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School of Health Professions - Student Handbook 2020 - 2021


Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management

BSHM Program


This section of the Student Handbook describes academic policies and procedures that are specific to the BSHM program. Academic policies that are common to the School of Health Professions are provided at the following website address: https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/current/policies.aspx

Mission and Philosophy
The mission of the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management (BSHM) program is to prepare students to be successful, competent and ethical managers in the evolving U.S. healthcare system.
The Healthcare Management (BSHM) program combines common core and approved health professions technical credit hours to earn a degree for entry level healthcare managers and leaders. The purpose of the BSHM program is to provide wide exposure to the skills, knowledge and abilities needed for success in the U.S. healthcare delivery system. The BSHM program prepares students with the competencies needed for successfully meeting the current and evolving challenges presented by the healthcare delivery system to entry-level managers and leaders.
The faculty of the BSHM program believes that every student utilizes one’s education in various life situations. The knowledge gained must not be used to exploit others, but to serve as a tool to improve the healthcare business. We hope to develop students with a sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to their profession, patients, organizations, co-workers and subordinates, and the communities they serve.
The objectives of the healthcare management profession are to enhance the overall quality of life, dignity and well-being of every individual needing healthcare services, and to create a more equitable, accessible, effective and efficient healthcare system. Healthcare executives have an obligation to act in ways that will merit the trust, confidence, and respect of healthcare professionals and the general public.
Since every management decision affects the health and well-being of individuals and communities, healthcare executives need to evaluate carefully the possible outcomes of their decisions. In organizations that deliver healthcare services, they must work to safeguard the rights, interests, and prerogatives of patients or others served.

Goals of Program
The intent of the BSHM program is to provide management training to professional health technicians and technologists who wish to advance to supervisory levels in a healthcare organization. The program is presented in a web-based format and will allow program participants to stay in their communities without sacrificing family, professional, and community responsibilities. Among the goals of the BSHM are:
  1. To create course content that builds foundational skills for the development of a decisive and ethical management response to the requirements of healthcare organizations for effective management and supervision of their healthcare operations and sub-units.
  2. To create a non-traditional program, within the limitations of the program, that is responsive to the scheduling needs and the educational and professional goals of diverse working healthcare technicians and technologists.
  3. To improve and expand educational access to students from rural and medically underserved areas.
  4. To educate students to be competent and efficient resource managers and personnel supervisors of healthcare management activities.
  5. To educate students in mastering and using management and decision-making skills as the foundation for their healthcare management activities.
  6. To educate students about professional ethics in management and legal issues in healthcare.
  7. To develop in students the management skills.
  8. To educate students to value, promote, and improve the quality of health care through the unique and cooperative contributions of healthcare professionals in an interdisciplinary approach.
  9. To educate students in the acquisition and use of state of the art technologies in health care delivery, research activity, and clinical education.
  10. To develop students as effective advocates for patient rights within the current and evolving health care environments.
  11. To educate students in the value of critical interpretation of data for effective resource management and contribution to the decision-making process of their organization.
  12. To educate students who accept responsibility for personal and professional growth and participate in the further development of their chosen professional goals.
  13. To sustain students in a lifelong process of learning.
The curriculum will provide the personal and professional development learning processes necessary for students to acquire both competence and leadership abilities.

Educational Objectives
The BSHM program is designed to prepare students with competencies needed to enter various supervisory and entry-level management positions in hospital departments, ambulatory centers, community agencies, long-term care facilities, subacute care facilities, home health agencies and independent living centers. Upon completion of the program, the students will possess the competencies and experiences necessary for successfully meeting the challenges presented by the current and evolving healthcare delivery systems. The curriculum is designed to address competencies that are needed by managers in four broad categories:

1. Resource management (human, material, and financial)

2. Information systems (health records and computer support)

3. Healthcare organizations and systems (institutional, regional, integrated)

4. Operational, clinical management (decision making and clinical outcomes)


Curriculum and Academic Calendar
Refer to the following websites to obtain updated information about the curriculum, and
Academic calendar: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/academic-calendar/default.aspx 
Curriculum: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/catalog.aspx 

Professional Societies
Students are encouraged to join either of the following associations. Members receive access to the association web site and journals and periodicals regarding healthcare administration:
American College of Healthcare Executives: https://www.ache.org/
Medical Group Management Association: https://www.mgma.com/

Professional Behavior
Health Professions described in this Student Handbook, all students are expected to exhibit professional conduct in all academic and clinical settings. Refer to the school’s standards https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-affairs/handbook.aspx

Online Professional Behavior
TTUHSC is committed to an open, frank, and insightful dialogue in all of its courses. Diversity has many manifestations including diversity of thought, opinion, and values. The program encourages all students to be respectful of that diversity and to refrain from inappropriate commentary. Should such inappropriate comments occur, we will intervene and may remove inappropriate comments. In some cases, there may be academic disciplinary action. Students should be guided by common sense and basic etiquette.
Never post, transmit, promote, or distribute content that is known to be illegal. If you disagree with someone, respond to the subject, not the person. Avoid harassing, threatening, or embarrassing fellow learners. Also, refrain from transmitting or distributing content that is harmful, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive, vulgar, sexually explicit, or otherwise. Class/Section norms of conduct may vary, but there is no place where hate speech is tolerated. Never post harassing, racist, threatening, or embarrassing comments. In summary - Be polite!
The use of online educational material and mechanisms is a privilege, not a right. This privilege may be temporarily or even permanently revoked at any time for abusive conduct. Abusive conduct includes but is not limited to:
  1. Placing unlawful information on the network.
  2. The transportation of copyrighted software from one site to another without the owner's expressed permission.
  3. The use of abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages.
  4. The abuse and misuse of "netiquette."
  5. Sending of chain letters that may result in a loss of network privileges.
For further explanation of expectations for online professional behavior, refer to https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-affairs/handbook.aspx

Computer Software
Students can download or access software via https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/it/. A student might also be required to download other miscellaneous software, usually available at no charge. All students will be notified at the beginning of each semester about the software requirements that are necessary for the following semester.

Student Responsibilities for Computer/Internet Problems
Students must have contingency plans for computer and Internet problems. Some suggestions include becoming familiar with Internet/free PC usage within your community, or seeking out friends, family, or even coworkers who have Internet services. It is your responsibility to have a backup plan for PC and Internet failure. PC and Internet failure is not a blanket excuse to turn in late assignments and not participate in the course.

Course Work
A detailed syllabus will be provided for each course. The class requirements, assignments, schedule, and the grading methodology will be included in that syllabus. Each student is responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the contents of this syllabus at the beginning of each semester.

Grading Policy
https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/documents/current/Grading-Criteria-Oct2016.pdf 
It is BSHM policy that decimal places not be rounded up in final grades. Therefore, a student with an 89.9 average at the end of the course will receive a grade of “B” in the class.

Academic Advising
Each student is provided with an academic advisor. Academic advising is performed on an as-needed basis.

Academic Progress Requirements and Normative Time for Graduation
Students are required to successfully complete (i.e., pass) at least nine curricular credit hours in an academic year (defined as consecutive Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). Any deviations from this schedule require the prior approval of the Program Director. The normative time for graduation is four years. In other words, all degree requirements must be completed within four calendar years of matriculation into the program.
In certain courses, prerequisite requirements must be met prior to enrollment. Course offerings and prerequisite requirements may change at any time and without prior notice to the student.

Academic Integrity
Healthcare professionals are expected to practice with a commitment to high standards of conduct and integrity. Academic misconduct is contrary to professional ethics. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, falsification of records, intimidation and any other actions that may distort the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, assisting others in such acts, or attempting to engage in such acts. Refer to the TTUHSC catalog and student manual at https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/ 

Plagiarism
BSHM Students are required to be the authors of their own work. Use of another author’s previously written, (published or unpublished work) must be accompanied by specific citation and reference. Generally, plagiarism is defined as the deliberate or reckless representation of another’s words, thoughts, or ideas as one’s own without attribution in connection with the submission of academic work, whether graded or otherwise.
If a student is found plagiarizing, the professor has the right to admonish the student, require you to redo the assignment, and/or fail the student on the assignment at one’s. In very worst case scenarios, the student will immediately be processed for dismissal. Multiple instances of plagiarism by the student may result in dismissal from the program.

Assistance on Written Work
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the default format for all papers produced in the BSHM program. Individual instructors may modify said standard as required for specific course deliverables. As a student, you are assigned research papers and projects to enhance your education and to allow the faculty to evaluate your work.
For genuine education and evaluation to take place, papers and projects must be your own work. You are encouraged and expected to use outside sources such as books, journal articles, class notes, group discussion sessions, student-teacher conferences, and so forth to make your education as rich and complete as possible. However, you must also cite the sources used in the development of your projects and papers.
When you use published sources (to include previous papers written by you) for ideas or expression of ideas, you must acknowledge them through accurate citation and documentation. The knowledge represented in your paper(s) must be your own. If it is not, you must provide proper credit. For example: You may use a typist to type your manuscript(s). You may also receive editorial and/or methodological advices from faculty or peers, and you may act on their advice provided you understand what you are doing (i.e., the knowledge and rationale are yours). You may not allow anyone to write your paper for you or make substantive changes in your paper(s).
Student submissions should present clear evidence of the quality of your self education, not of someone else’s. That quality is what the faculty will evaluate. Using the same paper for multiple purposes is prohibited unless prior permission is obtained from the course instructor.

Academic Requirements
Sitting out for one long semester (Fall or Spring) places the student in an inactive status. If a student wishes to return after sitting on one long semester, they must reapply to the BSHM program under the new program requirements. Reapplying to the program does not guarantee acceptance to the BSHM program.

Academic Standards
Each student of the Healthcare Management program must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher at the end of each semester. Additionally, each student must receive a grade of “C” or better in all courses taken.

Academic Probation
1. Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in [BSHM courses], or receiving a grade of “D” in any course, will result in the student being placed on academic probation.
2. A student placed on academic probation due to low cumulative GPA (below 2.5) will remain on academic probation until the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.5 or higher.
The student may remain on academic probation for reasons of low cumulative GPA no longer than two consecutive semesters.
3. A student placed on academic probation due to receiving a grade of “D” will remain on academic probation until they have the opportunity to obtain a passing grade in the course (“C” or better) in which the original grade was a “D” the next time that course is offered in the curriculum. For coursework that is repeated under such circumstances, both the original and the repeated course grades are used to calculate cumulative GPA and both grades will appear on the student grade transcript.
4. Failure by the student to meet the above requirements for removal from academic probation will normally result in a recommendation from the program director to the department chair that the student be dismissed from the program for reasons of academic deficiency.

Dismissal from the Program for Academic Reasons
1. A student will be dismissed for failure to be released from academic probation within the time frame specified in the “Academic Probation” section above.
2. A student will be dismissed for receiving a final grade of “F” in any course.
3. Dismissal procedures will comply with the dismissal policy established by the School of Health Professions (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; Schools; School of Health Professions; Current Students; SHP Student Policies; Academic Dismissal).

Dismissal from the Program for Misconduct
A student enrolled in the BSHM program may be dismissed for violation of academic and/or non-academic misconduct policies of the School of Health Professions or the BSHM program.

SHP Ethical School Standard
As a student of the School of Health Professions at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, I will use my knowledge and skills responsibly to improve the quality of life for those we serve. I will seek in all academic, professional and personal endeavors to demonstrate ethical behavior, honesty, integrity and respect for others.

Code of Ethics for the BSHM Program
As a student in the BSHM Program, there are certain academic, professional, interpersonal, and personal standards that are expected. It is the objective of the program to enhance each of these areas with the goal of producing graduates who are well-rounded, productive, and ethical professionals and citizens.

Personal Standards
Demonstrate the highest standards of moral and ethical conduct. In order for students to be good citizens and professionals, they must be cognizant of the importance of honest, truthfulness, and personal integrity. This means that there are no allowances made for lying, cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of dishonesty in dealing with classmates, professors, or any part of the Program.

Interpersonal Relations
Be respectful to faculty and fellow students. Accept the personal responsibility to be intolerant of all forms of discrimination. The program has a diverse student body reflecting many different beliefs and backgrounds. It is imperative that we learn to respect and understand our differences and strive to use those differences to learn more about and appreciate other people and cultures. At the same time, we must foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable challenging each other’s views as well.

Class Preparation and Classroom Conduct
In order to obtain optimal results for the program, it is essential for students to take an active role in the educational and learning process. Students should maintain a cordial and respectful attitude in all on-line discussions. Furthermore, the student should complete assignments on time and submit quality work worth of a professional degree program.

External Relations
Promote a positive image of the program and the university in the community. An outsider’s opinion of the BSHM Program and TTUHSC may be based solely on the behavior and performance of students. It is important that students be aware of the broad impact of the actions in the community.

Professional Obligations
Accept as your professional responsibility the need to keep current on literature and activities in the healthcare administrative and business professions. Participate in professional societies, as applicable and available, related to your job.