During subsequent weeks, students will choose an article(s) related to health economics and present their side of the policy issue in an informal debate-type setting, preferably using 7-8 Power Point slides.
Each team must obtain the professor’s approval of their choice of article(s) at least 4 weeks in advance: the list of articles(s) planned to be used in the presentation should be submitted to the professor via gradebook.
Team members must present economically sound support for their positions. The economically sound basis for each position should be cited from the course textbook, from an academically recognized journal or newspaper, or from a recognized data source. Given the condensed nature of the course, it is strongly suggested that team members divide the presentation based on the required components, as specified below. It is also suggested that team members exchange email addresses, exchange phone numbers, or plan to discuss strategy through the discussion board. Team members will not necessarily receive the same score for the presentation: each student’s score will be largely determined by his/her actual contribution to the project, as anonymously evaluated by all team members.
Each team must post the PPT file with the presentation in the “Discussion Board” on the Blackboard by midnight of the due date. Presentations will be graded.
Main purpose to provide a brief (7-8 PPT slides) presentation of a health policy issue, based on an original article(s) from a nonscientific but reputable source: i.e. from journals, magazines, newspapers, news channels, etc. intended for broad audiences.
Examples might include cnn.com, nytimes.com, Detroit free press and many others.
Pattern Scientific-style report form Your input Apply your knowledge of Health Economics to add “scientific value” / scientific basis to the information. For instance, you can perform one (or more) of the following: • Summarizing of the information in the form of a table or graph • Detecting a trend or pattern, that falls into one of the economic theories, and generalize it • Supporting (or rejecting) authors’ conclusions by applying a specific economic theory (e.g. Supply and Demand analysis) • Adding your comments or insights on the issue This list is not exhaustive, you are welcome to make your own suggestions, be creative.
Philosophy Presentation must have a goal: i.e. it should be clear which message your team is trying to deliver to the audience. Ask yourself the following questions: if you have a clear answer to each of them – you are on the right track. • Why did we decide to choose this particular topic • Why (and for whom) is it relevant today • Did we provide sufficient background information about the issue to the audience (always assume there might be someone in the audience who has never heard about your topic, and needs to understand it first, before analyzing pros and cons of the issue) • What is our position (i.e. opinion) about this issue • Do we (either your team, or entire society) want to change anything in the current situation with this particular issue (if so, then what would you propose to do and why) Providing economic arguments to support your opinions / position is essential. Sometimes medical professionals tend to include a lot of medical arguments in their presentation: while it is quite fine (and sometimes even necessary), remember that this class is about the economic side of the healthcare industry.
Examples might include: • Analyzing a particular piece of healthcare legislature from the economic point of view (e.g. recent introduction of Medicare Part D): what are the intentions behind this policy (improve efficiency? or equity?); how effective it is in actually achieving these goals