Haslam College of Business - Healthcare Finance Certificate Programs

Session 1: Introduction to Financial Statements

Joining the medical executive ranks means reviewing financial reports on the previous year’s performance. How can this information be understood and translated into actionable insight as a physician leader?

In the first session, participants will explore financial statements — their purpose, key differences between for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations and how healthcare leaders use them to guide strategic decision-making.

Session 2: Understanding the Balance Sheet

With organizational growth, including the acquisition of a struggling regional health system, and a vision for clinic expansion, how can understanding fixed assets, debt and resources inform the right timing to present ideas to the executive team?

This session examines financial structure through the balance sheet, exploring assets, liabilities, the role of fixed assets in healthcare, their impact on organizational flexibility and the strategic use of debt.

Session 3: The Income Statement and Profitability

Representing a service line in organizational strategic planning means navigating new competitors, private equity investment and staffing challenges. How can income statements reveal operational strengths, issues and opportunities for progress?

In the third session, participants focus on the income statement to analyze revenue, expenses, profitability, overall financial performance and the accumulation of assets or debt over time.

Session 4: Cash Flow Statement

With big changes, from hiring new providers and expanding support staff to updating equipment and facilities, patient growth may lag, and payers may reject or delay claims. How can financial risks be assessed amid all this change?

This session focuses on the importance of cash flow for organizational health, distinguishes cash flow from profitability and demonstrates how to use the cash flow statement to evaluate financial stability.

Session 5: Introduction to Financial Ratios

Stepping into the CMO role and preparing for the first strategic executive meeting, how can focus on the right changes ensure a sound bottom line for ambulatory care?

This session introduces financial ratios as essential tools for assessing performance over time, exploring key metrics to evaluate profitability, debt levels and risks and organizational efficiency.

Session 6: Applying Financial Statements in Decision-Making

Leading a team of motivated and ambitious physicians brings many ideas for clinical improvements and new initiatives. How can financial tradeoffs guide decisions on where and when to invest?

In the final session, participants integrate program concepts to use financial information in key leadership decisions and understand how day-to-day choices impact overall organizational financial results.

Optional: Mastery Assessment for Haslam College of Business Certificate

Complete an optional final online assessment to earn a Haslam digital certificate, demonstrating mastery of program content at the executive level.

Session 1: Profit and Loss Statements at the Division-Level

Assigned to lead the newly acquired ambulatory surgery center, clinical metrics are strong but financial results are below target. How can revenue and expense performance be quickly assessed to identify first-year priorities?

In the first session, participants examine the P&L statement for healthcare business units. Strategies for driving revenue, controlling costs and linking the business unit P&L to overall organizational performance are explored.

Session 2: Introduction to Time Value of Money (TVM)

Recruiting two-star providers brings competing investment opportunities for practice growth. With similar upfront costs, how can the risks, returns and timing of each option be evaluated?

This session explores financial risk and return, the importance of revenue and expense timing in assessing business options and how these principles inform healthcare decision-making.

Session 3: Net Present Value (NPV) and Project Viability

A lean process improvement initiative in the surgical suite has identified a key throughput bottleneck, with two proposed solutions: a new robotic surgery system or reconfigured operating room spaces. With competitive capital funding, which option demonstrates the strongest financial and clinical benefits?

The third session applies the time value of money to evaluate and compare financial returns of operational and investment choices, highlighting the CFO perspective on new initiatives.

Session 4: Financial Forecasting and Pro Formas 

Considering a new role as head of the oncology service line in a health system comes with a financial forecast outlining expected performance goals. How can key assumptions be identified, the forecast’s reasonableness assessed and realistic performance goals supported?

This session focuses on making forward-looking financial arguments for operational changes and investments. Participants learn how to develop financial forecasts and integrate associated risks.

Session 5: Capstone Application

After years of building a practice, competitive pressures have increased: private equity is entering the market, and risk-based payment models and partnerships are driving growth. How can business choices, investments, risks and returns be assessed effectively?

This session integrates concepts from the program to evaluate real-world healthcare scenarios. Tools are applied together to guide decision-making, including the use of scenario planning for strategic insights.

Session 6: Communicating Financial Decisions

The executive team has requested participation in the upcoming board meeting to present the remote medicine initiative launched this year. Which financial information should be shared, how can it be presented to guide the conversation effectively and how should questions be anticipated?

The final session focuses on presenting financial information clearly and effectively, using language tailored to diverse stakeholders and communicating the financial story to executives and teams.

Optional: Mastery Assessment for Haslam College of Business Certificate

An optional final online assessment is available to earn a certificate from Haslam. This digital credential reflects mastery of program content at the level expected of Haslam executive students.