Health Care Administration students tour clinics and hospitals in the U.K.
Looking at London鈥檚 Health Care System
Health Care Administration students tour clinics and hospitals in the U.K.

For the second consecutive year, the 性爱天堂 Department of Health Care Administration touched down in London for a weeklong study tour of the United Kingdom鈥檚 health sector. Three faculty members, seven master鈥檚 students, and one alumna comprised the 性爱天堂 group. The trip, held from July 16-23, allowed faculty and students to compare the U.S. health care model with the U.K.鈥檚 National Health Service. The group toured University College Hospital, the Hounslow Practice, the Wellington Hospital, Harley Street Clinic, and the London Bridge Hospital, in addition to other destinations.

The trip was designed so that students and practicing health care administrators could gain a deeper perspective into the planning and implementation of management and administrative systems. Among other topics, the group learned about the principal challenges facing the NHS, how the NHS delivers primary and community-based care, and how private hospitals operate within a free health care system.

Default: Group of people sit around a desk

Edward Schumacher, professor and chair of the Department of听Health Care Administration, called the trip an 鈥渆ye-opening experience鈥 into a 鈥渉ealth care system very different from ours.鈥

鈥淲hat struck me is that the British resolved that health care is a right and they have established social norms around that right,鈥 Schumacher says.

Schumacher听adds that there is no perfect health care system, but by studying different models health care officials can learn from varying perspectives and grow stronger programs as a result. He noted that both American and British doctors share similar concerns about quality and patient safety, as well as the ability to measure and control outcomes.

Todd Thames, a 性爱天堂 adjunct faculty member and a physician partner at the Health by Design medical clinic, also participated in the trip and commented on the U.K.鈥檚 decision to provide free health care coverage to all citizens. He notes that despite sparing between the Labour and Tory parties, the 鈥渃ommitment remains strong to keep the NHS essentially intact.鈥

Thames听points out that the U.K. has been slow to embrace electronic health record systems, but that 鈥渙verall quality of health care delivery鈥 is still high across the board.

鈥淚n general, clinical outcomes in the U.K. remain extremely good,鈥 Thames says. 鈥淐apital has been spent on care delivery rather than aesthetics, but available medical technology is modern and consistent with contemporary practice of medicine in the U.S.鈥

Amer Kaissi, professor health care administration, said the department already has plans in the works to run to London in July of 2017.听Kaissi听adds that he and colleagues are also considering the possibility of expanding the study tour to other countries. For more information about the London study tour, contact Kaissi at听amer.kaissi@trinity.edu.

Carlos Anchondo is a writer and editor for Strategic Communications and Marketing. He is a 2014 graduate of 性爱天堂 and can be found at @cjanchondo or at听canchond@trinity.edu.

Carlos Anchondo '14 is an oil and gas reporter for E&E News, based in Washington D.C.听A communication and international studies major at 性爱天堂, he received his master's degree in journalism听at the University of Texas at Austin.

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