Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services

Program Presentation

Healthcare institutions are very important within communities as they provide services and promote and protect the individual and collective health of people. Primary healthcare is a part of these services, which is why it is of great importance, as it contributes to controlling the variables that affect both healthcare systems and people's wellbeing. Its main function is to achieve universal healthcare coverage and access, with the primary objective of bringing healthcare services closer to all individuals and families who need them. Proper management of these services is of utmost importance to achieve the objectives and provide the population with timely and quality healthcare.

The Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services is a program that seeks to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the delivery of primary healthcare services through the generation and implementation of actions aimed at that purpose.

The program pursues a global vision of knowledge in management stimulating critical thinking for problem solving, directing professionals' work towards the effectiveness and efficiency of the processes associated with their work, thus strengthening their development and job performance.

This Master also seeks to provide a new approach in accordance with the changes in the external and internal environments related to primary healthcare to strengthen and improve the management of services for this purpose.

Who is the programme for?

Professionals who hold a bachelor's degree in careers related to healthcare, management, and biomedical engineering. Potential students seek to acquire knowledge in the field of management related to primary healthcare, deepening in the most relevant topics that will allow them to perform in interventions of this type. They are interested in complementary and specific training that will allow them to deepen or update their professional skills in healthcare management, which will allow them to perform more efficiently in their job; or that these studies will expand their job placement possibilities; or that they will offer a qualitative difference given the competitive professional environment.

Diploma

Successful completion of the program will lead to a Master's Degree in Management of Primary Healthcare Services.

Upon successful completion of the Program, the student will receive the degree issued by the university where they have enrolled.

Program Structure

The credit structure of the Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services program is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the duration is merely indicative, as the methodology followed integrates the knowledge and skills to be acquired in each part through integrative exercises of knowledge acquisition and internalization of project practices:

MODULES AND SUBJECTS CREDITSa
Mandatory Subjects 80
Master's Final Project 10
TOTAL 90

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where he/she has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.

Duration

La Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services tiene 90 créditos. La duración de la Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services es de 12 to 24 months. En este período de tiempo, el alumno tiene que haber superado con éxito todas las actividades evaluadas y aprobado el Proyecto Final.

Objectives

General Objective

Train specialists with a multidisciplinary profile to acquire knowledge and tools aimed at adequately interpreting the conceptual elements of health at the primary healthcare level in order to apply them according to the reality of each organization and community.

Specific Objectives

The educational objectives of the Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services are:

  • Strengthen the theoretical and methodological basis of primary healthcare.
  • Value the importance of and introduce the educational process in professional tasks, both in individual and collective actions.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of healthcare services in their workplace, with an emphasis on process quality and innovation.
  • Develop skills, aptitudes, attitudes, and abilities for the implementation of effective primary care management.
  • Establish effective communication and leadership with individuals, family, and community, as well as with the healthcare team under charge.
  • Contribute to the improvement of healthcare servicesr to respond to the actual and potential healthcare needs of people.

Career Opportunities

The professional who graduates from this program will be able to work in the field of primary healthcare management within different healthcare organizations, primary care centers, and public or private social and healthcare centers. On the other hand, they can work as Teachers and Researchers.

Note: Professional practice is regulated by each country's law.

Study Plan

The Master in Management of Primary Healthcare Services has a total duration of 90 credits. The program has a curricular structure based on two complementary formative parts to achieve a comprehensive training:

  • Part I: SUBJECTS
  • Part II: MASTER'S FINAL PROJECT

PART I: SUBJECTS (80 CREDITS)

The first part includes subjects ranging from understanding primary care and the social determinants of health to healthcare management skills and tools. Students are expected to propose appropriate interventions, design research, and health programs, as well as evaluation and monitoring strategies, so that they have essential skills for work in primary care management.

The subjects that make up the first part are shown in the following table:

TYPE OF SUBJECT MODULES AND SUBJECTS CREDITSa
  MODULE 1: MANDATORY BLOCK  
Mandatory
Social Determinants in Health 4
Health Systems Based on Primary Care 4
Care Communication 3
Health Education 4
Design and Evaluation of Primary Healthcare Projects 4
Health Promotion and Citizen Participation 4
Epidemiology 4
Management of Health Services 4
Economy 4
Strategic Human Resources Management 4
Healthcare Planning 4
Organizational Structure and Change 3
Integrated Healthcare 4
Conflict Resolution/Transformation in the Healthcare Sector 3
Quality Care and Patient Safety 4
Research Methods 4
Data visualization for Decision-Making 4

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university that issues the degree.

PART II: MASTER'S FINAL PROJECT (10 CREDITS)

The Master's Final Project or Thesis, which has a course load of 10 credits, has the objective of presenting a complete work that shows the total development of a project, contemplating the possibility of its concrete execution according to the guidelines and details of the proposal presented.

TYPE OF SUBJECT MODULES AND SUBJECTS CREDITSa
  MODULE 2: MASTER'S FINAL PROJECT  
Mandatory
Master's Final Project 10

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university that issues the degree.

Note:The content of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications depending on updates or improvements made.

Management

Academic Management

  • Dr. Maurizio Battino. Director of the Health and Nutrition Area of the Iberoamerican University Foundation. Researcher in Biochemistry and lecturer at the Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell'Alimentazione.

General Academic Coordination

  • Irma Domínguez Azpíroz, PhD(c). International Health Area Coordinator. Doctoral Candidate in Education. International Master in Nutrition and Dietetics. Master in Physical Activity: Training and Sports Management.

Program Coordination

  • Vivian Lipari Zegarra, PhD(c). Doctoral Candidate. Master in Public Health by the Universidad de Chile, and MSc in Health Services Administration at the Universidad Federico Villarreal, Peru.

Teaching staff and Authors

  • Dr. Anai Garcia Fariñas. Doctorate in Health Sciences and Master in Health Economics by the Escuela Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuba.
  • Dr. Arturo Salazar Campos. Doctorate in Education by the Instituto de Estudios Superiores en Educación por Competencias, Mexico. Master in Public Health by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Mexico.
  • Dr. Diego Gómez. Doctorate in International Public Health with Specialization in Healthcare and Development Policies by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Postgraduate studies (Doctorate Course) in Occupational Health and Safety at the Universidade do Porto. Specialist in Occupational Safety by the Politécnico Colombiano Jaime Isaza Cadavid.
  • Dr. Ernesto Bautista Thompson Doctorate in Computer Science by the Centro de Investigación en Computación del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico. Master in Materials Science and Engineering by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
  • Dr. Gabriela Grover. Doctorate in Public Health Sciences by the Universidad de Guadalajara.
  • Dr. Lucas Pina. Doctor of Medicine from the Universidad de Buenos Aires. Master in Strategic Management and Direction in Health by the Universidad Europea del Atlántico. Master in Education by the Universidad de Jaén, Spain.
  • María Eugenia Luna Borgaro, PhD(c). Doctoral Candidate. Master in Human Resources and Knowledge Management by the Universidad de León.
  • Dr. Oscar Ulloa. Doctorate in Education by the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Master in Community Development by the Universidad Central Marta Abreu de Las Villas, Cuba. Specialist in Social Worker Training and Degree in Psychology.
  • MS. Emilse Galeano. Master' in Strategic Management of Health Organizations by the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Mexico. Specialist in Strategic Planning and Quality Management in Hospitals and Health Institutions by the Universidad CAECE, Argentina.
  • MS. Lucía Vassallo. Master in Health Services Management by the Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Peru. MBA Project Management by the Instituto Europeo de Postgrado.
  • MNurs. Pedro Ibarra. Master in Nursing Science and Health Management by the Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Spain.
  • MS. Stefanía Carvajal. Master in Strategic Management of Healthcare Organizations. Professor at the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana.
  • M.Ed. Zayra Queb. Master in Educational Mathematics by the Instituto Campechano, Mexico.

FUNIBER Training Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.

To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.

Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.