Texas Woman’s University & Indiana University
A group of students and faculty from Texas Woman’s University and Indiana University South Bend visited Stockholm for one week to study the Swedish Healthcare system. Topics during the week included the history, governance, financing of the system including performance and service provision. The group visited Karolinska University Hospital, a primary care center and an elderly care facility.

Objective
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks Sweden as among the best healthcare systems in the world. During the course students will learn key facts about the Swedish healthcare system and study visits will give them hands-on experience of how the healthcare system functions in Sweden. The objective of the course is for students to learn about the Swedish healthcare system in order to compare and contrast differences with the healthcare system in the United States.

Content
Students listened to speakers from Stockholm University, Stockholm County Council and Stockholm Municipality to learn about the structure and governance of the Swedish healthcare system. The group also had two lectures about refugee healthcare, where speakers from the Swedish Red Cross and the organization Doctors of the World talked about the current situation for migrants and refugees regarding healthcare in Sweden. Further a lecture about National quality registries highlighted how Sweden’s approx. 100 registries are used to monitor outcomes and improve quality in healthcare.

Outcome
Stockholm was sunny and warm and students enjoyed their visit to Stockholm. Students were and were satisfied with their participation in the study tour and found the content relevant to their studies. Many enjoyed the visit to the new Karolinska Hospital and the elderly care facility as well as the lectures about refugee healthcare in Sweden.