Nursing & Health Sciences · Capella FlexPath

NHS-FPX6008: Economics and Decision Making in Healthcare

A graduate NHS FlexPath course covering identification of a local health care economic issue, a needs analysis for change, a business case for change, and lobbying for that change across four assessments.

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NHS-FPX6008 builds a complete economic argument for organizational change — starting with a local healthcare economic issue, moving through a needs analysis and a financial business case, and ending with an advocacy plan for getting that change adopted. Because each assessment depends on the one before it, the economic issue chosen in Assessment 1 needs to be specific and well-supported enough to carry through three more assessments. This guide breaks down what each assessment requires and how academic support for NHS-FPX6008 fits a course built on economic reasoning and persuasive argument.

Course Overview

This course applies healthcare economics principles — cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility analysis — to a real or realistic local healthcare problem. Rather than studying economic theory abstractly, NHS-FPX6008 has students identify an actual economic issue, analyze what changes are needed, build a financial and operational business case for those changes, and then plan how to advocate for the change with decision-makers.

Key Assessments

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Common Challenges in This Course

On Assessment 1, the most common issue is choosing an economic issue too broad to analyze with real data — a narrow, well-documented local problem works far better than a national-level issue. On Assessment 3, students sometimes write a business case without actual financial analysis (cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness figures), which most rubrics specifically require rather than a purely qualitative argument. On Assessment 4, the advocacy strategy needs to name specific, realistic stakeholders and tailor the message to them — a generic "raise awareness" plan tends to underperform against a strategy built around the actual decision-makers identified earlier in the course.

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NHS-FPX6008 FAQ

Does the economic issue in Assessment 1 need to be from my own workplace?

It doesn't have to be — a realistic local scenario works as long as it's specific enough to support cost and outcomes data through the later assessments.

What kind of economic analysis is expected in Assessment 3?

Most rubrics expect a real cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, or cost-utility analysis with supporting figures, not just a narrative argument for the change.

Do all four assessments need to focus on the same issue?

Yes — the economic issue from Assessment 1 carries through the needs analysis, business case, and lobbying strategy in the later assessments.

Who is the audience for the Assessment 4 lobbying strategy?

Typically organizational or policy decision-makers relevant to the issue — board members, administrators, or legislators depending on the scope of the change.

Can the business case include non-financial benefits?

Yes — most rubrics expect both financial analysis and qualitative benefits (quality, safety, patient experience), but the financial component still needs real figures.