News

Healthcare providers aim to enhance business acumen

August 27, 2009

Rutgers Mini-MBA™ in Strategic Healthcare Management offers tools for sound business practices in delivery of care

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Two major state associations of healthcare providers – the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and the Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ) – are partnering with Rutgers’ Center for Management Development (CMD) to connect their members with the center’s Mini-MBA in Strategic Healthcare Management program this fall in an effort to improve healthcare delivery through sound management practices.

“Effective deployment of scarce resources has become a key to survival for healthcare providers for the foreseeable future,” said William Kennedy, NJHA senior vice president. “This program can provide hospital staffs with the strategic business skills essential for navigating today’s rapidly changing healthcare management environment.”

Solid business skills are seen as critical for physicians working in today’s environment.

“The business of medicine has become a stark reality for physicians,” said Michael T. Kornett, MSNJ’s chief executive officer. “And while physicians endure years of training to master the art and science of medicine, the business and legalities of the profession cannot be ignored. The mini-MBA is a step in the right direction to further enhance the critical skills of our physicians in an ever-changing healthcare world.”

Last year, the 13-week mini-MBA was offered for the first time at Saint Peter’s University Hospital to more than 30 physicians, residents and staff from across the hospital’s administrative and patient-care units. Alfred Glover, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer, said the information and knowledge gained from the program “can and will be applied strategically to improve the performance of our organization.”

Program objectives include:

· acquiring a new vision for healthcare management focused around patient outcomes and experiences;

· understanding the economic, management and operational complexities of healthcare, healthcare providers and practitioners;

· learning about the healthcare marketplace, business strategies and information technology;

· adapting to challenges of healthcare delivery, strategic management issues;

· gaining insight into managing people, processes and organizations; and

· learning about best practices of healthcare providers.

Taught by Rutgers faculty from the Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick, and the School of Management and Labor Relations, sessions cover such topics as public policy and healthcare economics; financial tools for healthcare decision making; supply chain management; quality and safety; practice management; ethics and social responsibility; and strategic marketing.

Educating providers and practitioners on the business aspects of healthcare may be essential to the success of future healthcare reform, according to Abe Weiss, executive director of CMD.

“In an interdisciplinary setting of both peers and colleagues across departments, participants are exposed to more ideas and experiences, and ultimately are able to think more comprehensively about system-wide strategies and solutions,” Weiss said.

The next open enrollment program is being held at Rutgers in Piscataway on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Sept. 17-Dec. 17. An accelerated one-week program will be offered on campus, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 25-30. Participants earn certificates upon successful completion and may receive three credits toward a full-time MBA at Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick. The program also is offered to hospitals on site.

The certificate program in strategic healthcare management is among a group of mini-MBAs offered by CMD. Additional mini-MBAs include: Business Essentials, Biopharma Innovation, Finance Essentials, and Strategic Marketing Management. Established in 1947, the Center for Management Development is a leading provider of continuing education programs in leadership, organizational and human resource management.

For more information about the Mini-MBA in Strategic Healthcare Management, or other CMD programs, call 732-445-5526; visit www.cmd.rutgers.edu, or e-mail info@cmd.rutgers.edu.

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Office of Media Relations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ

Contact:

732-932-7084