Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Introduction to Healthcare

Labor Day starts with $70+ in savings on Coursera Plus. Save 40% for 3 months.

Introduction to Healthcare

This course is part of AI in Healthcare Specialization

Instructors: Nigam Shah

109,346 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

7 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,531 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.

1,531 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

21 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

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.

In this module, you will explore the basic structure of health care systems and the key players involved, including patients, providers, and insurers. You’ll learn how these groups interact, how risk and risk pooling support health insurance, and how care is organized and delivered. The module also introduces major challenges facing health care systems—such as high and rising costs, access to care, and quality challenges—and highlights how system design influences the use of data and analytics in health care.

What's included

12 videos2 readings5 assignments

12 videosTotal 55 minutes

Introduction2 minutes
A Simple Interaction Between Providers and Patients3 minutes
The Problem of Risk5 minutes
Solving the Problem of Risk: Risk Pooling6 minutes
Insurance and Intermediaries for Risk Pooling7 minutes
Beyond Patients, Providers, and Intermediaries: Other Players in the Health Care System3 minutes
Overview of the Types and Roles of Intermediaries3 minutes
Overview of the Types and Roles of Providers7 minutes
Providers and Levels of Care5 minutes
The Challenge of Rising Health Care Costs6 minutes
The Challenges of Quality and Access4 minutes
Lessons for AI and Data4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 15 minutes

Video Image Credit0 minutes
Study Guide Module 115 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 55 minutes

Knowledge Check5 minutes
Reflection Exercise20 minutes
Knowledge check10 minutes
Reflection Exercise15 minutes
Knowledge Check5 minutes

What's included

12 videos1 reading3 assignments

12 videosTotal 48 minutes

Characteristics of Physician Practices5 minutes
Physicians, Intermediaries, and Networks8 minutes
Fee for Service Payment5 minutes
Procedure Codes and Diagnosis Codes4 minutes
The Medicare Fee Schedule4 minutes
Capitation Payment Systems: Overview and Structure4 minutes
Capitation Payment Systems: Scope of Capitation3 minutes
Episode-Based Payment Systems and Salary Systems4 minutes
Risk Shifting in Physician Payment and Multi-Layered Physician Payment Arrangements5 minutes
Incentives Created by Physician Payments4 minutes
Lessons for AI and Data3 minutes
Wrap Up1 minute

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

Study Guide Module 25 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Knowledge Check30 minutes

What's included

13 videos2 readings4 assignments

13 videosTotal 53 minutes

Basic Operations and Characteristics of Hospitals4 minutes
How Hospitals Relate to Physicians and Intermediaries3 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: Charge Masters/FFS and Per Diem4 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: DRGs6 minutes
Hospital Payment Methods: Global Budgets3 minutes
Hospital Payment Topics: Payments for Inpatient vs Outpatient Services, Hospital vs Physician Payments; Charges and Payments5 minutes
Risk and Incentives in Hospital Payment5 minutes
Independent Facilities - Structure and Payment3 minutes
Health Care Systems and Larger Provider Organizations7 minutes
Pay for Performance4 minutes
EMRs, EHRs, and PHRs4 minutes
Providers, Provider Incentives, Data, and Tools4 minutes
Wrap Up1 minute

2 readingsTotal 5 minutes

Video Image Credit0 minutes
Study Guide Module 35 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Knowledge Check30 minutes

What's included

15 videos1 reading3 assignments

15 videosTotal 57 minutes

Intermediaries and their Goals4 minutes
Intermediaries and the Broad Challenges Facing Health Care Systems3 minutes
Networks and Selective Contracting5 minutes
Provider Payment Methods and Levels3 minutes
Patient Cost Sharing6 minutes
Utilization Review, Gatekeepes, and Other Methods of Directly Influencing Care4 minutes
Coverage Decisions2 minutes
Combinations and Tradeoffs3 minutes
Three Stereotypical Plan Designs: "Traditional," HMO, and PPO6 minutes
Some More Recent Trends in Plan Design2 minutes
Public and Private Plans (and Employer-Provided Private Insurance in the U.S.)6 minutes
The U.S. Medicare Program6 minutes
The U.S. Medicaid Program3 minutes
Intermediaries: Lessons for Innovators2 minutes
Wrap Up1 minute

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

Study Guide Module 45 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Reflection Exericse10 minutes
Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Knowledge Check30 minutes

What's included

13 videos2 readings3 assignments

13 videosTotal 48 minutes

Health care products, approvals, and prescription drugs4 minutes
Prescription Drug Approval Processes4 minutes
Patents, Branded Drugs, and Generic Drugs3 minutes
Patients, Insurance, Formularies, and Prescription Drugs5 minutes
Intermediaries, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Drug Prices, and Rebates6 minutes
Products and Prescription Drugs Wrap Up - Data and Opportunities for Innovation1 minute
Quality of Care Overview and Key Organizing Concepts5 minutes
Overview, and Structural Quality Measures4 minutes
Process Quality Measures4 minutes
Outcome Quality Measures and Satisfaction Measures4 minutes
Overview of Some Approaches to Improving Quality4 minutes
Innovation and Data in Quality Improvement1 minute
Wrap Up1 minute

2 readingsTotal 5 minutes

Video Image Credit0 minutes
Study Guide Module 55 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Reflection Exercise10 minutes
Knowledge Check30 minutes

Ethics in Healthcare System

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments

4 videosTotal 21 minutes

Overview of AI applications in delivery of health care services and ethical issues5 minutes
Ethical frameworks for health care and for AI5 minutes
AI and incentives in health care delivery and payment structures6 minutes
More examples of AI and incentives in health care delivery and payment structures6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Exercise Reading15 minutes
Study Guide Module 65 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 45 minutes

Reflection Exercise30 minutes
Reflection Exercise15 minutes

Course Summary and Final Assessment

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(518 ratings)

Nigam Shah

Stanford Online

3 Courses125,551 learners

Mildred Cho

Stanford Online

2 Courses117,406 learners

Laurence Baker

Stanford Online

2 Courses116,316 learners

Offered by

Stanford Online

Explore more from Health Informatics

Northeastern University
An Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Introduction to Healthcare Finance
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Introduction to Healthcare Accounting
Course
Status: Free Trial
AAPC
Introduction to Certified Professional Biller
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
80.86%
4 stars
15.41%
3 stars
2.15%
2 stars
0.45%
1 star
1.11%

Showing 3 of 1531

Reviewed on Oct 12, 2020

Good course to get the terminology under your belt. You will understand how the money flows, and how outcomes are measured. I got a ton of value from the class and recommend it highly.

Reviewed on Sep 4, 2023

Fantastic AI in HealthCare course with broad topics about payment models, risk adjustments, ethnical considerations with AI models and much more. Excellent teachers!

Reviewed on Nov 6, 2020

Good course to get some insight into different healthcare. Obviously, this course is from Stanford, so primary focus was on US healthcare system as examples

View more reviews

Break down barriers to learning with big savings
Get Coursera Plus
Start with easy savings for hard-working teams
Save 30% today

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 course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.

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.