A successful healthcare system relies on a the coordinated efforts of many professionals. Doctors, specialists, nurses, and individuals not directly involved in the delivery of healthcare — such as billing, coding, and finance professionals — provide intricately related services. Thankfully, the entire academic arena of healthcare administration is dedicated to organizing and continually improving the industry. Students can preview this dynamic field through an array of free online healthcare administration courses.
Administrators are charged with both day-to-day decisions and long-term business strategies. Some are responsible for policy decisions, others for department management and others take on human resources too, all wrapped into one job description. The nature of this dynamic profession ensures no two days will be the same.
The Princeton Review describes healthcare administrators as those who coordinate the delivery of care and assist in the management of health facilities. Sometimes called medical and health services managers or healthcare executives, the role of these professionals will vary depending on the size and type of the healthcare organization.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), healthcare administrators might manage an entire facility or oversee a specific clinical area or department, such as nursing, surgery, physical therapy, cardiology, or gerontology. A nursing home administrator might be tasked with staff management, admissions, finances, facility administration and providing care to residents. A bigger hospital will have subsets of managers or assistant administrators in specific departments.
Sample Courses
The bachelor's curriculum for a healthcare administration degree will encompass a breadth of classes relating to management for the practice, skills, and attitudes of healthcare organizations. Many programs also ask students to apply their newly acquired knowledge in an internship or practicum experience.
The following courses are required for healthcare administration bachelor's programs around the country:
Legal
- Healthcare Law
- Healthcare Employment Law
Healthcare organization
- Intro to Healthcare Organizations
- Healthcare Supervision
- Healthcare Information Systems
- Management and Organizational Behavior
- Healthcare Human Resources
- Healthcare Finance
Medical
- Healthcare Quality Improvement and Patient Care
- Psychology of Aging
- Healthcare for the Elderly
- Ambulatory Care Services: Organization and Administration
Misc.
- Public and Community Health
- Healthcare Ethics
- Contemporary Issues in Public Safety
- Concepts and Issues in Public Planning
- Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language
- Statistical Methods for Health Science Research
Possible Specializations
Students who pursue healthcare degrees at the graduate level will see increased options for specialization. Most often, students can focus in areas that match certain kinds of medical or healthcare facilities, such as mental health centers, group medical practices, or hospitals.
In addition, students at certain universities can pursue specialized master's degrees that combine healthcare administration with another complementary field. Master of Health Services Administration degrees are geared toward the organization, financing, marketing, and management of health care institutions. Those who enroll in Master of Public Health programs, which take a more holistic approach to all the factors that influence healthcare, often find work in the public sector. Some schools even offer an MBA in Healthcare Administration that incorporate much-needed business skills into the curriculum.
Degree Types
The BLS states that a bachelor's in healthcare administration is typically the minimum requirement for positions in the healthcare sector, but most entry-level employees come equipped with at least a master's in healthcare administration. There are many different associate degrees with a focus in healthcare administration, but most entry-level positions would require the student to transfer their associate credits to obtain a four-year degree. A Ph.D. in healthcare administration enables administrators to pursue teaching, researcher, or consultant roles.
While a bachelor's or master's degree program is the most common educational pathway to the profession, those with healthcare experience may be able to advance into the profession through on-the-job experience, or experience coupled with an associate in healthcare administration or a certificate in the field. For example, a nurse or physical therapist might have a credential from the field, and then advance into a management position over-time.
Ideal Candidates for Healthcare
Professionals need a variety of skills to succeed in this fast-paced, complex industry. The BLS suggests strong analytical skills are important for understanding and adapting to changing regulations. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are critical since an administrator must work effectively with a variety of health professionals. Detail-oriented problem solvers will also have a leg up in the field.
Career Pathway
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020. Demand will be greatest in areas that serve the aging generation of baby boomers, such as nursing care administrators.
Pay varies a lot depending on organization size, but it is a generally well-paid profession: in May 2010, the median salary for medical and health services managers was $84,270. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,000 and the top 10 percent earned more than $144,000, according to the BLS.
Use this guide as a jumping off point in your research into the field. Shadow a professional, spend time volunteering and talk to university admissions or guidance counselors to figure out the best academic pathway for reaching your career goals.
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Journals
Academic Medicine Health Care Reform Journal
This journal addresses education and training issues; health and science policy; institutional policy, management, and values; research practice; and clinical practice in academic settings.
American Journal of Managed Care
The mission of this journal is to keep healthcare leaders in the know about up to date healthcare information.
Health Research Policy and Systems
This is a platform for the global research community to share their findings, insights and views about all aspects of health research systems.
Health Services Management Researcg
The purpose of this journal is to provide research based on all aspects of healthcare management.
International Journal for Quality Healthcare
This free online journal publishes articles and research related to quality and safety in health care available to a worldwide readership.
Journal of Health Care Law and Policy
This journal serves as a forum for the interdisciplinary discussion of leading issues in health law, medicine, and health policy.
Oxford Journal of Public Health
Publishes papers concerning health improvement, health protection and service improvement, with a particular focus on the translation of science into action.
The Internet Journal of Healthcare Administration
An open access, peer-reviewed journal covering the field of healthcare administration.
The New England Journal of Medicine – Health Policy and Reform
This section of the online New England Journal of Medicine focuses on healthcare reform and policy.
Trade Magazines
This online trade magazine provides continuous, up-to-date coverage of everything health facilities management related.
Scholarships
Deadline: May 1
Award Amount: $1,000 – $2,500
This annual scholarship is awarded to recipients in undergraduate or graduate degree programs relevant to medical practice management.
AHIMA Foundation Merit Scholarships
Deadline: September 30
Award Amount: $1,000 – $2,500
These scholarship opportunities are offered to currently enrolled outstanding undergraduates in health information programs.
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Deadline: March 31
Award Amount: $5,000
Offered annually, this scholarship is offered to minority students in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.
David A. Winston Health Policy Scholarship
Deadline: April
Award Amount: $5,000
Available to first year master's health care administration degree programs students.
Elliot C. Roberts Health Care Scholarship
Deadline: March 31
Award Amount: $1,000
Those eligible for this scholarship include first or second year graduate students pursuing a degree in healthcare administration or a comparable degree.
Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Deadline: March 31
Award Amount: $5,000
Offered annually, this scholarship is offered to students in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.
Gallagher Koster Health Careers Scholarship Program
Deadline: May
Award Amount: $5,000
This scholarship is open to undergraduate students working on a health care or medical degree field in their next to last or last year of study.
Deadline: varies
Award Amount: varies
Awarding 1000 scholarships each year, this foundation offers a broad range of scholarships including healthcare administration and management.
Deadline: May 31
Award Amount: $5,000
Applicants for this scholarship must attend an ACEHSA or AUPHA-accredited school and have employment history in the healthcare field.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Deadline: February
Award Amount: varies
Sociology majors interested in pursuing careers in public service can apply to become a Truman Scholar.
The Bachrach Family Scholarship for Excellence in Health Care Administration
Deadline: May 1
Award Amount: $1,000 – $5,000
Available to students in a health care administration graduate program who wish to pursue a career in medical practice administration.
Transamerica Retirement Solutions Leaders in Health Care Scholarship
Deadline: January 31
Award Amount: $5,000
Recipients of this scholarship are first and second year graduate students, pursuing degrees in healthcare administration or a comparable degree program.
Deadline: June 15
Award Amount: $5,000 – $10,000
Applicants for these scholarships must be college sophmores and above and studying in the medicine and health care field.
Administrative Fellowship at Palomar Health
Deadline: September 27
Palomar Health, the largest public health care system in California, offers interns significant exposure to management decision-making in healthcare.
Health Career Connections Internships
Deadline: February
Students pursing healthcare administration careers can choose to intern in a variety of related departments .
Massachusetts General Hospital Administrative Internships
Deadline: September 20
Available to graduate students pursing a degree and career in health administration, this internship prepares students for hospital leadership.
Methodist Hospital System Internships
Deadline: March 1
Graduate students have the opportunity to learn the operational and financial side of healthcare through this unpaid, summer internship.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Graduate Administrative Internship Program
This is a valuable opportunity for graduate students (e.g. M.B.A., M.P.H., M.H.A., etc) to gain experiential education and experience.
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Internships
Deadline: varies
This internship is availabe to students pursuing careers in fields such as non-profit management, public administration, and hospital administration.
UNC Health Care's Administrative Internship Program (AIP)
Deadline: December 7
Interns of this program are exposed to job skills and delivery practices of healthcare administrators working within a teaching hospital.
Yale-New Haven Hospital Administration Internship
Deadline: February 1
Interns are exposed to first-hand operations and experience in a leading academic medical center.
Student Organizations
American Medical Student Association
This student-governed and run organization focuses on "improving medical training and the nation's health."
The APHA-SA is a multidisciplinary coalition of students dedicated to fostering collaborative work focused on prevention and achieving health objectives.
Association of American Medical Colleges Organization of Student Representatives
The OSR represents medical students nationwide and provides an active role for students in advancing the AAMC mission to improve the nation's health.
Community Campus Partnerships for Health
CCPH strives to unite academic institutions and communities to work towards bettering physical and emotional health of their work and home environments.
Health Occupations Students of America
Aiming to educating future healthcare workers, HOSA is an organization for students and instructors who want "training beyond the basic technical skills".
Healthcare Student's Association
The HSA strives to be a great resource by providing its members opportunities to learn and develop necessary skills to excel in the healthcare industry.
Professional Organizations
American College of Health Care Administrators
Focused on long-term care leaders, the ACHCA provides members with "educational programming, professional certification, and career development."
American College of Healthcare Executives
With a dedication to improving healthcare delivery, the ACHE is the "premier professional society for healthcare executives."
American Health Information Management Association
AHIMA is the worldwide professional association of recognized leaders in health information management, informatics, health data technology, and innovation.
Association of University Programs in Health Administration
The AUPHA is dedicated to the improvement of healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education.
Healthcare Financial Management Association
With members working in all areas of the healthcare system, HFMA strives to be a "leader on top trends and issues facing the healthcare industry."
Medical Group Management Association
MGMA is membership association for professional administrators and leaders of medical group practices.