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YerevanBirmingham

Yerevan, Armenia / Birmingham, Alabama

1999-2002


Focus: Medical Education, Health Management, Professional Association Development, Case Studies Development, Curriculum Development, Leadership Development



The Partners

US Partner: The Department of Health Services Administration of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) serves as the lead institution in the US consortium. UAB also collaborates with the Graduate Program in Health Services Administration of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and the Department of Health Policy and Management of the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

NIS Partner: The School of Health Care Management (SHCMA) was established in 1999 to prepare health care professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to implement health care reform in Armenia. The SHCMA offers two courses, an eight-week certificate program for practicing health care administrators and a two-week academic program for individuals just entering the field.



Partnership Objectives

The partnership’s overall goal was to strengthen post-graduate and certificate programs in health services administration and nursing, and to ensure the stability and sustainability of those programs. Specific objectives were to:
  • Develop curricula for a short-term certificate program in health services administration and a two-year post-graduate residency program.
  • Network with international colleagues and health administrators in the Republic of Armenia and develop strategies for continued networking.
  • Develop and improve faculty competencies in teaching methods.



Achievements


Health Management Education

  • US partners conducted training workshops and continuing education sessions on a variety of topics including management, case-writing, organizational culture, motivation, health insurance, ambulatory care administration, change and reform, and leadership. The workshops were available to SHCMA faculty and students, and in some cases, the public.
  • US partners held seminars on the relationship between curriculum objectives and course objectives that stressed methods of determining whether a curriculum is covering required topics, and the relevance of curriculum objectives. The entire faculty took initial steps to develop a curriculum matrix that ensures all courses provide instruction addressing appropriate objectives. Faculty members also developed preliminary syllabi for their courses. NIS partners created a partnership display at an international exhibition on "Education in the New Millennium" held in Yerevan in October 2000.
  • Partners discussed the value of professional associations, steps required in forming an association, and procedures for affiliating with existing associations. As a result of US partner presentations on these topics, a group of Armenian health professionals took the first steps in establishing a professional association of clinic managers. They formed an executive committee to explore possible linkages with the Medical Group Management Association headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
  • Partners hosted an International Conference titled Competencies for Health Care Managers in April 2002. The conference featured speakers from Armenia, Georgia, Slovakia and the United States. Over three days attendees learned from these speakers and then used nominal group technique to develop a list of core competencies.
  • The partnership graduated early due to political problems with the SCHMA. The school is now located at the American University of Armenia.



Participating Institutions






Updated on August 18, 2003