Health Services Research & Administration

Welcome from the Chair!hornerchair.jpg

It would be a profound understatement to say that healthcare delivery in the United States is in transition.  As I write this, new policies from the federal government now require health systems to provide greater transparency into their pricing of the services they provide.  There is also increasing emphasis on population health wherein health systems are being held accountable for improving the health of the populations within which their patients reside.  Yet another development is reimbursement being tied to the patient experience in accessing and receiving care.  In particular, high-value care – care that incorporates the patient's goals and desires relating to the treatment prescribed – is receiving greater attention by health systems.  This changing milieu requires more than command of the foundational principles of health systems science, although such knowledge is essential. It also requires new ways of thinking about health care and its delivery.  Through such re-imagining, we will be better able to effectively address the most pressing challenges to achieving a more patient-centered health care environment. 

Health systems today are eager to employ individuals who have the knowledge and skills to generate solutions to the current and emerging challenges in healthcare delivery.  Accordingly, we – the faculty – in the Department of Health Services Research and Administration are dedicated to preparing those interested in careers in healthcare delivery to be impactful in this rapidly evolving field.  Beyond our training programs, we also have vigorous service/outreach and research portfolios with an emphasis on rural communities.

As our mission states, we work to influence public policies to improve the health of Nebraskans and people everywhere. We achieve our mission through leadership at the state and national levels in our education, services, and research.

Education

Our department offers a PhD program in Health Services Research, Administration & Policy, and we are responsible for the Public Health Administration and Health Policy concentrations in the college’s Master of Public Health Program (MPH), Master of Health Administration, and for the college’s Certificate in Health Policy. Our department is also responsible for the MBA/MPH and JD/MPH dual degree programs. In addition, our faculty teach the core courses in the Certificate in Public Health Program and the concentration courses in the college’s on-line MPH program in Public Health Practice.

Our department has a diverse student body. Our current students receive guidance and encouragement to excel in their own education and research. Our students have presented at national and international conferences, many have published policy briefs and articles in peer-reviewed journals, and many have close working ties with the community.

Service and Outreach

Our department engages extensively with the community and works with local, state, and federal agencies to provide analytical support, rigorous methodology, and consultation for policy development and program evaluation. Please visit our Outreach - Community Links webpages to learn more about the community work we conduct and the services we offer.

Research

Our faculty secure extramural funding and lead research teams that study how health care and public health services are financed, organized and delivered, and how public policies affect the health and well-being of both rural and urban populations. The faculty's research seeks to improve the fairness of payment systems to both providers and consumers, assist health care providers find more cost-effective means of completing their work, contribute to improvement in care by studying the outcomes of care in the “real world” of practice, and to translate research into practice and policy to ensure adequate access to quality health care services for all.

I invite you to explore our website and learn more about our educational programs, the outreach and service we are engaged in, and our research work through and with the various centers affiliated with our department. We aspire to make an impact on health and health care, and to do so in the near-term. If you are like minded, come join us. 

I welcome you to contact us with any questions you may have. 

Ronnie D. Horner, PhD
984350 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-4350
Phone: 402-559-8441