92295 Advanced Health Services Planning
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 92847 Planning and Evaluating Health Services
Description
This subject develops advanced skills and competencies of health service planners, managers and clinicians through extending knowledge provided in the prerequisite planning subject 92847 Planning and Evaluating Health Services. Students explore complex health services planning areas through a series of on-campus workshops and via independent investigation. They have the opportunity to develop new and build on planning skills acquired in 92847, including skills in data interrogation, strategic analysis and projecting health service need. A wide range of real-world case studies and scenarios are utilised to demonstrate the breadth and diversity of health service planning and address and/or reduce planning issues through evidence-based and practical real-world solutions. Futuristic, comparative and international health service planning is examined. The subject establishes the capacity to positively influence health systems via effective health service planning and effective problem solving.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Utilise planning and other data analysis skills and tools to accurately identify and prioritise needs, actions, trends, and uncertainties, and establish health service direction, service options, objectives, strategies and their implementation. |
|---|---|
| B. | Determine and address enabling and impeding factors impacting health service planning. |
| C. | Evaluate feasible evidence informed solutions and practical strategies for health service planning challenges. |
| D. | Create a variety of ways in which complex issues can be effectively communicated for a variety of target audiences. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Demonstrate leadership in health and social care through communication and collaboration with specialist and nonspecialist audiences to optimise individual and system outcomes. (2.2)
- Critically reflect on the intersection between Indigenous contexts and health services management to inform ethical work practices with and for Indigenous Australians. (4.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is taught using a variety of teaching and learning strategies. The strategies used emphasise active and applied approaches to developing each student's ability to understand health planning and apply this knowledge to generate effective, practical solutions to health system challenges and development needs. An overarching theme of the teaching and learning approaches is to support students to actively learn in the classroom (individually and in collaboration with others), where they can interact with each other and the facilitator who can observe, assist and coach them. Understanding and critical thinking skills will be encouraged via a range of activities, including:
- Pre-class learning via on-line resources to prepare for active participation in workshops.
- Mini lectures and briefings, which include whole class brainstorming sessions.
- In-class problem solving, discovery-based and critical thinking activities via cooperative group work (pairs and small groups).
- Whole class teaching with examples, illustrations and data.
- Time while on campus for students to reflect on, explain and record assessable tasks under continual advice and guidance.
- Student led activities.
- Real-time in-class feedback.
Content (topics)
- Hospital service planning
- Primary health care planning
- Health workforce planning
- Health infrastructure planning
- Forecasting health service need
- Scenario modelling
- Real world health planning challenges
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Comparative Health Service Planning
| Intent: | This assessment item enables students to build an understanding of comparative health service planning by utilising knowledge and skills gained during the first two online sessions, online assignment support sessions and through independent study. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .0, 2.2 and 4.1 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 2500 word report |
Assessment task 2: Forecasting Health Service Need
| Intent: | This assessment item supports student understanding of forecasting future health service need through an exploration of possible alternative futures and their implications. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .0 and .0 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 2500 word report |
Assessment task 3: Health Service Planning Challenge
| Intent: | Provides students with the opportunity to investigate a key challenge in health planning and explore and generate potential solutions and their underlying rationale. They will also have the opportunity to effectively transmit knowledge and solutions regarding the planning challenge to the facilitator and peers. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .0, .0, 2.2 and 4.1 |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
Required texts
There are no required texts for this subject. All additional readings will be available via links from UTSOnline.
Recommended texts
Eagar, K., Garrett, P., & Lin, V. 2001, Health planning: Australian perspectives, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW.
Issel, L., M. 2014, Health program planning and evaluation: a practical, systematic approach for community health, 3rd edn, Jones and Bartlett, Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Kettner, P.M., Moroney, R.M., & Martin, L.L. 2013, Designing and managing programs: an effectiveness-based approach, 4th edn, Sage, Los Angeles.
Karen (Kay) M. Perrin. Essentials of Planning and Evaluation for Public Health. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN 978-1-4496-7434-2.
Thomas, R. 2003, Health services planning, 2nd edn, Kluwer Academic/Plenum, New York. (Available as an eBook through the UTS Library)
Additional readings and resources for this subject are provided on UTSOnline as required.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.