Skip to main content

Training

At present, trainings are provided to organizations only.  Upon request, a curriculum will be designed for the organization.

The training programs for HRSA are designed to provide academic training to mid-level Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) staff and administrators in the fields of health care policy and research, particularly with regard to primary care. The program is designed to provide participants with a broad understanding of the organization, financing and delivery of health services at the national level, to strengthen their ability to analyze, interpret and respond to current issues in health policy, and to provide a basic understanding of how to evaluate and conduct research on current programs and policies.

The content of the training program, primarily based on the recommendations of BPHC staff, is divided into five modules.

  1. Introduction to Public Health and U.S. Health Care Delivery
    This content area begins with a brief overview of the basic principles of public health and a discussion of the determinants of health. In addition, it includes an overview of the organization and delivery of health care in this country, highlighting critical issues related to access, cost and quality. The session also introduces the concept of vulnerability and examines the role of primary care in reducing health inequities.
  2. Primary Care
    This module addresses the key concepts of primary care. Primary care is defined and conceptualized, including specific techniques for its measurement and evaluation. Socioeconomic and racial disparities in health care and health are also discussed.
  3. Health Policy
    This module focuses on health policy and its application in health care delivery. It applies theories and concepts from the fields of political science, policy and the social-behavioral sciences to provide a broad understanding of health, health policy and primary care. The role each plays in health policy formulation and implementation is discussed. Specific tools for policy analysis are provided. This module highlights current research in the social determinants of health and stresses the importance of a broader social view of health in the development of health policies. The Children's Health Insurance Program serves as a case study for the application of these concepts. The module also introduces economic theories as they apply to health policy.
  4. Special Topics
    This special topic section introduces the following content areas as recommended by the training program sponsor: mental health and primary care, managed care and cultural competency.
  5. Conducting Health Services and Health Policy Research
    This module introduces and demystifies the process of conducting applied health services and health policy research. Presentation and discussion include methodological and statistical techniques and examples of application.

Upon completing the Training Program, participants will:

  • Understand the societal factors that either promote or impede the attainment of health among different population groups, and recognize the political factors that shape health and social policy in the United States and the role of health services and primary care
  • Learn new strategies for evaluating and measuring health care concepts such as primary care and health status
  • Gain a broad understanding of the organization and delivery of health services in the U.S.
  • Learn and practice using standard health services research, policy analysis and program evaluation methods
  • Apply knowledge and skills gained to current issues in health policy
  • Gain familiarity with cutting-edge research findings in the fields of health care policy and research, and become familiar with leading researchers in the field.

As another example, the U.S. Health Care and Management Training Program is designed to provide mid- to senior-level public health and health services organization administrators academic and management training in the fields of U.S. health care and management. The program is designed to provide participants with a broad understanding of the organization, financing, delivery and management of health services at the national level, to strengthen their ability to analyze, interpret and respond to current issues in health policy, and to provide a basic understanding of how to evaluate and conduct research on current programs and policies.

All trainees completing this program will receive an official Johns Hopkins Training Program Completion Certificate.

The content of the training program includes the following:

Day 1

Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System and Health Care Delivery
This content area will include an overview of the organization and delivery of health care in this country, highlighting critical issues related to access, cost and quality. The four parts are: What are the current systems of health care delivery in the U.S.? What are their characteristics? What are the initiatives aimed at improving current health care delivery? What are the U.S. implications for China?

Managing Quality of Health Care: The Johns Hopkins Risk-Adjustment Approach
Managing quality of care is one of the major challenges to U.S. health services managers. This session introduces the broad field of quality of care with special emphasis on Johns Hopkins risk-adjustment approach and its many applications in health services management and quality of care. This state-of-the-art technology is widely used by U.S. managed care organizations and many countries.

Professional Tour of Hospital 1
Johns Hopkins is well known for its flagship hospitals. Participants will have a guided tour of one of Hopkins' medical centers and take part in discussions with the hospital's top managers. Participants will also visit hospital-affiliated service facilities, such as those used for long-term care.

Day 2

The Development of Hospitals in the U.S.
This session provides an overview of the evolution and development of U.S. hospitals and discusses the current focus of hospitals. The general structure of U.S. hospitals will be introduced.

Professional Tour of Hospital 2
Johns Hopkins is well known for its flagship hospitals. Participants will have a guided tour of one of Hopkins' medical centers and take part in discussions with the hospital's top managers. Participants will also visit hospital-affiliated service facilities, such as those used for long-term care.

Day 3

Preparing Hospitals for Strategic Changes
This content area will include an overview of the strategic issues facing health services organizations, including hospitals. It helps executives and leadership teams design and deliver strategies that enable their organizations to thrive in rapidly changing environments. It guides leaders who must reshape their businesses in the face of mergers and acquisitions, new ventures, or volatile markets.

Day 4

Managing Hospitals in the U.S.
The session emphasizes how to manage today's hospitals, including considerations of strategic issues, stakeholders, market share and development, staffing and personnel, operations, financial performance and efficiency, quality of care and integration with community providers. Implications for China will also be considered.

Day 5

Health Policy
This module focuses on health policy and its application in health care delivery. It applies theories and concepts from the fields of political science, policy and the social-behavioral sciences to provide a broader understanding of health, health policy and primary care. The role each plays in health policy formulation and implementation will be discussed. Specific tools for policy analysis will be provided. This module highlights current research in the social determinants of health and stresses the importance of a broader social view of health in the development of health policies. The Children's Health Insurance Program will serve as a case study for the application of these concepts. The module will also introduce economic theories as they apply to health policy. Implications for China will also be considered.

Professional Tour of Health Department
The local health department is responsible for planning and coordinating health and medical services for its residents with special emphasis on serving vulnerable populations. A tour of Baltimore's health department provides visitors firsthand knowledge of many of the urban health problems in U.S. communities and the myriad attempts to address them. A discussion with the health commissioner and staff members will help visitors realize the similarities and differences between the two cultures.

Day 6

General Management Principles as Applied to Health Services Organizations
This session summarizes the major management principles and tools and their application in health services organizations. Participants will have an opportunity to apply these in their own work settings.

Conducting Health Services and Health Policy Research
This module introduces and demystifies the process of conducting applied health services and health policy research. Presentation and discussion will include methodological and statistical techniques and examples of application. Implications for Chinese managers will also be drawn.

Professional Tour of Pharmaceutical Company