Graduate Certificate - Healthcare Administration and Service Management (PHCAR)

An Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Administration and Service Management is an applied programme designed to develop essential skills in leadership, operations, and digital health technologies aligned with Canada’s evolving healthcare system. Graduates gain the ability to innovate new solutions, manage healthcare operations effectively, and optimise team performance, contributing to improved staff wellbeing, enhanced service delivery, and better patient outcomes on a sustainable scale.

The programme provides a holistic understanding of healthcare by exploring Canadian healthcare systems, funding structures, regulations, and policy, alongside patient-centred service management and delivery. It emphasises ethical and informed decision-making through the use of data analytics, artificial intelligence tools, and emotional intelligence, while also examining how identity and systemic inequalities influence healthcare outcomes. Learners engage with the psychology of change and change management to better understand transformation within complex healthcare environments.

Academic learning is combined with hands-on experience through a blend of traditional lectures, interactive discussions, practical labs, clinical simulations, and real-world case studies. A key component of the programme is 392 hours of field placement, during which students work alongside experienced healthcare leaders on specific projects that address critical challenges within healthcare organisations.

The programme places strong emphasis on the transformative role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare. Students explore how these advanced technologies can be integrated into existing healthcare infrastructures to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and enhance patient outcomes.

A distinctive feature of the programme is its focus on leading with empathy and cultural humility. It examines how identity, systemic inequities, and social factors affect patient care, staff wellbeing, and organisational success. Graduates are prepared to address structural biases, foster inclusive cultures, and promote equitable access to healthcare while driving meaningful and sustainable change within the sector.