Master in Healthcare Administration

A Master in Healthcare Administration is a graduate level professional degree that revolves around leadership positions in healthcare facilities. It includes education and training that involves management of hospitals and clinics, with topics such as organizational behavior, health law and policy, population health, pandemics and epidemics etc.

This degree can lead to a vast variety of career settings and job roles in advance capacities. The job outlook for Medical and Health Services Managers is great, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a growth of 18% in the years from 2018 to 2028. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all occupations and is expected to add 71,600 new jobs in this field.

If you think that the field of healthcare administration is for you, you might want to consider getting a Master in Healthcare Administration to get you started. Find out all you need to know about this degree, including its admission requirements, typical coursework and potential career paths.

What Is Healthcare Administration?

Healthcare Administration is a medical field relating to leadership, management or administration of healthcare systems, hospital networks and public health systems. Professionals in this field perform a variety of tasks such as planning, directing and coordinating business activities of healthcare providers. They manage entire facilities, clinics or departments and are required to adapt to the quick changing healthcare laws, regulations and technology.

Healthcare administrators need to make sure that the medical facility under their command, runs smoothly. This means taking care of HR functions and staffing, maintaining departmental budgets, ensuring accuracy of record-keeping, procuring new healthcare supplies, creating greater revenues, landing grants when needed, getting medical equipment etc.

What Can You Do with a Master in Healthcare Administration?

A Master in Healthcare Administration offers multiple career paths in top level management. A medical facility typically needs a Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Hospital Administrator, Chief Nursing Director, Hospital Chief Financial Officer, and Health Care Actuary etc. All these healthcare functions fall under the branches of healthcare administration.

Let’s take a look at some of these top-level, managerial careers in healthcare facilities according to the data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Medical and Health Service Managers

These professionals plan and coordinate medical and health services in different healthcare settings. They have to work hard to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery systems and must ensure that all hospital functions are in compliance with the latest laws.

Chief Executives

These top level managers are involved in forming policies and providing an overall direction to organizations, including hospitals. They plan, direct and coordinate operational activities at the highest level.

Financial Managers

These professionals are in-charge of maintaining the financial health of an organization. They perform tasks such as creating financial reports, directing investment activities or developing plans for future financial goals of organizations, including hospitals.

What to Expect from a Master in Healthcare Administration?

A Master in Healthcare Administration will expose you to subjects such as critical and creative thinking skills, business communications, strategic planning, financial planning, medical law, the United States healthcare delivery system, ethics in medicine, population health, organizational behavior and leadership.

Students can go for a degree in healthcare administration with a focus on business, public health, medicine or health sciences. Concentration options will also be available with most colleges offering this degree.

How to Choose a Master in Healthcare Administration?

In order to choose a Master in Healthcare Administration program, it is important to look for a valid accreditation. Most such programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).

Other than accreditation, students should consider factors such as faculty, fee structure, online study options, a large and distinguished alumni student body, admission requirements, specialization options etc.

Master in Healthcare Administration Admission Requirements              

To get into a Master in Healthcare Administration program, students should have completed a four year long undergraduate degree in a related subject. Most universities would have a minimum GPA requirement as well as the completion of certain years of experience. Letters of recommendation will also be required, along with clearing interviews. Admission requirements would vary from university to university, so it is better to check individual college websites for more details.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Master in Healthcare Administration?

A Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree is a two-year long program designed to give students a strong foundation in management of hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Some colleges might offer this program in an entirely or partly online format, though most programs would require some component of classroom instructions and practical lab work.

What Are the Requirements to Get a Master in Healthcare Administration?

To get a Master of Healthcare Administration degree, you will need to complete coursework in Population Health, Organizational Behavior, Healthcare Economics, Health Policy, Management of Healthcare Organizations, Healthcare Communications and Marketing, Statistical Analysis, Financial Management and Strategy Formation and Implementation. To get into an MHA program, you should ideally have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, a good GRE or GMAT score and some professional experience.

How Much Can I Earn after I Get a Master in Healthcare Administration?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Service Managers made an annual median income of $99,730 in 2018. This occupation is expected to experience a stellar growth at 20%, with 72,100 jobs to be added in the years from 2016 to 2026. The top industry for this occupation was the government. 

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