It is important for nursing home managers to
understand legal regulations affecting the industry and to be able to
work with diverse groups. A degree in health administration can help
aspiring assisted living administration professionals gain these skills.
Both bachelor's and master's degrees in the health administration field
are available through online programs. These programs can allow
students the flexibility to complete their courses while working and
keeping other commitments.
Overview of Online Bachelor of Health Administration Degrees
In undergraduate health administration degree programs, students
learn general management techniques and how to administer the business
and logistical aspects long-term care. These programs typically result
in Bachelor of Science degrees in either long-term care or health
administration. Students learn about various facets of health and
long-term care settings, from business principles to diversity and
ethics.
Though it may take some students the standard four years to complete
the required credit hours for these degrees, some may finish in as
little as 18 months. Communication with professors and other students is
accomplished through electronic means. This includes using a content
management system, like Blackboard, and e-mail. Blackboard and other
online content management software are also used to deliver coursework.
Depending on the student's intended location for work, hands-on
experience may be earned through an internship, but may not be required.
Overview of Online Health Administration Courses
Health administration coursework in these programs can be tailored to
suit the student's interest in nursing facility administration. These
programs also usually require general education courses in mathematics,
English and sciences in addition to major-specific classes, like the
following:
Diversity in Healthcare Course
Racial, religious and socioeconomic diversity are the areas of focus
in these courses. Students analyze case studies to gain understanding of
how issues of race, ethnicity, religion or economic background can
affect the standard of care in long-term care or nursing home
facilities. Online class discussions allow students to deepen their
understanding of these topics.
Regulations of long-term care, including those imposed by the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act, are the focus of this course. This course
introduces the impacts of state and local regulations on standards of
care. Students must gain familiarity with state and local rules and
regulations.
Health Care Program Evaluation Course
After completing this course, students will have the tools to
evaluate the quality of health care programs. From planning to
evaluation, individuals learn skills needed to administer community
health programs. Students will learn to design programs, determine
appropriate methods to educate community members and combat resistance
from groups.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), graduates of
bachelor's degree programs may begin their careers in small hospitals or
care facilities, as assistant administrators or department heads (
www.bls.gov).
BLS data indicates that salary potential varies depending on location
and industry. For example, BLS data from 2008 indicates that a medical
or health services manager in Oklahoma earned $32.02 per hour, while in
the same year a manager in Washington State earned $52.63 per hour (
www.bls.gov).
Overview of Online Master of Health Administration Degrees
A Master of Health Administration degree prepares graduates for
managerial employment in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
In these programs, students learn about leadership, ethics and
professional standards. They also learn about personnel management and
facility management. States may require licensure of assisted living
administrators, and the master's degree program may help students with
this process.
A Master of Health Administration degree requires completion of about
42-45 credit hours and may take 2-3 years to complete. Many of these
courses are available online. Most programs include a capstone project,
and an internship may also be required. The internship cannot be
competed online. Students may be required to attend classes on campus
several times a year, and may be required to complete an orientation,
either online or on campus. It may also be necessary for students to
travel for proctored examinations.
Overview of Online Health Management Course
Finance, program evaluation and personnel management are part an
assisted living manager's job, and these topics are usually covered in
these programs. To properly prepare graduates for work in the field,
many programs also include courses in standards, ethics and marketing.
Healthcare Financial Management Course
These courses include study of financial management concepts, from
financial statements and budgeting to cost accounting and allocation.
Students complete projects related to cost accounting to demonstrate
their knowledge. Other financial management concepts covered in these
courses include the regulations and policies that affect an assisted
living facility's economic bottom line.
Ethics and the Law Course
Students gain basic knowledge of legal issues related to assisted
living facilities and health care access, in addition to professional
ethics. These courses include instruction regarding professional
liability, confidentiality requirements and end-of-life issues that
arise in long-term care facilities.
Marketing for Healthcare Managers Course
In healthcare marketing courses, students learn to target marketing
of healthcare services to specific audiences. Students learn about
market research and health service promotion.
Graduates with master's degrees in
healthcare administration
may find managerial jobs in assisted living centers, hospitals and
hospice care facilities. According to the BLS, 283,500 individuals were
employed as health administrators in 2008. The average annual salary for
health care administrators ranged from $48,30-$137,000 and up in May
2008, according to BLS data.
The American College of Healthcare Administrators (ACHA) offers
certification for assisted living administrators. Individuals are
eligible for certification after fulfilling state requirements for
licensure. There are several paths to certification eligibility,
including completion of a licensure exam to completion of a bachelor or
master's degree and work experience. Certified administrators must renew
that certification every five years (
http://achca.org).
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