According to the American Hospital Association's (AHA) annual survey, 6,146 hospitals operated within the US in 2019, admitting over 36 million patients and spending over $1.1 trillion on operational costs. Their expenses covered everything from purchasing medications and compensating staff to updating clinical software and conducting lab work.
Because of the large number of people that hospitals serve—and the even greater amount of money they spend—there is an increasing need for qualified healthcare administration professionals. Healthcare administrators not only manage medical facilities and employees but also develop and implement processes to improve efficiency and eliminate waste.
Thinking of joining the ranks of healthcare administration leaders? Expect to put in your time at school, most likely in pursuit of a Master's in Health Administration (MHA). While other degrees can lead to careers in this field, the MHA is the primary conduit to success. MHA degree programs cover a broad range of subjects, including accounting, human resources, ethics, law, and health administration. They also teach critical problem-solving and management skills.
While many MHA graduates choose to work in hospitals, that's hardly their only career option. An MHA creates opportunities across a wide variety of healthcare-related organizations. Whether you're interested in working with healthcare providers, insurance organizations, policy organizations, or something else entirely, this degree opens doors to a career that suits your needs and interests and offers comfortable pay. Let's look at those opportunities in more detail.
What do masters in healthcare administration jobs look like in 2020? We'll discuss that question in this article by covering:
While an MHA can help people advance in the ranks of traditional healthcare systems and move into C-suite roles, this degree is increasingly applicable to a range of fields, such as:
Consultants offer an outside perspective to organizations. In healthcare, this could mean working in one sector, such as medical equipment or pharmaceuticals, or taking the long-view and offering an overall management perspective.
There are many government jobs in healthcare administration, including running state facilities.
According to the World Health Organization, "the health information system provides the underpinnings for decision-making." Professionals gather and use data to make decisions and improve health functions. There are many health information systems of all sizes.
In the insurance field, health administrators may run an entire insurance company or focus on a niche area, such as complying with laws and regulations.
An administrative background can help you land a position developing and implementing healthcare policies on a local, state-wide, or national scale. Alternatively, you may help an organization comply with health policy.
Home healthcare is a growing trend, especially for elder and hospice care. Administrators may coordinate specific services like billing or take on an overall management position.
Hospital administrator responsibilities may include organizing staffing, managing finances, and offering a macro perspective on care.
Infection prevention is the process of stopping the spread of diseases; it can involve risk assessment, creating and following a set of precautions, and implementing action plans to mitigate the impact of infected people.
In this role, you may run a long-term care facility, such as an assisted living facility or retirement home.
An administrative position in this field may involve working for an organization like the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, which operates and funds programs based on the organization's directive.
Medical supplies are a crucial component of care. You may work in the medical supply chain, either getting supplies to organizations and patients or ensuring your organization has adequate supplies.
Administrative positions in mental healthcare are like those in other organizations, except you'll work in a mental health facility.
You may work as an administrator for a pharmaceutical company, including overseeing new developments and formulating strategies to increase profits.
These administrators may work for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including at VA Hospitals.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the healthcare industry will continue to experience strong growth for the foreseeable future, with a projected employment increase of 16 percent through 2030. That's about 2.6 million new jobs. These offer the highest pay for MHA graduates.
Average income: $153,650
Regulatory affairs directors are responsible for ensuring manufacturers' compliance with applicable global legislative and regulatory requirements at each stage of product development. In the medical device industry, these professionals are responsible for overseeing phases such as research and development, clinical trials, regulatory submissions, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution, among other developmental processes.
Average income: $153,862
Hospital CEOs double as both business leaders and politicians by blending diplomacy with advocacy, business management, and financial expertise. They're responsible for a hospital's long-term planning. On a day-to-day level, this may require helping individual departments meet their objectives and comply with rules and regulations, securing their organizations' short- and long-term financial goals, developing and implementing new programs and objectives, and representing their organizations in outside communities.
Average income: $95,125
Insurance directors leverage insurance contracts with healthcare providers to produce optimal financial results. They play a pivotal role in building relationships with a variety of medical organizations as well as drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and finalizing all contracts with all healthcare providers within their organization's network. Other duties may include ensuring compliance with contract guidelines, preparing financial projections, facilitating membership growth, overseeing insurance claims for accuracy, customizing fee schedules, and reporting to their organization's executives.
Average income: $95,746
Since healthcare providers adopted electronic medical records (EMRs), the need for professionals who can help bridge the gap between clinical and IT work has risen drastically. As leaders in the health informatics realm, clinical informatics managers are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the clinical information systems at healthcare facilities. They oversee and train staff, monitor budgets, and ensure all information systems comply with state, federal, and professional regulatory standards, with the ultimate goal of managing costs while improving patient outcomes and ensuring patient privacy.
Average income: $92,580
Nursing home administrators are responsible for supervising the clinical and administrative affairs of nursing homes and related facilities. Typical duties also include overseeing staff and personnel, financial matters, medical care, medical supplies, facilities, and other tasks required for operation.
Average income: $87,093
Hospital administrators organize and oversee the health services and daily activities of a hospital or healthcare facility, including managing staff and budgets, communicating among departments, and ensuring adequate patient care. Their responsibilities reach beyond the walls of their immediate work environment, too. Hospital administrators may foster partnerships with the wider population and work with both public and private sector organizations on matters of policy, research, and cooperation. They may also collaborate with other administrators to share best practices and data to better serve patients and decrease costs.
Average income: $79,002
Healthcare consultants strive to help medical organizations and hospitals cut costs and increase revenue through better, more efficient practices that benefit their customers, staff, and patients. They typically partner with a healthcare organization's administration and leadership teams to uncover problems and offer ways to solve them. Creating big-picture solutions to problems may require them to interview personnel, conduct onsite observation and job analysis, analyze observation and business data, and plan studies of organization work and information flow.
Average income: $79,190
Clinical directors at all types of healthcare organizations typically spend their days developing policies and goals, evaluating staff, and setting budgets. However, the specific duties of this role can vary depending on the type of healthcare facility they work for, the particular department they oversee, and the size of their team. In a large hospital or clinic, a clinical director is often responsible for managing a department, such as mental health, surgery, or rehabilitation. In a physician's office, they're more likely to manage the entire facility.
Average income: $77,168
Lobbyists are primarily responsible for developing strategies that persuade legislators at the regional, federal, and international levels to create and support specific policies in the interests of the healthcare-related organization they represent. These professionals may work for private individuals, large organizations, the general public, or other special interest groups who hope to encourage members of Congress to vote a certain way on a particular topic. For example, lobbyists may advocate against certain taxes, such as those on insurance companies, or encourage funding for programs, such as those that treat narcotics abusers. While healthcare lobbyists are more likely to come from a Master of Public Health or Master of Public Policy background, MHAs hold unique expertise in the operation of healthcare facilities that could prove valuable in lobbying.
Although the application requirements vary depending upon the school, most MHA programs expect applicants to have earned a 3.0 GPA as an undergraduate student. Others will require a GPA of well over 3.0. Additional prerequisites may include:
You typically need three letters of recommendation to get into graduate school, usually from former professors or employers.
A good resume should emphasize your relevant experience, including internships and work history, plus academic achievements.
The personal essay allows you to make a case for why you should get into the program, including your career goals.
You need to provide transcripts from your undergraduate degree and any previously completed graduate programs.
Programs can also require applicants to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and/or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) that are less than five years old. Others may make them optional or not require them at all. Previous work experience in healthcare or healthcare administration also may be required.
According to US News and World Report, the best healthcare management programs in the US include:
Cornell offers a two year MHA program—the first one ever created—that prepares students to take on leadership positions in a variety of organizations. Cornell undergraduates can apply to the five year BS/MHA joint program
Johns Hopkins is a good option for those who are "early careerists interested in managerial and leadership positions." They can have a variety of specialties after graduation, including consulting and management. Students get paid to complete a residency, which lasts 11 months and provides relevant administrative experience.
Students at Ohio State learn to become innovators in healthcare delivery through a mix of practical and classroom experience. Completing a summer residency improves their management ability.
This 33-month program focuses on helping students apply their learning immediately. Students can complete an internship in addition to their paid nine-month to a year-long residency.
Iowa students receive a "comprehensive understanding of patient-centered health care as well as the skills needed to navigate complex administrative and management systems." They complete volunteer work and an internship and have access to a mentorship program.
Michigan's Master Of Health Services Administration offers core coursework in marketing, finance, and management. Though the school does not provide financial aid, over 40 percent of students receive merit scholarships.
The University of Minnesota program is open to students with little healthcare management experience. According to the program website, every student typically secures a job or fellowship by July of their graduation year.
UNC offers two formats for its MHA: residential and executive, which is designed for those with existing healthcare management experience. Students complete work in five core competencies, including communication, management, and finance.
Rush offers a Master of Science in Health Systems Management. The program follows a "teacher-practitioner model" meaning you'll learn from people who have reached the highest level of the business.
VCU gives students "both the executive and technical skills needed to be well-rounded leaders." Students can access a top-flight research department and enjoy a high job placement rate after graduation.
A growing number of colleges and universities now offer online MHA programs. This track is an ideal pathway for students who wish to study from home or need to juggle other responsibilities like full- and part-time jobs or family and childcare obligations.
The "best" online MHA track is always the one that aligns with an individual's career goals and existing commitments. The programs listed below all meet strict accreditation standards set by a regional accrediting agency, health administration-specific accreditation organization or both—and allow students to shape their education around their passions, interests, and needs:
FIU offers an accelerated MBA that students can complete in a year and a half. The program "focuses on the complex real-world challenges facing healthcare administrators."
George Mason's program is designed for working professionals looking to advance their careers and maintain them at the same time. Students complete leadership, communication, and problem-solving coursework and spend months at a healthcare facility completing their capstone.
Students can complete this program full-time in two years, or take longer as part-time students. You will need to complete in-person immersion programs in Washington, DC and elsewhere.
Georgetown students complete this curriculum in under two years. It's not offered entirely online but is delivered "in a dynamic hybrid format of online, synchronous coursework paired with on-site campus and thematic global comparative immersions."
NYU's part-time online MHA is designed to produce graduates that can lead organizations and improve the healthcare through "data and evidence-based management practices." Students complete online lessons both live and at their convenience.
This program focuses on giving current professionals the business skills necessary to advance their careers and gain leadership positions. It's a part-time program designed for students who want to keep working during their degree.
Based in New Jersey, Seton Hall boasts proximity to New York and New Jersey, allowing students—even online—to network in the regions' excellent pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector. Expect to complete in-person coursework as part of the hybrid component.
Students can complete "the majority of this program online." To apply, they must have a undergraduate degree, including required coursework in areas like economics and finance, plus an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
The executive Master of Healthcare Administration is offered online, though the program includes five campus visits during the 25 month program.
This program is completely online and students are allowed to choose between global health and health informatics concentrations during their degree. The program is "based on the ACHE Healthcare Leadership Alliance competency model" and focuses on developing high-level management skills.
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