Healthcare System Conceptual Design - 655.767

This course addresses in detail the healthcare systems engineer’s responsibilities and activities during the conceptual phases of a healthcare system development program. Systems engineering tools commonly employed at this stage of a program are presented along with selected problems that illustrate both the applicability and limitations of commonly employed tools and procedures to the solving current healthcare issues. The course steps through conceptual design beginning with analysis of needs and objectives and proceeding to the exploration of concepts and the selection of a concept that best meets goals of performance, timeliness, and affordability. Topics include definition of operational scenarios, functional analysis, risk assessment, system trade-offs, measures of effectiveness, and requirements formulation. Emphasis is on the application of these systems engineering techniques in a team environment to a class project. Students apply systems engineering methods learned from reading and lectures to the development of a realistic system in an ongoing project in a team format.

Course Prerequisite(s)

EN.655.662 Introduction to Healthcare Systems Engineering and EN.655.667 Management of Healthcare Systems Projects, or permission of the student’s faculty advisor and the course instructor.