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Introduction to Healthcare

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Introduction to Healthcare

This course is part of AI in Healthcare Specialization

Instructors: Nigam Shah

94,812 already enrolled

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,488 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,488 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

The major challenges of the U.S.healthcare system
Issues you may encounter in efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the healthcare system
Who the key stakeholders are in the U.S. healthcare system

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

20 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the AI in Healthcare Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 7 modules in this course

Solving the problems and challenges within the U.S. healthcare system requires a deep understanding of how the system works. Successful solutions and strategies must take into account the realities of the current system.

This course explores the fundamentals of the U.S. healthcare system. It will introduce the principal institutions and participants in healthcare systems, explain what they do, and discuss the interactions between them. The course will cover physician practices, hospitals, pharmaceuticals, and insurance and financing arrangements. We will also discuss the challenges of healthcare cost management, quality of care, and access to care. While the course focuses on the U.S. healthcare system, we will also refer to healthcare systems in other developed countries. In support of improving patient care, Stanford Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Visit the FAQs below for important information regarding 1) Date of the original release and expiration date; 2) Accreditation and Credit Designation statements; 3) Disclosure of financial relationships for every person in control of activity content.

What's included

12 videos2 readings4 assignments

12 videos Total 55 minutes

Introduction 2 minutes
A Simple Interaction Between Providers and Patients 3 minutes
The Problem of Risk 5 minutes
Solving the Problem of Risk: Risk Pooling 6 minutes
Insurance and Intermediaries for Risk Pooling 7 minutes
Beyond Patients, Providers, and Intermediaries: Other Players in the Health Care System 3 minutes
Overview of the Types and Roles of Intermediaries 3 minutes
Overview of the Types and Roles of Providers 7 minutes
Providers and Levels of Care 5 minutes
The Challenge of Rising Health Care Costs 6 minutes
The Challenges of Quality and Access 4 minutes
Lessons for AI and Data 4 minutes

2 readings Total 5 minutes

Video Image Credit 0 minutes
Study Guide Module 1 5 minutes

4 assignments Total 60 minutes

Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Execise 10 minutes
Knowledge Check 30 minutes

What's included

12 videos1 reading3 assignments

12 videos Total 48 minutes

Characteristics of Physician Practices 5 minutes
Physicians, Intermediaries, and Networks 8 minutes
Fee for Service Payment 5 minutes
Procedure Codes and Diagnosis Codes 4 minutes
The Medicare Fee Schedule 4 minutes
Capitation Payment Systems: Overview and Structure 4 minutes
Capitation Payment Systems: Scope of Capitation 3 minutes
Episode-Based Payment Systems and Salary Systems 4 minutes
Risk Shifting in Physician Payment and Multi-Layered Physician Payment Arrangements 5 minutes
Incentives Created by Physician Payments 4 minutes
Lessons for AI and Data 3 minutes
Wrap Up 1 minute

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Study Guide Module 2 5 minutes

3 assignments Total 50 minutes

Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Knowledge Check 30 minutes

What's included

13 videos2 readings4 assignments

13 videos Total 53 minutes

Basic Operations and Characteristics of Hospitals 4 minutes
How Hospitals Relate to Physicians and Intermediaries 3 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: Charge Masters/FFS and Per Diem 4 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: DRGs 6 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: Global Budgets 3 minutes
Hospital Payment Topics: Payments for Inpatient vs Outpatient Services, Hospital vs Physician Payments; Charges and Payments 5 minutes
Risk and Incentives in Hospital Payment 5 minutes
Independent Facilities - Structure and Payment 3 minutes
Health Care Systems and Larger Provider Organizations 7 minutes
Pay for Performance 4 minutes
EMRs, EHRs, and PHRs 4 minutes
Providers, Provider Incentives, Data, and Tools 4 minutes
Wrap Up 1 minute

2 readings Total 5 minutes

Video Image Credit 0 minutes
Study Guide Module 3 5 minutes

4 assignments Total 60 minutes

Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Knowledge Check 30 minutes

What's included

15 videos1 reading3 assignments

15 videos Total 57 minutes

Intermediaries and their Goals 4 minutes
Intermediaries and the Broad Challenges Facing Health Care Systems 3 minutes
Networks and Selective Contracting 5 minutes
Provider Payment Methods and Levels 3 minutes
Patient Cost Sharing 6 minutes
Utilization Review, Gatekeepes, and Other Methods of Directly Influencing Care 4 minutes
Coverage Decisions 2 minutes
Combinations and Tradeoffs 3 minutes
Three Stereotypical Plan Designs: "Traditional," HMO, and PPO 6 minutes
Some More Recent Trends in Plan Design 2 minutes
Public and Private Plans (and Employer-Provided Private Insurance in the U.S.) 6 minutes
The U.S. Medicare Program 6 minutes
The U.S. Medicaid Program 3 minutes
Intermediaries: Lessons for Innovators 2 minutes
Wrap Up 1 minute

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Study Guide Module 4 5 minutes

3 assignments Total 50 minutes

Reflection Exericse 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Knowledge Check 30 minutes

What's included

13 videos2 readings3 assignments

13 videos Total 48 minutes

Health care products, approvals, and prescription drugs 4 minutes
Prescription Drug Approval Processes 4 minutes
Patents, Branded Drugs, and Generic Drugs 3 minutes
Patients, Insurance, Formularies, and Prescription Drugs 5 minutes
Intermediaries, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Drug Prices, and Rebates 6 minutes
Products and Prescription Drugs Wrap Up - Data and Opportunities for Innovation 1 minute
Quality of Care Overview and Key Organizing Concepts 5 minutes
Overview, and Structural Quality Measures 4 minutes
Process Quality Measures 4 minutes
Outcome Quality Measures and Satisfaction Measures 4 minutes
Overview of Some Approaches to Improving Quality 4 minutes
Innovation and Data in Quality Improvement 1 minute
Wrap Up 1 minute

2 readings Total 5 minutes

Video Image Credit 0 minutes
Study Guide Module 5 5 minutes

3 assignments Total 50 minutes

Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Reflection Exercise 10 minutes
Knowledge Check 30 minutes

Ethics in Healthcare System

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments

4 videos Total 21 minutes

Overview of AI applications in delivery of health care services and ethical issues 5 minutes
Ethical frameworks for health care and for AI 5 minutes
AI and incentives in health care delivery and payment structures 6 minutes
More examples of AI and incentives in health care delivery and payment structures 6 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Exercise Reading 15 minutes
Study Guide Module 6 5 minutes

2 assignments Total 45 minutes

Reflection Exercise 30 minutes
Reflection Exercise 15 minutes

Course Summary and Final Assessment

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment

Earn a career certificate

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Instructors

Instructor ratings

(512 ratings)

Nigam Shah

Stanford University

3 Courses 109,896 learners

Mildred Cho

Stanford University

2 Courses 102,285 learners

Laurence Baker

Stanford University

2 Courses 101,056 learners

Offered by

Stanford University

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Reviewed on Mar 27, 2023

Easy to understand overview of the key players and themes in the healthcare system. Useful for an individual considering pursuing studies and a career in the healthcare field.

Reviewed on May 10, 2021

I found this course so useful for me. If you're someone new to the industry or already working and want to make an impact with your business or technical skills this course will be the first step.

Reviewed on Dec 18, 2025

Excellent course. Explanations are simple and easy to understand. Easier for established health care professionals to understand and undertake the course. Highly recommended.

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Frequently asked questions

Dates and Duration

Original Release Date: 08/10/2023

Expiration Date: 08/10/2026

Estimated Time to Complete: 12 hours

CME Credits Offered: 12.00

Accreditation

The Stanford University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Stanford University School of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 12.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosures

The Stanford University School of Medicine adheres to ACCME Criteria, Standards and Policies regarding industry support of continuing medical education. There are no relevant financial relationships with ACCME-defined commercial interests for anyone who was in control of the content of this activity.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.