Modules Overview

The programme is delivered over two semesters.  Each semester has two terms and each term has 2 papers (subjects).  Total credits for the programme is 120 credits.

Semester One: Term 1

DIPHAM 601 - Public Health Issues in New Zealand (15 Credits)

Current health status indicators for diverse population are examined and analysed in relation to international benchmarks in this paper.  Students also examine [preventative medicine and health enhancement strategies utilized.  Creative thinking models are examined and utilised to plan responses to familiar and unfamiliar health challenges and to propose an innovative national Health Strategy.

On completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Examine current health status indicators for diverse groups from national and international perspectives;
2. Analyse current public health issues and holistic causative factors;
3. Analyse current preventative medicine programmes and their outcomes;
4. Critically evaluate current health enhancement strategies;
5. Examine creative thinking models and their potential applications;
6. Apply creative thinking models to generate solutions to national health challenges; and
7. Construct a national health strategy for the next ten years drawing on populations, literature and practice examined.

DIPHAM 702 – Quality Management – Policy to Practice (15 Credits)

This paper examines the creation and management of essential policies and practices required by health projects, programmes and organisations. Research will be drawn upon to develop effective and continuous improvement supporting systems and quality criteria. A range of factors such as technology, consultation, cultural inclusion will be investigated to overcome barriers and challenges that arise during health projects, programmes and organisations.

On completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Conduct a holistic health organization quality management system needs analysis;
2. Design a needs analysis informed quality management system structure and policy framework to support a health organization;
3. Research and formulate quality management policies and processes to support a continuously improving health organization;
4. Investigate the contributions critical evaluation makes to quality management implementation;
5. Evaluate technological and cultural supports for professional health organization managers;
6. Analyse consultation and change approaches in responsive and inclusive health organisations; and
7. Analyse barriers and challenges to effective applied health project programme or organization management.

Semester One: Term 2

DIPHAM 701 – Health Sector Governance and Planning (15 Credits)

Governance and leadership roles and responsibilities are investigated and learners will develop a range of key governance and management documents and systems. Strategic and operational planning and continuous improvement oriented quality management systems will be developed and critiqued for application readiness. Strategies to ensure alignment and cultural inclusion are applied to governance and management documents.

On completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Investigate governance and leadership roles and approaches;
2. Analyse legal, professional, morale and ethical governance and leadership responsibilities
3. Construct vision, mission, organizational philosophy and values statements;
4. Design a strategic plan for a health organization;
5. Analyse operational, business, proposal, project and implementation plans;
6. Interrogate organizational documents for strategic alignment and cultural inclusion; and
7. Analyse the relationship between governance, leadership, organizational culture and continuous improvement.

DIPHAM 703 – Health Business Studies (15 Credits)

Sustainable business systems, processes and practices will be investigated and analysed in this paper to support effective management of a range of business activities. The ability to propose, budget, plan and implement projects, programmes and organisations and then to monitor, review, audit and evaluate these will be developed and supportive technology reviewed.

completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Analyse components in a sustainable health sector business or not for profit health organization;
2. Investigate optimal effectiveness and quality levels in health sector business or not for profit organization;
3. Analyse effective product or service delivery, marketing, public relations and financial systems utilised by sustainable health organisations;
4. Analyse legislative financial system requirements in New Zealand business and not for profit organisations;
5. Design budgets, financial plans and proposals for a health organization and applied health project or programme;
6. Critically evaluate technology that’s supports robust financial planning, budgeting, administration and reporting systems; and
7. Analyse financial monitoring, review, evaluation and auditing systems.

Semester Two: Term 1

DIPHAM 704 – Advanced Facilitative Management Practice (15 Credits)

Advanced communication and cultural skills employed by facilitative managers are analysed and applied along with professional feedback and performance coaching capabilities. Creative thinking and professional reflection are also studied to support the ability to motivate and inspire staff to achieve at the highest levels of effectiveness and quality.

Upon completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Analyse advanced professional communication and cultural skills and approaches employed by facilitative managers;
2. Apply advanced professional communication and cultural skills and approaches utilized by facilitative managers;
3. Apply professional feedback and performance coaching processes and strategies (to self and others)
4. Reflect and critically evaluate on own and others performance;
5. Exhibit a professional ability to facilitate and motivate others (individual, pair, group, or team);
6. Investigate creative thinking models and approaches utilized by facilitative managers; and
7. Analyse factors that impact on effective facilitative managers and their performance.

DIPHAM 705 – Understanding Health Research Methods (15 Credits)

In this paper major health research frameworks and approaches are evaluated and analysed, literature reviewed and Action and Appreciative Inquiry studied. The formal stages in research projects are analysed and ethical principles, dilemma solving and cultural inclusion investigated

Upon completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Critically review a range of research definitions, functions and approaches;
2. Analyse quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research approaches;
3. Analyse Action and Appreciative Inquiry research approaches in health settings;
4. Critically review a range of evaluative health research literature;
5. Analyse the stages in a formal and applied research project; and
6. Examine ethical and culturally responsible principles which guide health researchers and evaluators.

Semester Two: Term 2

DIPHAM 706 – Health Project (15 Credits)

In this paper learners will create applied health research and ethics project proposals and then carry out in a professional manner on a topic of your choosing. The project will then be documented professionally and presented for feedback and comment.  Projects should support professional capability development and have value to managers working in the health sector.

Upon completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Create an inclusive applied health research project proposal and implementation plan;
2. Create an ethics proposal to support an inclusive applied health research project proposal;
3. Implement an applied health research project in a professional manner; and
4. Professionally report on the outcomes of an applied health research project (orally, figuratively, and in writing)

DIPHAM 707 – Health Evaluation Studies (15 Credits)

Evaluative and audit models and approaches utilized in the measurement of health and management of health projects, programs or organisations form the focus of this paper.  Students will gain experience in evaluating projects, programmes and organisations and then present their findings with continuous improvement recommendations to a group of professional peers.

On completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate research-based health evaluation literature;
2. Investigate current health programme audit and evaluation processes and approaches;
3. Analyse health project audit and evaluation presentation methods;
4. Critically audit or evaluate a health project, programme or organizational report;
5. Formulate a professional applied health project audit or evaluation report;
6. Present a critical health audit or evaluation report to a group of professional health peers; and
7. Formulate recommendations and actions that would; remedy, develop or improve health project programme or organisations outcomes.