HLTH 495
Health Science Capstone: Integrating Public Health and Primary Care
Public Health
College of Life Sciences
Course Description
HLTH495 is a combination of a lecture and an experiential-based capstone class that serves as the culminating course for public health students in the Health Science Emphasis. The course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to partner with the community in addressing real health issues that can benefit from a joint public health-primary care approach in addressing the social determinants of health.
When Taught
Fall and Winter
Grade Rule
Grade Rule 8: A, B, C, D, E, I (Standard grade rule)
Min
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
3
Fixed
0
Other Prerequisites
HLTH 210/HLTH 100, HLTH 312, HLTH 313, HLTH 440, HLTH 425
Title
Upstream Health
Learning Outcome
Discuss the benefits of an upstream approach to health compared to midstream and downstream interventions.
Title
U.S. Public Health & Health Care Systems: Structure, Functions, and Potential Points of Integration
Learning Outcome
Describe the similarities and differences in the structures and functions of the U.S. Public Health System and the U.S. Health Care System and identify points where public health and primary care can integrate to improve population health.
Title
Social Determinants of Access to Health Care
Learning Outcome
Identify actual community social determinants, including racism and bias, which can lead to inequities in the access, quality, and delivery of care.
Title
Levels of Public Health-Primary Care Integration
Learning Outcome
Analyze current examples of partnerships between public health and primary care. Propose additional integration points to expand opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across sectors to improve population health.
Title
Health Care Financing & Reimbursement Methods
Learning Outcome
Discuss how current financing and reimbursement methods impact cost, access, quality, and individual and population health. Analyze the impact of major health care reforms on Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and on accountable care organizations.
Title
Complex Care and Populations with Special Health Needs
Learning Outcome
Evaluate the predisposing, enabling, and needs characteristics of vulnerable populations, which result in complex health care needs among women and children, minorities, immigrants, refugees, uninsured, and the homeless.
Title
Tools for Integration
Learning Outcome
Apply integration tools in addressing real community needs and in facilitating a collaborative partnership between public health and primary care through GIS, community health needs assessment, electronic medical records, public health-oriented e-learning, mapping public health and clinical preventive medicine competencies, relationship with health departments, and others.
Title
Conceptual Framework for Public Health-Primary Care Integration
Learning Outcome
Create and apply a conceptual framework for integrating public health and primary care in addressing real community needs.
Title
Community Needs-Based Project and Data Collection
Learning Outcome
Design a data collection instrument (surveys, interviews, or interventions) regarding an identified community need(s)/problem(s) made worse by the existing social determinants of health. As a team, collect, analyze, present, and prepare a written report of your data to the class and to your community partner.
