In good economies and bad, health care remains an essential industry. However, it is one that is always evolving, incorporating technology to improve communication, record-keeping, and patient care. The health care industry is becoming increasingly reliant on college-educated leaders who can improve efficiencies and innovate when traditional methods are no longer viable.
Just as there is tremendous opportunity to work in health care, there is also opportunity to lead in health care. Like every industry, health care organizations need thoughtful, strategic leadership and management qualities that are honed in a health care administration degree program.
What Is Health Care Administration?
In a nutshell, health care administration refers to the managerial aspect of the industry and the overseeing finance, patient data, public health services, and organizational policy.
A health care administration degree program allows you to explore the social, political, ethical, legal, and economic factors contributing to the complexity of the American health care system, while preparing you to take on managerial and leadership roles.
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Health Care Administration?
Health care employment encompasses a broad spectrum of careers – everything from chiropractors to radiation therapists. But when you drill down to the knowledge and capabilities amassed in health care administration degree program, you start to get a clearer picture of what you can do.
Your bachelor’s degree can position you for opportunities that include:
- Health Information Specialist
- Healthcare Support Workers
- Medical Records Coordinator
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
- Healthcare Administration/Management
- Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management
- Long Term Care Administration/Management
- Health Information/Medical Records Administration
- Health Services Administration
- Hospitals
- Physician Group Practices
- Nursing Homes
- Home Health Agencies
- Health Departments
- Health Insurance Providers
- Health-related National Associations
What Jobs Can You Pursue with a Master’s in Health Care Administration?
While a bachelor’s degree will help open doors for you, professionals who aspire to lead organizations and create more opportunity for themselves often pursue a Master of Arts in Health Care Administration.
This graduate degree examines essential health care topics – finance, economics, leadership, quality improvement, risk management, health policy, law, ethics, strategic planning, information systems, statistical reasoning, and human resources, among them – from the point of view of senior management and executive-level leaders.
With your master’s in health care administration, you can pursue careers that include:
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Mental Health Program Manager
- Health Information Management Director
For more information on careers in these occupational field, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
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Written by University Staff
Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.