Online MBA in Healthcare Management Degrees
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The business of healthcare is deeply entrenched in the multidisciplinary Master of Business Administration in healthcare management program. From planning, directing, and coordinating to supervising healthcare delivery, healthcare management may specialize in individual clinical departments or manage and oversee the whole healthcare facility. An MBA is a requirement for most healthcare management jobs in this upper management-level career. Along with management and business administration skills, those with experience in healthcare are the applicants that are in most demand. The efficiency and integration of the healthcare systems will be the most important areas of study for an MBA in healthcare management, and the ability to apply all this knowledge to all systems will be the foundation for most healthcare management careers.
With so many disciplines under the auspice of an MBA in healthcare management, students should be prepared to take a range of courses to ensure they understand what all is involved in this program. Business administration, finance, economics, and public administration should be at the forefront of any MBA in healthcare management curriculum. Also just as imperative, are courses in health sciences, public health, and medicine that specifically look in-depth at the healthcare aspects of this program. While some departments may hire an individual with a bachelor's degree in healthcare management, many are recommended to pursue an MBA in healthcare management to either begin a career in this field or advance a current job in healthcare.
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Featured Accredited Schools Offering Online MBA in Healthcare Management Degrees
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Career Specializations
- Assistant Administration: While assistant administration is not at the top rung of the ladder, this concentration assists top administration departments, handles duties and decisions daily, and directs different clinical area of a facility.
- Clinical Management: There are a number of clinical areas that can be trained in for clinical management. The clinical areas may be in surgery, nursing, medical records, health information, or therapy.
- Health Information Management: Patient records are the focus of health information management. Maintenance and security along with ensuring all records are meeting the ever-changing government regulations are important components of health information management.
- Medical and Health Service Management: The complex environment of regulations, work restructuring, and a rising focus of preventive care are all components of this specialization.
- Nursing Home Administration: Nursing home administrators manage staff, facility operations, admissions, finances, and provide resident care in a healthcare facility.
Degree Levels
- Master's Degree: 2-3 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
An MBA in healthcare management requires that an undergraduate degree be completed before enrolling in this master's degree program. A bachelor's degree may be in business, healthcare, or a mixture of the two fields in an MBA in healthcare management program. An associate degree is not mandatory but may be an option for those wanting to refine certain skills before enrolling in an undergraduate, and later, master's degree programs. Also, an associate degree may be necessary for students needing to increase their level of understanding before entering a bachelor's degree program.
There are a number of master's degree courses that can be completed to fulfill an MBA in healthcare management. The areas of study can be in health services administration, health sciences, public administration, business administration, long-term care administration, or public health. An MBA in healthcare management program should be accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education or the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. A doctoral degree is another way to further a career in the healthcare management field. Most obtain this degree to teach at a postgraduate education level or to work in research that is centered on healthcare management (BLS).
There may be some healthcare management careers that require licensing in all 50 states. Nursing care facility administrators must pass a licensing examination and finish a training program in the state in which they are employed. Assisted-living facilities, in certain states, may require a license for administrators. The American Health Information Management Association offers the Registered Health Information Administrator certification. An individual must pass an exam to receive this distinction. (BLS)
Salary Information
The healthcare managers that will receive the highest pay are those with the highest degrees, like an MBA, and those with the most experience. In addition, regions around the country will vary in pay. Those who receive the lowest wage earn approximately $48K or less each year. This salary is usually an entry-level management position or in assistant management. The average annual salary for a career in healthcare management is $80K, and the top 10 percent of healthcare managers earn more than $137K per year. (BLS)
Job Outlook
The job outlook for healthcare managers is very positive and is estimated to grow 16 percent from 2008-2018. Due to the fact that the healthcare industry is expected to grow at a faster pace than many other professions, healthcare managers will be an integral part of that growth; their ability to improve the efficiency, organization, and quality of healthcare facilities will be crucial. (BLS)
Related Careers
With two fields intertwined, healthcare and management, there are many careers that are related to healthcare management. Some of these careers are bioinformatics, public health, and gerontology.
Bioinformatics is another career that connects two subjects. Information technology and life sciences are coalesced into a career that processes the complex components of biology through information systems. As molecular analysis becomes more sophisticated, the information technology to assess molecules must be as detail oriented.
Public health is similar to healthcare management. While healthcare management's duty is to oversee a healthcare facility, the task of public heath professionals is to advise the public regarding health-related issues.
For those interested in focusing on one age group, gerontology provides a precise scope of clients to provide healthcare. Gerontology's client base is elder individuals needing healthcare. Concentrations in gerontology include nursing, counseling, and medical assistance.
