Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Management is to reskill or upskill individuals employed in the healthcare sector with core knowledge and skills required of middle managers in their designated field of work. This would apply to professions such as nursing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare administration, paramedical and allied health professions and other higher-level managerial roles in workplaces, including but not limited to hospitals and clinics, healthcare funders, pharmacies, private practices, and oversight bodies in both public and private healthcare.

The qualification is designed to build on pre-existing experiential knowledge in areas of managerial expertise and includes subject matter in the principles and theories of management practice, healthcare systems and workforce diversity, sector-specific ethics and human resource management and communication, and the digitalisation of healthcare.

The qualification will further allow learners to integrate theory and practice and become adaptable by developing an understanding of the nature of healthcare managerial work. Research theory is included to help contextualise the relevance and application of a wide range of data present in the workplace and industry.

Learners will be exposed to develop their problem-solving, decision-making, and innovative abilities through thorough conceptual knowledge acquisition and practical application of the learnt subject matter. They must also be able to exercise authority in the processes of decision-making and influencing key stakeholders. This qualification will prepare learners for managerial roles in their workplace, their career and academic advancement as a primer to further study, such as a master's qualification.

Upon completion of the qualification, a qualifying learner will be able to

• Demonstrate an understanding of healthcare systems, services, organisations and management to solve problems in a healthcare workplace.
• Communicate informed decisions about funding systems, costs associated with and resources in healthcare, whilst applying the legislative and ethical framework governing healthcare financial management.
• Develop strategies and tools used for effective project and risk management.
• Apply theoretical knowledge of management systems and information technology innovations related to healthcare when making management decisions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of research methodology related to health care and be able to apply scientific writing to the managerial processes.

Rationale

South Africa's biggest problem is that the health needs of its people continue to exceed capacity. To address the prevailing quadruple burden of disease (communicable and non-communicable, peri-natal and maternal, and injury-related illnesses), robust health systems which are underpinned by strong leadership, management, and governance are imperative.

The need for healthcare managerial skills is greater now than ever before, due to the constantly changing economic, political and environmental landscape within which healthcare must be provided. The country has a dual health system with large public and private sectors; however, the public sector serves the majority of 80% of the population, whilst the highly developed private sector serves less than 20% of the population but is responsible for 60% of total health expenditure. In this regard, there remains a perception that public sector hospitals are inefficient and ineffective, while the private sector facilities provide superior care and are more sustainable.

The development and implementation of the National Health Insurance is aimed at providing equitable Universal Health Coverage for all citizens and bridging the gaps in healthcare provision. According to the Solidarity Research Institute (2021), between 2012 and 2017, the government rolled out the National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot projects in 11 health regions across South Africa. However, they found that despite costing approximately R4 billion, none of the NHI pilot projects contributed to improving healthcare. The main reasons for this were poor infrastructure and equipment, vacancies, and poor financial and organisational planning. These are all related to fundamental managerial functions of planning, organising, leading, and controlling in the healthcare sector, and failure to develop individuals with this capacity will hinder the progression of improving healthcare delivery in South Africa.

The discipline of healthcare management is complex with a unique set of challenges requiring an integration of general management practices with clinical and healthcare knowledge. To achieve this goal, the qualification is designed to integrate an individual's work experience in the healthcare industry with theoretical knowledge gained.

The leadership structure in hospitals and clinics requires urgent review. The organisational design in hospitals and clinics is outdated and characterised as top-heavy, with many managers appointed and duplication of roles. The leadership capacity of many leaders and managers in public health leaves much to be desired, as leaders lack appropriate management skills, often appointed into these roles without any prior knowledge of management principles. These sentiments were echoed from reports and research dated over a decade ago when attempts were made to evaluate the capacity and needs of managers in health facilities in South Africa.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution recognises the importance of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in ensuring that applicants who possess skills acquired through life or work experience and non-formal education are catered for. The RPL assessment will focus on ways of evaluating a person's lifelong experiences (formal and informal) against a set of pre-determined criteria.

Recognition of prior learning takes account of

• formal study
• age
• work experience
• studies that were undertaken for the purpose of personal gain/interest

Exemption is granted for RPL when, in the assessment of the selection committee, the candidate's knowledge and skills correspond to the learning outcomes of the course or specific module for which credit is applied. It is important to remember that the selection committee will focus on the quality and not the quantity of prior learning and/or experience.

Some of the criteria that are used in evaluating non-standard applicants include

• the applicants' motivation, maturity and realistic approach to their studies.
• the job description, covering the relevant area of work, giving examples of tasks carried out, possibly supplying references.
• the nature and level of life/ work experience and prior study, and the learning which has resulted from such experience.
• details of in-company short courses, length, content of material covered, standards achieved;
• the clarity of the applicant's educational goals and objectives.
• the extent to which the applicant can provide evidence of the threshold skills and knowledge for the qualification.

A Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) will be obtained from the applicant. In keeping with the national norms, the institution will not exceed 10% of the learner population of the PGDipHCM learners via the RPL route for any particular intake.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Health Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Health Care Administration and Management, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Nursing Science: Education and Administration, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Advanced Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor of Health Sciences, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 120 Credits

• Managing Healthcare Institutions, 20 Credits.
• Health Economics, 20 Credits.
• Healthcare Projects and Risk Management, 20 Credits.
• Healthcare Financial Management, 20 Credits.
• Health Information Systems, 20 Credits.
• Research in Healthcare Management, 20 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of healthcare systems, services, organisations and management to solve problems in a healthcare workplace.
2. Develop an understanding of economic efficiency and accountability in healthcare systems.
3. Communicate informed decisions about funding systems, costs associated with and resources in healthcare, whilst applying the legislative and ethical framework governing healthcare financial management.
4. Develop strategies and tools used for effective project and risk management.
5. Apply theoretical knowledge of management systems and information technology innovations related to healthcare when making management decisions.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of research methodology related to health care and be able to apply scientific writing to the managerial processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Illustrate knowledge of operations management in a healthcare services institution.
• Outline an understanding of healthcare systems, services, organisations and management.
• Discuss the legislative frameworks related to healthcare and healthcare management.
• Employ the stages of managerial decision-making processes.
• Apply operations management decisions to the strategic objectives of a healthcare services institution.
• Illustrate how to manage people, change and performance in healthcare institutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Evaluate the nature of private and public health economics, and the changing environment with the implementation of the Universal Health Care model.
• Analyse the role of economic efficiency and cost-benefit analysis for health care.
• Appraise and demonstrate the relevance of macro- and microeconomic analysis in healthcare services management.
• Assess the impact on the economy due to societal problems such as HIV, COVID-19, and social disorders such as drug and alcohol abuse.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Compare the various strategies, tools and techniques used for effective project management in a healthcare environment.
• Differentiate between different communication tools and their use in healthcare management.
• Demonstrate insight into the various healthcare risks and risk management processes used in healthcare institutions.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Illustrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of healthcare financial management, budgeting and expenditure control, and financial risk management in a healthcare institution.
• Complete the allocation of scarce resources in healthcare in the context of priorities, using appropriate financial ethical principles.
• Describe the (public and private) funding systems in the healthcare sector.
• Critique the efforts to reform healthcare financing in South Africa using the NHI for universal health coverage.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Describe the concepts and uses of health information systems and knowledge management systems.
• Apply and interpret laws and regulations controlling the use of healthcare information.
• Illustrate an understanding of the technological innovations in healthcare practice and management.
• Identify and explain the importance of health information technology systems and security.
• Argue the importance of health information systems in the contribution to big data in healthcare.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Distinguish between research paradigms, methods and design in the context of qualitative and quantitative research in a manner that the applicability is evident.
• Illustrate thorough theoretical conceptualisation of business research methods with reference to types of research suitable to this particular domain of research.
• Identify, analyse and formulate a business research problem that sufficiently warrants research to be conducted.
• Critically evaluate and draw from the research of others to inform one's own research.
• Present a research report that demonstrates the culmination/representation of theoretical research methodology knowledge, as well as insight into the practical application thereof for the chosen research problem.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The assessment for the modules consists of formative continuous assessments and a summative examination. The final mark is computed as a weighted average of 40% of the assignment marks and 60% of the formal written examination.

The final mark for the proposed qualification is computed by taking a weighted average of 40% of the three formative assessments and 60% of the summative assessment. The learner is required to achieve a minimum of 40% in the formative and 40% summative components. The learner must obtain an overall mark of 50% to successfully complete a module.

Formative Assessment

Assignments for each module require learners to demonstrate specialist knowledge of the module content and the ability to evaluate, design and implement a strategy for the processing and management of information.

Formative assessments can take the form of

• assignments
• class tests
• project work
• case studies

Summative Assessment

Learners must have fulfilled the following requirements to be eligible to write the examination for a module

• Completed the compulsory assignment(s) for that module
• Obtained a sub-minimum of 30% for the assignment

Assessments should be in varied forms

• class tests
• portfolios
• individual and group work.