Earn a Masters in Healthcare Management
Healthcare management is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, and the demand for qualified individuals in this industry shows no signs of slowing down. Among the most sought-after positions in the healthcare industry, healthcare managers have become a critical part of the logistical underpinnings of the medical care process. Leaders who must be able to motivate and inspire loyalty in their staffs, healthcare managers must also be able to think critically and solve problems.
In order to remain competitive in this burgeoning field, job candidates are better positioned by earning a master’s degree. In fact, having a masters in healthcare management has become the standard credential for many companies, who are looking for a way to screen out applicants who do not have one. By going through the process of obtaining a master’s degree, you will be able to demonstrate the interpersonal skills, as well as the integrated business disciplines, required to succeed and grow in this profession.
Featured Programs
American University
American University offers an online Masters in Healthcare Management program that will provide you with the skills you need to become a multidimensional leader in this dynamic field. With strong professional leadership and technical skills, you will be able to successfully navigate the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape and truly excel at what you do.
This 24-month, 36-credit flexible online degree program offers insight into using quantitative and qualitative tools and methods to evaluate and present healthcare data, as well as into determining and implementing effective strategies for managing patient safety and security risk in health information systems. It will also provide you with the leadership and communications skills necessary to manage and cultivate ethical, intercultural relationships within your field.
For more information on the featured online programs at American University, click here.
George Mason University
George Mason University’s online Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management prepares you with the strategic, business, analytic, and decision-making skills needed to successfully navigate and lead innovation in the evolving healthcare industry. It provides a foundation, rooted in evidenced-based research and application, which leads to success in mid- and executive-level management.
The online MHA teaches a curriculum that is aligned with the on ground CAHME-accredited leadership program, combining online class convenience with experiential, on-site practicums. Students develop a robust, executive level skill-set combining integral strategic, business, analytic, and decision-making methodologies rooted in real-world, evidenced-based research and application. The program can be completed in 24 months with synchronous, asynchronous, and field practicum courses.
For more information on the featured online programs at George Mason University, click here.
Job Titles and Responsibilities
As a healthcare manager, you are responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of where you work go smoothly and efficiently. This includes engaging in ongoing, daily communication with healthcare providers and department heads, as well as with investors and boards of directors. Depending on the size of the facility in which you work, you may also be responsible for tracking finances, processing purchase orders, paying invoices and helping to bill patients and insurers.
For planning and reporting purposes, you may also be responsible for keeping records on the number of patients seen per year, number of inpatient and outpatient procedures, transfers and other statistical data. As a more routine aspect of your position, you may need to configure staff work schedules and supervise assistant managers.
Healthcare managers must also stay up-to-date on the latest healthcare policies and regulations to ensure that their facilities are compliant with all state and federal laws. The healthcare industry is in a constant state of flux, and successful healthcare managers are able to keep tabs on both regulation and technological changes coming down the pike.
Some of the job titles associated with healthcare management professionals include ambulatory care center director, clinical director/manager, health care consultant, managed care manager nurse manager, nutrition service manager and practice manager. Potential workplaces include home health care services, insurance companies, medical or diagnostic laboratories, nursing and residential care facilities, physician offices and private hospitals.
Healthcare Management Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 17 percent increase in employment of medical and health service managers from 2014 to 2024, which represents a faster growth rate than the predicted for the average of all occupations over the same decade. As the U.S. healthcare system works to improve outcomes while decreasing costs, we are gradually shifting away from a pay-for-procedure model and more towards a pay-for-performance one. This places increased value on healthy outcomes and less emphasis on the number of tests, surgeries and other interventions performed. This – along with the fact that aging baby boomers will be requiring more medical care in their later years – is causing an increased demand for healthcare managers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical and health service managers was $94,500 in May 2015. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $56,230, while the top 10 percent brought in over $165,380. Variables that effect salary include the type and size of healthcare facility in which you work, as well as your level of responsibility, education and professional experience.
Learn More
Healthcare management represents an exciting profession that will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. With a master’s degree, you will position yourself well as you seek out rewarding employment opportunities. For more information about healthcare administration degrees, click here.
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Immerse yourself in an online healthcare administration degree program.
