Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Leadership

Purpose

The Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Leadership has the following two reinforcing purpose impacts

• The positive impact on leadership and management will lead to efficiency gains in healthcare provision in both the private and public sectors.
• Securing efficiency gains in healthcare provision promotes good health and well-being which means that the qualification will support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: "To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages".

The qualification will target qualifying healthcare professionals entering or in senior management to develop knowledge and skills for leading and managing health systems and services in contemporary and complex healthcare environments. The qualification will present all aspects of business, enabling delegates to operate at the senior management level through gaining competencies in design and implementation strategies, solving complex problems, operating in a global environment, and understanding the role of organisations in society. It develops the knowledge and competencies associated with Masters of Business Administration (MBA) graduates but within the specialised context and requirements of healthcare management.

The qualification will maintain the generic management and leadership skills development focus of a general MBA. Candidates will bring professional and specialised knowledge, and the qualification will enable the development of the knowledge and skills needed as they move into leadership roles. In addition to the development of generic management and leadership competencies, the qualification will expose the candidates to issues and important developments in the complex healthcare sector. Case studies based in the healthcare and related sectors will form an integral part of the programme curriculum.

Rationale

The global healthcare crisis exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic, and the long-standing issues in healthcare management and delivery in South Africa and Africa have highlighted the need for the development of knowledge, skills and expertise in healthcare leadership.

The specialist qualification has become even more urgent with the introduction of the National Health Insurance by the South African Government. The cohort in the qualification will include healthcare professionals and other candidates working in administration within the sector who do not have a professional healthcare background.

Over the last few years, the institution has had several qualified medical doctors and other healthcare practitioners undertaking the Master of Business Administration (MBA), with a few going on to pursue Doctoral degrees, as they move into various leadership positions across the healthcare sector in private and public hospitals, medical practices, and private Medical Insurance (Medical Aid) organisations. In addition, there have been many MBA candidates who are employed in the healthcare sector but who have limited knowledge of the sector. These MBA graduates have been vocal proponents of programmes with a specialisation in Healthcare Leadership.

The qualification was developed in consultation with the Board of Governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a highly regarded body. These fall into five (5) overlapping areas: Leadership, Professionalism, Communication and Relationship Management, Knowledge of the Healthcare Environment, and Business Skills and Knowledge. The qualification was developed in consultation with several schools within the Health Sciences Faculty and the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, as well as with the Bauer Business School, University of Houston. A unique feature of this qualification is the close collaboration between the Wits Business School (WBS) and the Faculty of Health Sciences in the development and rollout of the qualification.

The Wits Health Sciences Faculty is consistently ranked in the Top 100 worldwide and is renowned for specialised Healthcare training and research. The Wits Health Sciences Faculty co-manages six large teaching hospitals in Gauteng and has other attachments with rural healthcare facilities in neighbouring provinces. The partnership between WBS and Wits Health Sciences will entail close collaboration on the qualification development and implementation which will enhance the relevance and impact of the programme content.

The qualification will cater for public and private healthcare provision, management positions linked directly to healthcare provision (e.g. of hospitals or staff), movement between related and supporting sectors (e.g. medical insurance, corporate healthcare services, pharmaceuticals, supporting research and laboratory organisations), and entrepreneurial endeavours - small clinics, private practice, allied healthcare partnerships (psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation services) etc.

To cater for a variety of management development needs that exist in the healthcare sector, the institution is proposing a learning continuum that is collaboratively developed and provides a learning pathway. This will comprise a specialist Management Advancement Programme (MAP) in Healthcare Leadership that is based on the flagship executive education short course at WBS, through a specialist Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Leadership and Masters in Business Administration (Healthcare Leadership).

This approach allows multiple access points to a variety of envisaged target market candidates which include managers, leaders, and executives in various parts of the sector, including public and private hospitals, private practices, and allied areas such as medical aid providers and the pharmaceutical industry. Historically many supervisory or management positions, particularly in the public health sector, are held by professionals who have moved up the ranks based on performance and expertise, but who do not have any business or management training, and in many instances do not hold appropriate NQF-registered qualifications to allow access into an MBA. The qualification supports the widening of access to suitable candidates in a sector with a dire need for strong management and leadership capacity.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is applicable with regard to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Administration Honours

Or

• Bachelor of Business Administration Honours

Or

• Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Leadership, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Care Management, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Systems Management in Executive Leadership, NQF Level 8.

And

• Minimum four years of managerial or supervisory work experience.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Levels 8 and 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 20 Credits

• Strategic Marketing and Branding Healthcare Organisations, 10 Credits
• Entrepreneurship in Healthcare, 10 Credits

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 140 Credits

• Research Methods and Ethics for Healthcare Leadership, 15 Credits.
• Strategic Leadership in Healthcare, 10 Credits.
• Strategies for Leading Change in Healthcare, 10 Credits.
• Strategic Management of the Healthcare Value Chain, 10 Credits.
• Digital Enterprise Management in a Healthcare Environment, 10 Credits.
• Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making in Healthcare, 10 Credits.
• Evolving Healthcare Law, Policy and Ethics, 10 Credits.
• Healthcare Economics, 10 Credits.
• Global Trends in Healthcare, 10 Credits.
• Leadership Quest in Healthcare, 20 Credits.
• Applied Research Report in Healthcare Leadership, 25 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 20 Credits (Select any two modules from the following options)

• Healthcare in Society, 10 Credits.
• Healthcare Information Management, 10 Credits.
• Healthcare Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, 10 Credits.
• Healthcare Systems and Policy, 10 Credits.
• Organisational Design Development and Behaviour in Healthcare, 10 Credits.
• Managing Talent in Healthcare Organisations, 10 Credits.
• Foreign Elective A, 10 Credits.
• Foreign Elective B, 10 Credits.
• International Study Exchange, 20 Credits.

1. Lead the creation of a shared vision and strategy, effectively manage change, and establish a culture of excellence in support of successful organisation performance.
2. Demonstrate a personal and organisational commitment to ethical and professional conduct that encompasses service excellence, community and stakeholder orientation, a quality and continuous improvement focus, and lifelong learning and development.
3. Establish and maintain strong relationships and teams that encourage critical, constructive, and productive engagements, and support collaborative, evidence-led decision-making.
4. Communicate intentionally, constructively and effectively through both written and verbal means, with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to achieve specific goals.
5. Address complex challenges and problems within an organisation through a critical appreciation of the interdependency, integration and competition within a sector, and the evaluation and application of domain-specific trends, practices, and standards.
6. Demonstrate evidence-based decision-making using appropriate quantitative and qualitative tools including inter alia data analytics and artificial intelligence.
7. Apply appropriate business principles and systems thinking to the leadership of an organisation or department, including financial management, governance and risk management, and general management of specialist functional areas.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Show a clearly articulated vision and cohesive strategy to a given situation with clear evidence of collaborative design.
• Provide an insightful, comprehensive, and appropriate approach to a given change management scenario.
• Design a comprehensive and inspirational plan and communication strategy for excellence in targeted organisation areas or functions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Provide evidence of deep commitment to and understanding of ethics, professional conduct, and service excellence.
• Demonstrate community and stakeholder awareness and orientation for given scenarios.
• Show the depth of self-awareness and evidence of quality and continuous improvement focus in identifying strengths, weaknesses and appropriate learning and development goals and opportunities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate a strong collaborative and constructive work ethic in undertaking assessment and class activities.
• Consider relationships and teams in responses to assessment tasks.
• Identify, gather, analyse, and interpret appropriate data and evidence to support decision-making and recommendations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Provide clarity and effectiveness in all written and verbal communication in class, individual and small group engagements and assessments.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Apply insight, specialist knowledge and skills in approaching complex challenges.
• Engage with and evaluate trends, practices and standards applicable to given scenarios.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Show completeness, accuracy and depth in the synthesis, analysis, interpretation and evaluation of data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Lead a systems thinking approach to the analysis of given situations.
• Construct an appropriate response through the application of appropriate business principles.