Monday, June 17, 2013

Health Care Administration: from Bachelor's to Master's

There is added pressure to obtain a graduate degree in health care administration after receiving a bachelor's degree. But since studies show an individual with a master's receives better job security and increased wages, and many positions that previously required only a bachelor's now require a master's degree, it really is a no-brainer.

There are many entry- to mid-level management opportunities for undergraduates with a health administration degree like finance, planning and development, information systems, marketing and public affairs, and materials management. However, you will need a master's degree in public health, public administration or business administration, and other related fields to take advantage of higher-level positions and executive roles. As a health care executive, you are afforded the opportunity to work in the following environments: mental health organizations, university or research institutions, public health departments, consulting firms, integrated delivery services or hospices.

The most common master's degrees, which generally take two years to complete, have been in health administration or public health, but other professionals have earned master's degrees in business with concentrations in health services management. Joint degree programs - such as a master's in both public health and business, or health care management and law - have proven to be great options as well.

According to the American College of Healthcare Executives, only about 2,000 students receive graduate degrees in healthcare management annually, and salaries for beginning master's degree graduates generally range from the high-30s to high-40.

Keep in mind a master's degree doesn't guarantee an executive role immediately following graduation. Individuals have to work their way up the health care administration career ladder; some master's degree holders start off as assistant administrators or managers of non-health departments.

Future employers look for leadership, communication, and decision-making skills, as well as integrity, adaptability and dependability in their employees. So regardless of which degree you possess, keep in mind some skills aren't learned in a classroom. And academically, it's not just about having a bachelor's degree in health care administration or a master's degree, but obtaining such a degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

Additional tips:

Research: Undergraduate and graduate degrees in health care both lead to promising jobs in the industry. For individuals who really don't want to earn another degree, job experience can also help you climb the career ladder, but you won't know your options until you do more research.

Stay abreast on health care knowledge: You can't expect to excel in an industry you know nothing about. If you don't want to invest the time to look up the latest medicine technology or the latest health reform, you shouldn't expect a company to want to invest in you.

Universities.com connects people to information they need to make educated decisions about which colleges and universities are best for their learning goals. Staff writer Lyn Clements contributes to that effort by writing about degree and career options for potential students. http://www.universities.com/edu/Masters_degrees_in_Public_Health.html http://www.universities.com/articles/what-rungs-are-on-the-health-care-administration-career-ladder/

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/health-care-administration-from-bachelor-s-to-master-s-329772

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