On October 1, EFFECTUS University of Applied Sciences commenced classes for the 12th cohort of participants in the lifelong learning programme Mini MBA: Healthcare Management. The programme is delivered by EFFECTUS University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the Association of Employers in Healthcare of Croatia and is led by Professor Đuro Horvat, PhD, and Dražen Jurković, MSc, MD.

According to Professor Đuro Horvat, PhD, today’s healthcare system requires professionals who, in addition to having an excellent understanding of their respective fields, also possess a broader perspective encompassing people management, financial management, processes and organisational change. “This is precisely why, for the twelfth consecutive year, the programme brings together participants who wish to further develop their knowledge and prepare themselves to take responsibility for the development of the organisations in which they work. A particular strength of the programme lies in bringing together knowledge, experience and diverse professional perspectives,” said Professor Horvat.

This year, the programme has welcomed around 40 participants – professionals working within the healthcare system and related fields who wish to further develop the knowledge and competencies required for high-quality, responsible and modern healthcare management.

Dražen Jurković, MSc, MD, emphasised that effective management in healthcare is today just as important as understanding the healthcare system itself. “We are facing challenges related to digitalisation, new financing models, quality improvement, human resource management and increasingly high patient expectations. The aim of the programme is to provide participants with practical and applicable knowledge that can help them turn these challenges into better-organised processes, higher-quality decision-making and, ultimately, better healthcare,” concluded Dr Jurković.

The Mini MBA: Healthcare Management programme is designed as a combination of management knowledge, an understanding of the specific characteristics of the healthcare system, and practical skills applicable to day-to-day management. It is intended for directors and members of management boards of healthcare institutions, heads of professional and administrative departments, healthcare professionals, representatives of healthcare administration, private healthcare providers, and all those professionally engaged in the management of healthcare systems.

Over the course of 236 hours, participants will cover topics including change management and human resources management, communication skills and media relations, risk management and crisis management, healthcare financing, pharmacoeconomics, financial reporting and public procurement, the legal framework and professional responsibility, medical technologies and healthcare digitalisation, quality management, and the organisation of various segments of the healthcare system.

A particular strength of the programme lies in connecting theoretical knowledge with practical experience, creating opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and enabling them to view the healthcare system from a range of different professional perspectives.

The start of classes for the 12th cohort also confirms the continuity of one of EFFECTUS’s recognised lifelong learning programmes. Just a few weeks earlier, the 11th cohort successfully completed the programme and received their certificates, further strengthening a growing community of professionals committed to developing modern, efficient and responsible healthcare management.

Because high-quality healthcare depends not only on excellent medicine. It also requires excellent management.

We wish all participants of the 12th cohort a successful start to the programme, many new insights, valuable professional connections and ideas that they can turn into tangible improvements within their organisations.