Online Health Administration Degree

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Most successful healthcare administrators start their careers by specializing in a particular area of health care, for example nursing, laboratory assisting or information technology. Once they have gained experience then they may choose to advance their career to an administrative position, through gaining further educational qualifications.

In order to become a high level administrator or manager at say a hospital, research facility, managed care facility or even an insurance company, you will need to combine your health care experience with a Bachelors, Masters, MBA or Doctoral degree. You'll need public administration skills as well as superior skills in management principles. A degree can be earned online whilst an individual holds down their current job and many people take this option since it is often more affordable and convenient than a traditional on campus degree.

What are the duties of a health administrator?

The duties of a health administration are wide and varied according to the job title and the size and type of facility. In a small health care facility an administrator could assist with patient intakes and the office finances. In a large health care facility an administrator is needed to organise everything from employee benefits to the rota for nurses' shifts. Healthcare administrators make use of their background experience in healthcare together with their degree in health care administration to make sure that their facility operates smoothly and efficiently.

How to know if a health administration degree is for you

You would be right to consider a health administration degree if:

you have experience or are currently working in a health care facility such as a hospital, rehabilitation or mental health facility, ambulatory care centre or a physician's office
you feel ready to handle more responsibility in your daily activities
you enjoy working in a team environment and are able to supervise and work collaboratively with others
you can handle confidential material with discretion
you can stay in control even under stress
you like working with different types of people
you are an organized person
you are a good listener
you care deeply for the community in which you live

Can I specialize my health administration degree?

Because there is a growing demand for specialized skills, many online schools offer specialized subjects outside of the core curriculum. Some of these areas include: health information systems, medical office management, health policy and management, long term care, geriatric health medicine and MBA/health care management.

What courses are covered under the health administration degree?

The exact curriculum and degree requirements will vary according to the specific university, but are likely to include some of the following:

Health administration finance
Long term care policy
Analysis and design of health information systems
Elementary statistics
Expenditure and cost control in health administration
Principles of the economics of health care
Legal concepts in health administration
Health policy
Human resources management
Business law
Anatomy and physiology
Epidemiology
Health care delivery systems
Ethics – health care and social responsibility
Leadership in health care organizations
Introduction to health care, health and disease
Management of managed care organizations
Program evaluation and management in health services
Operations management in health care

Career prospects for graduates with a Masters or Doctoral degree

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has already predicted that demand will grow for well trained health care administrators by 16% leading up to 2018which will have led to around 43,000 new jobs in this field. Hospitals are likely to remain the largest single employer although out patients and clinics will recruit new managers.

Possible job titles

Administrative Manager
Hospital Administrator
Behavioral Health Education Instructor
Healthcare Field Associate
Medical Director
Director of Management Support Services
Director of Health Information Management

The latest figures available (2008) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the median annual wages of medical and health service managers was $80,240 with the middle 50 per cent earning between $62,170 and $104,120.

A job in health care administration can involve long hours and is hard work. However, it is also challenging and rewarding, so if you care about the community you live in, this could be the right choice of career for you.

Earn an Online Health Administration Degree while you continue to work in the healthcare field.

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