96331 Planning and Evaluating Health Services

Description

This subject provides students with a foundation in the major concepts involved in health and social care planning and evaluation. Topics covered include: defining the goal of health planning and the core principles that guide it; comparing population health and service-based planning approaches; evidence needed to support planning decisions; the concept of health needs assessment; the complexity of the health planning process; the relationship between evaluation and planning; and future trends and challenges. Case studies highlight the complexities of health services planning in different contexts: crisis and emergency planning; the COVID-19 vaccine rollout; and aged care services. These scenarios provide students the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in earlier modules and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of current planning approaches. An emphasis is placed on the importance planning to improve health that incorporates physical, mental and social wellbeing, and on drawing on a range of methodological, patient and stakeholder perspectives.