Health Policy & Management

(Note for Prospective Applicants: Beginning in the Fall 2012, the School is moving to a new Certificate program with offerings including: Comparative Effectiveness Outcomes Research; Global Health; and Health Policy Analysis. Visit the Prospective Student/Columbia MPH site for more information.)

 The Effectiveness and Outcomes Research Track (EOR) combines the resources of the Health Policy and Management Department with methodological training in biostatistics and epidemiology. It is designed to provide students with skills in quantitative methods and research design, as well as knowledge of economics and policy that are needed to analyze cost-effective healthcare services and products.

Students learn to assess the effectiveness of healthcare interventions, especially for their effects on health outcomes. The EOR focus on cost implications of alternative strategies has assumed increasing importance for healthcare policy makers and managers. Our graduates are employed in the bio-pharma sector as well as in university and government research organizations.

Competencies

Graduates of the EOR Track will be able to:

• Describe the fundamental analytical and evaluative methods of effectiveness research, including: cost-benefit analysis, outcomes research, medical practice protocols, and technology assessment;
• Explain the strengths and limitations of specific analytical and evaluative methods to particular problems;
• Choose an appropriate analytical or evaluative method of effectiveness research to answer a public health question;
• Describe how the public health information infrastructure is used to collect, process, maintain, and disseminate data;
• Use information technology to access, evaluate, and interpret public health data; and
• Apply fundamental analytical and evaluation methods of effectiveness research.

In addition to gaining the track-specific competencies listed above, graduates will also achieve both Department-wide as well as School-wide MPH competencies.