Health Care and Social Policies in Sweden

Sweden’s system of comprehensive and publicly-funded health care and social services, available to all residents, ranks among the most successful in the world. Sweden leads the world in major health outcomes, such as infant mortality and adult life expectancy, far outranking the United States. At the same time, Sweden spends approximately half of what we in the United States spend on health care. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to learn how the Swedish welfare state is organized and to see first-hand how it works on all levels and in various locations around the Stockholm-Uppsala area. Students will learn about Swedish history and culture, and will be challenged to re-examine many commonly held assumptions about both Scandinavia and the United States.

A special feature of the class is a visit to Helsinki, Finland, Sewden’s Nordic neighbor. Finland offers an interesting variant on the “Nordic model” of health and social care, which demonstrates how a highly competitive business economy can be successfully combined with a strong program of public benefits and services.

Two professors will guide and accompany the group, provide background lectures, lead discussions, and answer questions throughout the course.

Itinerary Highlights

Visits and lectures by Swedish officials and professionals at sites such as: the national health and social welfare planning boards, acute care hospital, geriatric hospital, nursing home, primary care clinic, hospital maternity unit, child day care center, adult assisted-living facility, psychiatric hospital, neighborhood social services office, immigrant assistance program, and national social insurance office.

Daily lectures and discussions with Swedish officials, physicians, nurses, midwives, social workers, psychologists, physical therapists, government planners, childcare workers and politicians.

Discussion with representatives of major political parties in Sweden.

Presentation on Swedish history and the rise of the Swedish welfare state.

Participation in Swedish cultural events.

A two-day trip to Uppsala for additional facility visits.

A cruise and sightseeing tour to Helsinki, Finland with visits to the Institute of Occupational Health and the Finnish Parliament.

A visit to the Nobel Banquet Hall and Nobel museum.

Program Faculty

The course will be directed by KU Medical Center faculty members Prof. Ellen Averett, Department of Health Policy and Management and Prof. Aruna Rao, Department of Health Information Management.

Academic Program

SOC 600 Sociological Perspectives:  Health Care and Social Policies in Sweden. 3 credit hours

This three-credit hour course is offered for undergraduates through the KU Department of Sociology.

HPM 875 Health Care and Social Policies in Sweden and Finland. 3 credit hours.

This three-credit hour course is offered for graduates students through the KUMC Department of Health Policy and Management.

There will be assigned readings for both undergraduates and graduates before departure and a required paper upon return.

Accommodations

Students will stay in double rooms in a small, comfortable hotel in one of the nicer parts of central Stockholm, two nights in a central Uppsala hotel and one night in a centrally located hotel in Helsinki. Breakfast is included each morning.

An additional two nights will be spent in sleeping cabins on the Stockholm/Helsinki ferry. Breakfasts on the ferry are included in the program cost.

Dates

Depart US: May 17, 2010
Arrive Stockholm: May 18, 2010
Depart Stockholm: June 1, 2010

Eligibility

Open to undergraduate and graduate students from any accredited U.S. college or university with an interest in Health Care, or Social Policies. Also open to interested professionals in the field. Preference will be given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. All participants are expected to be at least 21 years old by the start of the program.

Credit

Three hours of undergraduate or graduate-level credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program.

Cost:

Program Fee: Approximately $3,030 ($3,230 for non-KU students). The program fee includes accommodations, breakfasts, all site visits, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, KU orientation, and administrative costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $657*

Graduate Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $ 812*

*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

Additional costs: Airfare, lunches and dinners, airport transfer, passport fees, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Application Deadline: March 1, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged. The program is limited to 14 participants.

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Ellen Averett, PhD, MHSA
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Health Policy and Management
University of Kansas Medical Center
913-588-1274
5003 Student Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd
Kansas City, KS 66160
email: eaverett@kumc.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu