing their chosen purpose. These approaches were typically developed in business organisations, but they have significant potential relevance to non-business organisations, such as helthcare providers. Taking advantage of such potential requires an understanding of the “standard” approach to accounting and finance as often important stakeholders outside the organisation will be familiar with this and it will likely inform their expectations. The standard approach also helps address challenges that are similar to those faced in business organisations and healthcare settings. Even in business settings however, a critical approach is always required in applying the standard approach. The strength of accounting and finance tools and approaches often lies more in how they help with framing important questions more than in providing concrete answers.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit fits the MSc Healthcare Management Programme’s goal of equipping graduates and professionals interested in pursuing a career in management with an in-depth understanding of how to successfully manage accounting and finance in health and social care organisations. This unit complements other core Programme units on leadership, patient safety, and quality improvement by providing students with knowledge and understanding of how accounting and finance are used for effective and efficient leadership, management, and improvement of health and social care services.
An overview of content
Accounting and Finance represents a very broad area of activity. We will be breaking it down into main areas of focus, including financing and commissioning healthcare, interpreting accounting statements, analyzing cost information, capital investment and PFI, budgeting and models of performance measurement.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
At the end of this unit, you will have a benefitted from the learning materials and the insights shared by your lecturers and coursemates to develop a detailed and critical understanding of accounting and finance mechanisms, and of how they manifest themselves in healthcare organisations.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the session/course/programme a successful student will be able to:
1. Explain and discuss how healthcare organisations are financed, how financial planning and control is exercised and how financial accountability is ensured.
2. Employ financial management theories and techniques in a way that contributes to successful management practive within a healthcare context.
3. Describe and identify the main financial management and reporting theories and techniques in the context of managerial and clinical decision making.
The unit will be taught through a mixture of self-guided study materials, real time and recorded lectures, web-based tutorials and discussions, case study work, readings, and activities. There will be some compulsory pre-course work which will include core readings and critical analysis which the students are required to carry out. The use of the Blackboard online learning environment will be actively pursued to develop students’ understanding and engagement with the unit content.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Formative Assessment (ILO 1,3) Formative assessment will be delivered according to what is appropriate to the learning outcomes. It will allow students to evaluate the progress of their learning.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Class tests (ILO 1,2,3) – Students will sit two class tests which consist of a series of short questions designed to assess their broad understanding of health care finance, accounting issues and techniques. Each test counts for 10% of the mark, so overall this assessment is weighed at 20%.
Coursework (ILO 1,2,3) – The coursework is an individual 3000 word essay which allows for the assessment of students’ detailed understanding of a health service financial management topic. This assessment is weighed at 80%.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis. For the class tests, this will involve new sets of questions. For the coursework, this will involve a revised version of the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACFIM0001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
