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92050 Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Handbook description

This subject covers the essential knowledge of the policy and political environment in which health services operate. Health services managers need to understand the political environment in which decisions are made, how health policies are formulated and enacted and how they are received. The subject covers the theoretical framework for studying policy and politics particularly in relation to government policy, the ways policies are formulated, the balance of power between different stakeholders in the development of health services policies and decisions, how the health and political systems manage issues and the influence of the stakeholders and the media in the management of health services issues.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Describe how government policy is formulated, nationally and internationally.
  2. Differentiate between the political ideologies that underpin the delivery of healthcare services.
  3. Evaluate the impact on existing and emerging health policies in the management of health services.
  4. Analyse the use of power in decision making in government and organisations.
  5. Apply a framework for policy analysis.
  6. Assess the role of key stakeholders in policy agenda setting.
  7. Evaluate the role of senior management, stakeholders and governments in managing emerging issues and developing policies.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

This subject aims to develop in students a knowledge of the policy process of governments and the health industry, an understanding of the concept of power in organisations, and skills in the study of politics to apply to the management of health services.

The graduate attributes addressed by this subject are:

  1. Critical thinker who influences practice, policy, and research to achieve clinical excellence and transform healthcare services (Critical Thinking)
  2. Effective leader who considers health care in a global context (Leadership)
  3. Socially and ethically accountable when engaging with individuals, interdisciplinary teams, communities, organisations, and jurisdictions (Accountability)
  4. Effective and appropriate communicator in challenging, complex, and diverse situations (Communication)
  5. Professionally culturally competent which contributes to the health and wellbeing of indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (Indigenous Awareness)

Content

  • Introduction to policy, politics and power
  • Policy - legal and ethical mandate, strategic policy processes/cycles and development, stakeholders, media, consumers, and other lobby groups, wicked problems and sensitive issues, global health policy, resource allocation, policy implementation in healthcare organisations, government process of policy development, communicating a policy, evaluation of a policy, cultural considerations of policy development, special policies for disadvantaged groups.
  • Power - concepts, power of indviduals, groups, and organisations, legitimate and assumed power (link to 92887)
  • Politics - ideologies (public, private, and public-private provision), equity, access, and cost, rational versus the political (basic decision making), the politics of policy (briefing notes, memorandums, business cases), economics of health care (merit good versus commodity) (link to 92603)
  • Green and white paper
  • Consumer engagement in policy development and assessment for the policy
  • Economic evaluation of policies and programs
  • Development, application and evaluation of human resource policies and procedures, particularly in relation to EEO, managing diversity, and managing cultural differences.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Assignment 1 - Media Analysis

Objective(s):

1,4,6 and 7
Weighting: 20
Length:

Maximum 1000 words
Criteria:

15% Describes the issue relevant to the policy clearly and succinctly

20% Describes the impact on the citizens clearly and comprehensively

15% Provides an analysis of how the policy is portrayed by the media in relation to the policy formulation process

15% Provides an analysis of how the policy is portrayed by the media in relation to existing and emerging policies

20% Provides an analysis of how the policy is portrayed by the media in relation to key stakeholders, senior management, and government

15% Presents correct grammar, spelling, formatting, style, and referencing

Assessment Item 2: Assignment 2 - White Paper

Objective(s):

1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7
Weighting: 30
Length:

Maximum 1500 words
Criteria:

15% Describes the issue requiring a solution clearly and succinctly

20% Describes the impact on the Australian health care system clearly and comprehensively

30% Describes how the proposed solution will influence the issue, including timelines and resources

20% Outlines the key stakeholders that are required to be contributors

15% Presents correct grammar, spelling, formatting, white paper style, and referencing

Assessment Item 3: Assignment 3 - Policy Analysis

Objective(s):

2,3, 5,6 and 7
Weighting: 50
Length:

Maximum 2000 words
Criteria:

10% Describes the issue that led to the policy being developed (maximum 200 words)

15% Describes the implementation of the policy (maximum 250 words)

20% Identifies four groups in the community that were legitimate stakeholders in this issue, and describes their capacity to influence decision making on this issue from a political and power perspective (maximum 500 words)

NB one of the groups must be the relevant government (state or federal) at the time of policy development

30% Provides a comprehensive analysis of the policy

15% Justifies whether the policy should be considered a success or a failure based on evidence of wide reading

10% Presents correct grammar, spelling, formatting, report style, and referencing

Required texts

Palmer, G. & Short, S. 2010, Health care and public policy: an Australian analysis, 4th edn, Palgrave Macmillan, Melbourne.

Recommended texts

Additional texts:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2012, Australia's Health 2012, AIHW, Canberra http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737422172

Barraclough, S. & Gardner, H. (eds) 2008, Analysing health policy: a problem-oriented approach, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier., Sydney.

Blank, R.H. & Burau, V. 2010 Comparative health policy, 3rd edn, Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Buse, K., Mays, N. & Walt, G. 2005, Making health policy, Open University Press, London.

Clinton, M. (ed.) 2004, Management in the Australian health care industry, 3rd edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

Duckett, S. 2007, The Australian health care system, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Taylor, S., Foster, m. & Fleming, J. (eds) 2008, Health care practice in Australia policy context and innovations, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Willis, E., Reynolds, L. & Keleher, H. (eds) 2012, Understanding the Australian health care system, 2nd edn, Elsevier, Chatswood NSW.

Additional readings:
Readings for each lecture day session are provided in the Lecture Outline, available on UTSOnline.

You are strongly encouraged to read at least one significant daily newspaper each day to follow current health issues (the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, the Financial Review, The Age, TheCourier Mail, etc.). Newspapers are preferable to television or radio for providing detailed discussions of issues and stakeholders’ views. Newspapers are easily available via their websites.

NB. As this is a subject that examines topical policy issues, additional readings may be posted to UTSOnline from time to time. Announcements will be made on UTSOnline when additional material is posted to UTSOnline but an email will not be sent on each occasion. UTSOnline will also list other readings that form the basis of the lectures or that students may find useful in preparing for their assignments.

Other resources

UTS Student Centres

Building 10
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Telephone: 9514 4911

Website details for student centres: https://servicedesk.uts.edu.au/CAisd/pdmweb.exe.
For other resources/information refer to the Faculty of Health website (https://www.health.uts.edu.au/students/current/index.html) or UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/.

Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS ( www.ssu.uts.edu.au/help). HELPS is located in Student Services, on level 3 building 1 at City Campus and via the Student Services area at Kuring-gai. Phone 9514-2327 or 9514-2361

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.