This is the first in a two-course sequence in health care financial management, intended to impart a foundation of accounting and finance knowledge necessary to manage health care organizations and make informed decisions. This first course introduces learners to managerial and financial accounting concepts. The second course, HAD5733H Health Services Finance, focuses on finance topics, such as financing and investment decisions. This course will focus heavily on managerial accounting concepts, to provide learners with the tools necessary to ensure that their organization produces the information that will support their responsibility for decision-making. As a health care manager, it is important to understand what financial reports are prepared by the organization, what information these reports provide and how this information is used.

Objectives: in this course you will learn: 1) Financial Accounting: a) The types of financial reports required by organizations and the type of information in those financial statements. b) The theory and foundation of financial accounting and the 'rules' for the accumulation and reporting of financial information. c) Key financial performance measures and the interpretation of financial performance. 2) Managerial Accounting: a) The concepts and vocabulary in measuring costs, depending on the needs of the decision maker. b) The implications and use of management accounting tools and information for short term and long term decision making. c) Management accounting applications of forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. 3) Performance Analysis: a) Perform a performance analysis of a chosen health care organization using financial and managerial information from provincial datasets.

Learner competencies: accountability; achievement orientation; analytical thinking; communication skills; financial skills; performance management; self-confidence.