Careers in hospital administration or
healthcare management often require an associate's, bachelor's or
master's degree. Many programs are available online, though some require
occasional campus visits or a final internship. Healthcare is one of
the fastest growing employment sectors in the United States according to
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov).
Students with an interest in medical office management may pursue an associate's degree in
healthcare administration.
Students learn how to file insurance claims, schedule appointments and
transcribe medical dictation. Related fields of study include nursing
and public administration.
Associate's degree programs are typically offered in a hybrid format,
with all assignments and tests completed online. A field-based
internship under the guidance of administrative personnel is required
for graduation. Because lectures and presentations are delivered using
streaming audio and video applications, a computer with access to the
Internet is necessary. An associate's degree is usually received after
two years of study.
List of Common Associate's-Level Hospital Administration Courses
General education requirements include courses like algebra, English
and psychology. The majority of a student's curriculum covers issues
directly related to healthcare management.
Introduction to Medical Administration Course
Topics like patient confidentiality, workplace ethics and medical
record keeping are discussed. Students learn how to communicate with
patients as well as doctors and physicians.
Healthcare Terminology Course
Understanding commonly used medical words and phrases is an important
skill for healthcare administrators. Students examine the terms used to
describe parts of the anatomy, medical procedures and patient
diagnosis.
Insurance and Billing in Healthcare Course
In this class, students are taught how to authorize a patient's
payments and contact insurance providers. Topics include overviews of
basic insurance coding and long-term payment plans.
Recipients of an associate's degree in healthcare administration may obtain positions as medical assistants. According to
Payscale.com,
medical assistants earned between $23,000 and $32,000 in 2009. The
number of employed medical assistants is projected to increase by 34%
from 2008 to 2018, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (
www.bls.gov).
Online Bachelor's Degree in Hospital Administration Program Overview
A hospital or healthcare administration bachelor's program is
designed for students seeking careers as healthcare managers or
administrators. Students explore concepts like financial assessment,
organizational structure and team leadership. Some schools may require
an interview with admissions supervisors before applying. Business
administration is a closely related field of study.
Coursework is delivered using online audio and video content, making
access to a computer with Internet access mandatory. Many programs
require students to complete a professional internship as well as a
limited number of campus-based classroom sessions. A bachelor's degree
is often received within four years of study. Students who possess an
associate's degree may be able to transfer credits and finish their
program in two to three years.
List of Common Bachelor's-Level Hospital Administration Courses
Courses in mathematics, communications and the humanities fulfill the
general education requirements of a student's curriculum. Concepts in
professional healthcare management are the primary focus of most
classes.
Hospital Leadership Course
Students examine various leadership styles and techniques used in the
modern healthcare system. Topics like accountability, situational
response and ethical behavior are discussed.
Organizational Management Course
In this course, students learn how to drive team performance, deliver
positive feedback and set departmental goals. Emphasis is placed on
talent assessment and employee development.
The Law and Healthcare Course
Legal issues regarding the patient-provider relationship, medical
malpractice and insurance reimbursement are explored. Case studies are
used to understand concepts related to government regulation and client
privacy.
Graduates of a bachelor's program in healthcare management may find
work as nursing home or private practice administrators. In 2009,
nursing home administrators made between $65,000 and $99,000, while
private practice administrators earned between $52,000 and $86,000, as
noted by
Payscale.com. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), employment of all medical or healthcare-related
managers is expected to increase by an estimated 16% between 2008 and
2018 (
www.bls.gov).
Professionals who are certified in their area of expertise often find
more employment opportunities than those who aren't. Bachelor's degree
holders are eligible to sit for the American Health Information
Management Association's Registered Health Information Administrator
certification exam. Program graduates may also take the American College
of Healthcare Administrators' Certified Nursing Home Administrator
exam.
Online Master's Degree in Hospital Administration Program Overview
Healthcare administration professionals seeking career advancement
opportunities often enroll in online master's programs. Most schools
require completion of a bachelor's degree program before applying as
well as two years of experience in the field. Course topics include
marketing strategies for hospitals, medical information systems and
health research analysis. A master's in public administration covers
many of the same concepts included in a hospital administration
curriculum.
A computer with access to the Internet is required for receiving
streaming audio and video coursework and communicating with instructors
and fellow students. Many schools store lectures and class notes on
private servers, allowing students to access content at their
convenience. Most programs offer both online and campus-based learning
options. Some students may be asked to complete a field-based research
project or internship. Earning a master's degree typically takes two to
three years depending on part- or full-time enrollment status.
List of Common Master's-Level Hospital Administration Courses
There are no general education requirements for most master's
students. Coursework explores a variety of advanced topics in healthcare
management.
Marketing in Healthcare Course
Students learn how to assess market variables, launch promotional
initiatives and expand products or services according to customer needs.
This course emphasizes the importance of strategic business planning
for hospital administrators.
In this course, students examine the process of recording and
accessing data using specialized information systems. Concepts include
spreadsheet creation and management as well as statistical analysis.
Public Policy and the Healthcare Sector Course
Topics like government regulation, Medicaid and universal access are
discussed. Teachers use case studies to illustrate the process of
navigating policy issues in the public and private medical sectors.
Master's degree recipients may find positions as hospital administrators or healthcare consultants.
Payscale.com
reports that in 2009, hospital administrators made between $60,000 and
$116,000, while healthcare consultants earned between $56,000 and
$99,000. The BLS estimates that the number of healthcare management
positions is projected to increase by 16% from 2008 to 2018, and
employment of managerial and technical consultants is likely to grow by
nearly 83% during the same period.
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