Healthcare administration degree overview

Degree programs in healthcare administration prepare students to manage the business aspects of medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and private practices. These programs provide training in basic medical and health knowledge and terminology, as well as in the clerical tasks of maintaining patient medical records, managing billing, and overseeing staff.

The typical healthcare administration curriculum includes classes in:

• Accounting for the Healthcare Sector
• Healthcare Economics
• Healthcare Law and Ethics
• Healthcare Policy
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Long-Term Care and Aging
• Epidemiology – the science concerned with the spread and control of diseases and viruses
• Human Resources Management
• Healthcare Management Information Systems
• Statistics

Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration - Two Year Duration
Holders of an Associate Degree in Healthcare Administration often go on to continue their studies at the bachelor’s level, as career options for associate graduates are generally limited to entry-level / junior roles.

Courses generally include:

• Introduction to Business Administration – finance, planning, management, technology, human resources, marketing, business communication
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Records, Coding, Claims, Billing, and Insurance Practices
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Patient Communication
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology

Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration - Four Year Duration
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, graduates typically qualify for medical secretary positions with larger healthcare organizations or for more senior roles with smaller ones.

Classes at the bachelor’s level include:

• Healthcare Management – planning healthcare programs, quality control, change management
• Healthcare Ethics and Patient Rights
• Healthcare for Special Populations – seniors, mentally ill, persons with addictions
• Healthcare Management Information Systems – needs analysis, system design, implementation
• The Economics of Healthcare – government and community resources, financing, reimbursement
• Healthcare Trends and Marketing
• Legal Issues in Healthcare – example: malpractice
• Healthcare Administration Internship

Business Administration
Business administration includes overseeing finances, staffing, and contract negotiations. A business administration degree program, therefore, teaches students how to plan, organize, and direct all the activities of an organization. Coursework includes accounting, financial management, operations management, management information systems, marketing, and business ethics and law.

Public Administration
Public administration degree programs teach students how to make and direct policy at various levels of government. These policies can involve a wide spectrum of public concerns, from healthcare to social programs to the environment. Typical courses for public administration students include community analysis, economic development, grant writing, local politics and administration, organization theory, public budgeting and financial administration, public policy, structure of government, volunteerism and the non-profit sector.

Management Information Systems
This degree field is focused on information systems and how they are used by businesses and organizations to improve their operations. Classes cover computer databases, networks, computer security, and related project management.

Biotechnology
Majors in this field study engineering and the life sciences to create new products – such as vaccines, medicines, growth hormones for plants, and food additives – for the agricultural, industrial, and environmental industries. Among typical classes are biochemistry, general biology, cell biology, chemistry, and genetics.

Pre-Medicine (Pre-Med)
This field is, of course, closely aligned with healthcare and may therefore be another education option for students with an interest in the field. Pre-med programs, designed to prepare students for medical school, include courses in general biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and physics.

These core competencies gained by graduates of healthcare administration and related degree programs transcend these specific sectors and are transferrable to many professional fields.

• Work Ethic and Initiative
• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Assessment and Analysis
• Researching, Organizing, and Presenting Information
• Policy and Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
• Partnering, Collaboration, and Advocacy
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Communication
• Leadership
• Computer Literacy
• Report Writing

Hospitals, Outpatient Care Centers, Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, Physicians’ Private Practices, Mental Health Facilities
These, of course, are very common employers of graduates of healthcare administration programs. Responsibilities of administrators in these sectors may include hiring, training, and overseeing personnel; managing schedules and financial operations and reporting; implementing policies; dealing with human resource issues and legalities; and making decisions regarding medical equipment purchases and patient care procedures.

Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes
These facilities are long-term care centers for seniors. They provide meals, bathing and dressing assistance, medication management, and transportation. In these environments, healthcare administrators maintain relationships with patients and families, direct staff, manage inventory, and uphold the standards required by government.

Hospice / Palliative Care
These programs for end-of-life care can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, and independent facilities. In these settings, health services managers implement policies and procedures and manage overall operations.

Healthcare Consulting
In this fast-growing sector of the healthcare field, independent contractors work as consultants with various healthcare organizations. They may help streamline operations, train staff, or take on special projects.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
EMS administrators organize and manage emergency response communication and resources within a specific geographic region.

Government Agencies / Public Health
Roles for healthcare administrators with government agencies will vary between jurisdictions. The work may include conducting research, handling public health concerns, planning public health education programs, and managing government-sponsored home healthcare.