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Course catalog

Healthcare Management · Proposed course

Operations Research & Quality Improvement

Course code
MHM 605
Credit hours
3
Program
MHM
Delivery
Hybrid/Online

Course description

Course overview

This course introduces students to operations research (OR) and quality improvement (QI) methodologies applied to healthcare management. Students will learn to model healthcare operations, optimize resource allocation, and apply Lean Six Sigma principles to enhance efficiency and quality of care. Through hands-on projects, students will use analytical tools to evaluate and improve organizational performance, focusing on quantitative and data-driven decision-making.

Course content is presented for institutional review and remains subject to approval and revision.

Academic focus

Course objectives

  1. 01

    Understand the principles of operations research and quality improvement in healthcare.

  2. 02

    Develop quantitative models for optimizing healthcare operations and resource utilization.

  3. 03

    Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement frameworks to real-world healthcare problems.

  4. 04

    Evaluate quality metrics and performance outcomes using statistical process control tools.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion

  1. CLO 1

    Apply operations research methods to healthcare process optimization (maps to PLO 2, PLO 3).

  2. CLO 2

    Utilize quality improvement tools and statistical methods to evaluate healthcare performance (maps to PLO 2, PLO 6).

  3. CLO 3

    Analyze workflow efficiency and develop data-driven improvement strategies (maps to PLO 3, PLO 5).

  4. CLO 4

    Implement Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement models within healthcare settings (maps to PLO 4, PLO 5).

Proposed syllabus

Weekly course schedule

The sequence below reflects the current 15-week syllabus and remains subject to institutional review.

  1. Week 1

    Introduction to Operations Research in Healthcare

  2. Week 2

    Quantitative Modeling and Problem-Solving Techniques

  3. Week 3

    Healthcare Operations and Process Flow Analysis

  4. Week 4

    Linear Programming and Optimization Models

  5. Week 5

    Queuing Theory and Capacity Planning

  6. Week 6

    Simulation in Healthcare Operations

  7. Week 7

    Lean and Six Sigma Fundamentals

  8. Week 8

    Midterm Exam and Case Study

  9. Week 9

    Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Quality Metrics

  10. Week 10

    Performance Improvement Frameworks and Tools

  11. Week 11

    Process Redesign and Waste Reduction Strategies

  12. Week 12

    Project Management for Quality Improvement

  13. Week 13

    Case Studies: OR Applications in Healthcare

  14. Week 14

    Final Project Presentations

  15. Week 15

    Final Exam and Course Reflection

Evaluation

Assessment and grading

  • Operations Research Project – 30%
  • Midterm Exam – 20%
  • Final Exam – 20%
  • Case Study Analysis – 20%
  • Participation and Discussions – 10%
A = 90–100%B = 80–89%C = 70–79%F = Below 70%

Course resources

Required texts and materials

  • Langabeer, J. R., & Helton, J. (2020). Healthcare operations management: A systems perspective (3rd ed.). Health Administration Press.
  • Additional readings, case studies, and statistical software tutorials (e.g., Excel Solver, R, or Python) will be provided through the LMS.