HTH RS M 741 / Introduction to Health Technology Assessment

3 unit(s)

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has the tremendous potential to transform the delivery of health care services, and improve health outcomes and quality of life. Decisions about whether to purchase and use new health technologies (e.g. drugs, medical devices, surgical procedures, etc.) should be based on high-quality evidence of its impact on health outcomes, the health care system, and cost-effectiveness. Payers of health care face the challenge of aligning decision making with the best available evidence. Upon completion of this course, students will be equipped with the skills to evaluate the quality of an HTA, to critically appraise it to make a judgment about a study’s methods, results and conclusions. Additionally, students will be become adept in conducting HTAs and be mindful of the barriers to, and facilitators of, evidence-based decision making in the real world.