Earn a Masters in Healthcare Administration
Whether you are looking for a new career in healthcare or want to advance your current position, getting a master of science in healthcare administration will give you the education, training and experience necessary to oversee the business, clerical and financial aspects of medical care and also help you obtain management and executive-level positions within the field.
Masters in Healthcare Administration Programs
Quality online healthcare administration programs have been developed to provide the technical and behavioral competencies necessary to succeed in this field. These programs offer students a comprehensive, practical and interdisciplinary set of core competencies, knowledge, skills, and values for health administration jobs in a variety of health organizations. Online Masters in Healthcare Administration programs are available at:
- George Mason University
- Saint Joseph's University
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
- The University of Scranton
- Utica College
Healthcare administration is without question an excellent career path, given the current demand for healthcare managers, and the above-average job outlook for the next decade. The wide range of employment positions all come with reasonably high salaries and great benefits, and the field offers enormous potential for advancement. Individuals who combine a high level of education with appropriate experience will benefit from this growing job sector – which is why those with master’s degrees in this field have gone on to achieve tremendous success as health care administration professionals.
Job Titles and Responsibilities
A masters in healthcare administration will qualify you to work in careers overseeing the business, clerical and financial aspects of medical care. You can expect to supervise other healthcare employees, ensuring that medical, legal, ethical or financial goals and regulations are met. A master's degree in this field will prepare you for careers in either health care administration or health information management.
Health care administrators – also known as health care managers and health services managers – manage, direct and coordinate medical services in a variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, private medical practices, research institutions, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, nonprofit human service organizations, institutes of higher learning, healthcare networks and insurance companies.
Other job titles for a professional with a master’s degree in healthcare administration include clinic manager, department director, facility manager, health care consultant, hospital administrator, medical records manager, nurse director, operations manager, program manager, director of risk management, director of business development and director of patient safety.
Your job responsibilities will include working to minimize costs and maximize efficiencies, while also ensuring that the services provided are the best possible. You must also keep up-to-date on changing federal and state laws governing healthcare. Depending on the type of setting you work in, you may also be responsible for overseeing functions related to medical records and billing, as well as creating work schedules for department heads and other staff members.
Healthcare Administration Career Outlook
The job outlook for healthcare administrators is strong, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 17 percent growth from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, the healthcare industry as a whole will see an increase in the demand for medical services.
The median annual wage for medical and health services managers is $96,030. The highest 10 percent of health services administration salaries over $144,000. Earnings for healthcare administrators can vary significantly depending on a candidate’s educational attainment and professional experience, as well as by regional market conditions.
Healthcare administration is vitally important to healthcare, as now more than ever, the sector needs individuals who can oversee accountability with insurance companies, assist in the transition to paperless records, implement and alter policies in the face of new laws and regulations, advocate for patients and recruit employees. As the median age of the population climbs and baby boomers remain active into their retirement years, healthcare services are expected to expand in response to these demographic shifts.
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