Online health care quality management
certificate programs are available for post-baccalaureate or master's
degree students. These programs focus on improving results in quality
and risk management related to the health care industry.
Overview of Online Health Care Quality Management Certificate Programs
These certificate programs are offered entirely online, and some
schools also have an in-person program. Students learn quality process
improvement and risk management skills tailored to the health industry.
Students must possess an undergraduate or graduate degree depending on
the school's requirements, typically in a health-related discipline.
Credits in these programs may be transferable towards further degree
studies or qualify for continuing education credit.
Online health care quality and risk management certificate programs
consist of 1-5 courses or about 120 hours of study. Some require a
capstone project at the culmination of the program. Students may be able
to complete registration and begin classes at their own pace, or may
have to adhere to the sponsoring school's academic calendar.
Requirements for most online programs include a valid e-mail address
and access to a computer equipped with high-speed Internet and a current
version of a browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla
Firefox. Not all browsers will work with some programs, so technical
specifications should be checked before enrollment. Courses are
typically delivered via a course management system such as ANGEL or
Blackboard.
List of Common Courses
Online programs in health care quality and risk management are
offered as separate courses, or as one course covering several different
topics. Some common courses are listed below.
Process Improvement and Strategic Management Course
Students learn evolving skills in health care quality-improvement
applications and methods. The focus is on effective use of techniques
and tools available for health care managers.
Health Care Laws and Regulations Course
The standards, regulations and laws associated with health care
management are examined in this class. Accreditation of health care
organizations, patient safety goals, state license requirements and
standards are topics of study.
Students learn to implement, use and maintain different
medically-related computer systems. Systems related to database
management, electronic medical records and managerial transactions are
covered.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment
for medical and health services managers was projected to grow by 16%
from 2008-2018 (
www.bls.gov). This growth is expected to be
driven in part by the need to control costs while improving quality and
efficiency due to the accountability demands of insurance companies and
Medicare. In May of 2010 the BLS reported that medical and health
services managers made a median annual income of $84,270. The top
industry employing these managers was medical and surgical hospitals,
followed by doctor's offices, outpatient clinics, home health care
centers and nursing homes.
For those wishing to pursue further education in health care
management and administration, the Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) reported 72 accredited master's
degree programs in this area in 2008. A master's degree in
health-related concentrations or administration can provide more
opportunities for employment in the field. Doctoral degrees in health
care administration are also available, and online options are available
for both master's degree and Ph.D. students.
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