The health care system is expanding so is the need for health administrators. Do you have a health administration degree? Would you want to start a career with your health administration degree? Are you at lost on what to do with your Health administration degree?
There are numerous Health administration career paths for you to choose from. At the end of this article, you will be able to choose a career path for your degree that best suits your goals. Also, you will get to know where to earn this degree and how much you will earn as a health administrator.
Health Administrators are in charge of running the day to day activities of hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. While business managers may be considered, health administrators do the job better because they run the business part of these facilities with health in mind.
Hence, your degree is in high demand right now. Let me show you the best you can make out of a Health administration Degree.
Table of Contents Hide
- What is a Health Administration Degree?
- How can I get Health Administration Degree?
- How do I start a Career in Health Administration?
- What is the Salary of a Health Administrator?
- How much does it cost to get a Health Administrator?
- What jobs are available for health administration degree holders?
- 1.Hospital Chief Executive Officer
- 2. Government policy Maker
- 3. Training and Development Manager
- 4. Human Resource Manager
- 5. Clinic Administrator
- 6. Hospice Administrator.
- 7. Health Information Managers
- 8.Social and Community Support Manager
- 9. Health Insurance Specialist/Underwriter
- 10. Chiropractic Office Manager
- Conclusion
- Careers with Health Administration Degree FAQs
- What can I do with Health Administration Degree?
- Is Healthcare Management and Health Administration same?
- What is Healthcare Administration?
- References
- Recommendations
What is a Health Administration Degree?
This is a professional degree granted to students who complete a course of study in the knowledge and competencies needed for careers in health administration.
Basically, this degree in health administration offers courses that cover the management of hospitals and other health services organizations as well as public health infrastructure and consulting. Thus, Universities offer this degree as different programs.
Either as a bachelor, master’s or doctoral degree, you are required to complete applied experiences as well as course work in areas such as population health, health care economics, organizational behavior, health care marketing, and communications and much more.
Actually, this degree is designed to give graduates of health disciplines a greater understanding of management issues and prepare them for senior management roles.
In fact, a degree in health administration traditionally focuses on health administration at the local, state and federal level as well as in the nonprofit sector.
How can I get Health Administration Degree?
Truly, to get a health administration degree you should be interested in the health care system. Secondly, you must enroll for a degree program. A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree program from an accredited university or school of health will earn you this degree.
So, you’re expected to complete your course work which covers public health, healthcare economics, organizational behavior and other related topics as specified for your school.
However, health administration degrees like other degrees can be obtained online from any reliable and accredited online schools.
How do I start a Career in Health Administration?
To start a career in health administration, you must complete a bachelor’s degree program. Actually, a baccalaureate degree is the minimum educational obtainment for health care administrators.
In addition, you must enroll for a master’s degree program or consider completing a master’s degree program. Actually, many organizations and care facilities prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree.
This is because graduate-level coursework is on an entirely different level than what administrators learn in their undergraduate studies.
Furthermore, you should earn key industry certifications. Indeed, earning a certification shows a high degree of proficiency and aptitude in a given area such as healthcare finance, access or informatics.
However, this certification can be gotten from any professional business organization dedicated to healthcare administrators.
Finally, you should gain additional experience. This you can achieve by joining industry organizations, attending key conferences and events and completing various continuing education courses both online or physical school.
Also, subscribing to the medical and healthcare industry publications and journals to gain more insight and stay on top of an industry trend.
You are ready with these factors to launch a career in health administration with additional layers of expertise.
What is the Salary of a Health Administrator?
Actually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, median salaries of over $98,000 in May 2007 were estimated as annual pay for medical and health services managers and healthcare administrators.
However, health administrators who work in the state, local and private hospitals earn a great pay of $107,230. Also, what you can earn as a health administrator is determined by your education and experience level. Hence, the higher your educational level, the better your pay.
Thus, late-career administrative professionals can earn 46 percent more than entry-level candidates. Likewise, with the round skill set such as strategic planning, project and people management you are entitled to higher wages.
How much does it cost to get a Health Administrator?
Basically, the cost of getting this certificate will depend majorly on the program you sign up for. A bachelor’s degree program will cost lesser than a master’s degree or doctoral degree in this field.
However, the 2017-2018 academic year average in-state undergraduate tuition at four-year state colleges was almost $10,000.
Also, out-of-state students at state colleges’ tuition fees are estimated at $25,620. In fact, the tuition fee for health administrative students is about $34,740.
While master’s students at public universities will pay as low as $8, 670, their colleagues in private institutions will pay as much $30, 000.
Also, your degree delivery method may affect your tuition fee. So, 100 percent online programs may be cheaper to get than a traditional degree. Indeed scholarship exists also for online students which you can benefit from.
What jobs are available for health administration degree holders?
Actually, apart from every health facility needing an administrator, medicine is rapidly switching focus from treating disease to preventing it in the first place.
This issue has caused rapid growth in the field of health care administration, hence requiring an increasing amount of administrators.
So, a health administrative degree holder can do in addition to other healthcare jobs, manage any healthcare providing facility or take up a managerial role in any healthcare organization.
Critically, we will analyze the career paths and job opportunities for health administration degree holders. Also, These 10 possible careers with a Health Administration Degree are carefully selected based on their salary scale and demand all over the world.
1.Hospital Chief Executive Officer
This is a professional level career path. Basically, a hospital CEO determines and formulates policies and provides overall direction for companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body.
His major responsibilities will include:
Academic Requirement
To be effective in this career, you should have a Master of Health Administration In Hos[ital Management (MHA) degree. In fact with this degree, you will have great insight into the management of human resources, clinical administration, government and public policy, health care ethics population health, marketing and communication.
This program requires at least four to five years of experience or work in Health healthcare as a doctor or nurse. However, it may take you two years to complete this course.
Furthermore, a master’s in business administration is a plus to excel in this career
Salary
Hospital CEOs earn well above six figures with a mean of $177,000 per year. They also earn bonuses and allowances to cover housing, unforeseen hazard. However note that years of experience, location, and the specific employer may affect your pay.
2. Government policy Maker
This career is a government official employment option. With a degree in health administration, you are required to conduct research, provide analysis and prepare briefs.
These briefs will explain political, societal, legislative and other dynamics of a range of policy issues on health care.
If you choose this career path, you will establish a framework within which healthcare is provided to the country’s citizens. In fact, you will have to place side by side patients, providers and payors to determine answers to critical questions.
These questions will include: who is eligible to receive care, what care services are provided and how are these services provided.
Also, as a government policymaker in healthcare, you will access the service to know whether they are rendered well if they are accessible and if the need for vulnerable or marginalizes populations are adequately served.
In addition, you will decide healthcare concerns the society needs to plan for next.
Academic Qualification
In addition to your degree in health administration, you will need 5-8 years of working experience in other healthcare facilities and organizations to attain this position.
Salary
Mostly, the salary for these professionals is determined by the government payroll.
However, government policymakers earn on average $66,369 -$110,588 annually
3. Training and Development Manager
Generally, management professionals are essential to the effective operation of the business within each and every carer field. However, Health administrators are sought after by health care facilities and organizations to provide leadership to trainers providing services to staff.
Health administration degree gives you a headstart on how to maximize their team’s training potential, analyze the organization’s current budget for training and select materials that are best suites for what their company has set aside funds for.
Furthermore, if you choose this career path your basic responsibility will be to create programs that are best aligned with the goals of the organization and instruct trainers on how to deliver training efficiently and accurately.
Academic Qualification
You would need your health administration degree for an entry-level in this role. However, some employers may require a master’s degree from applicants.
In fact, researching the company or organization you wish to work for will help you gain more insight into which degree level you should pursue to get the job you want.
Salary
On average, a career path with a Health Administration degree as a training and development manager will earn $108,250 dollars while training and Development Specialists earn $60, 360 annually on the average.
4. Human Resource Manager
Virtually, every healthcare center or facility will have to employ staff, promote staff and employ discipline measures to achieve results.
A specialist in both healthcare and employee management is a perfect fit for human resource managers. A career in Human Resource management is obtainable with a degree in Health Administration.
Basically, if you choose to tow this career line, your day to day activity will revolve around assisting employees with benefits, pay, and training requirements. You will provide first-hand support to employees in a medical facility.
Academic Qualification
Even though a bachelor’s degree in healthcare and certifications in human resource management can get you into this role, most employers seek a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration or a master’s degree if you have no previous experience.
Salary
Although your entry-level and level of study will determine your pay, Bureau of Labor Statistics says professionals in this field earn $102,780 on average per year.
In addition, your location and the current employer may affect your current pay.
5. Clinic Administrator
These administrators are also called managers or supervisors at medical clinics and have a long list of responsibilities.
A degree in Health Administration will get you started in this career which will allow you to hire and train staff, prepare staff schedules and conduct staff meetings.
Also, you will maintain the facility, implement policies and oversee the billing. In fact, you will be faced with the daily responsibility of managing the day to day functioning of a healthcare setting to provide and improve better health service.
If you choose this career path, you can work in many healthcare environments such as orthopedic, chiropractic and emergency care hospitals.
You can manage hospitals, nursing home facilities, and public care clinics. Major employers of these professionals include Government agencies, private clinics, health organizations, and NGOs.
Academic Qualification
Clinic administrators should understand business practices and principles. So, your degree in Healthcare Administration is the minimum requirement for this profession.
However, if you desire to top this career ladder, you may enroll for a master’s degree in business administration or in a health-related discipline.
In addition, you may get the two degrees if you enroll for school programs that allow students to complete both degrees in as little as five years.
certifications that teach additional skills such as legal topics and regulatory guidelines positions you for better pay and can be earned through professional associations.
Salary
With a degree in health administration and business management, clinic administrators earn an average of $ 90,000 per year.
also, Administrative managers earn on average $73,000 per year and Clinic Research Administrators earn around $83,000 per year.
However, Home clinic administrators earn an average of $ 80, 000 annually.
The above figures are for different levels obtainable in these career and location, degree together with any of the positions above can impact this salary.
6. Hospice Administrator.
A degree in health administration will give you an opportunity to manage fiscal operations like accounting, planning budgets and rates of services.
If you choose this career, you will work with medical, business and community groups. You will be discussing service issues and the needs of the community as a hospice administrator.
Basically, Hospice Administrators develop and execute policies and procedures for hospice units. So, they oversee the operations of a hospice agency.
Unlike other healthcare facilities, hospice units provide services to those believed to be in the last six months of life. They are more concerned about comfort and peace of mind than they are about prevention and recovery.
Also, as a hospice administrator, you may work in a patient’s personal residence, nursing home or a long-term care facility. Home health agencies, hospital networks, and specific nursing home are other hospice programs.
Academic requirements
If you choose this career path, in addition to your degree in health administration you will need National Board for Home Care and Hospice Certifications.
This certification is offered in three levels
1. certified hospice manager
2. certified hospice administrator
3. certified hospice executive.
Furthermore, this certification may cost you about $598 as an application and exam fee.
Salary
According to payscale.com, the average pay for a hospice administrator is $32.25 per hour while annually their take-home pay is estimated at $81,712.
7. Health Information Managers
A degree in Health Administration gets you into an entry-level of this profession which will allow you to secure and organize patients’ records.
In fact, you will be spending most of your time working with IT professionals researching software. So, that it meets federal orders for storing electronic patient information.
Basically, every time health care personnel treat a patient, a health information manager will be required to maintain electronically the information they garnered from what they observed and how the patient was treated medically.
These professionals work on the classification of diseases and treatments. Also, they affect the quality of patient information and patient care in the healthcare delivery cycle.
Academic Requirements
Professionals may begin their career with an associate or bachelor’s degree. A degree in health administration may get you at the entry-level in this career.
However, to advance and earn better pay, you may decide to earn a master’s degree in Health Information management of health informatics.
Furthermore, as a professional in this career, you may go for certifications that are available based on a combination of education and experience.
Salary
Salary for these professionals varies according to education, experience, current employer and city.
However, according to the American information management association, new health information graduates with associate degrees annual take-home pay is $20,00-$30,000 while those with bachelor’s degrees earn between $30,00-$50,000 annually.
Furthermore, with a few years of experience, health information managers may earn $50,000 to $75,000 annually.
This career is for you if you love good health. Community health which is a huge aspect of the medical world will require the services of a community support manager to work alongside a doctor in creating programs to encourage good health throughout the community.
If you choose this career path, you will focus on providing leadership to employees and in-depth information to clients. In fact, your job responsibility may include policy review, positive change, and result analysis.
Companies and organizations employ these professionals to provide insight into different health-oriented practices that will contribute to healthy lifestyles for everyone.
In addition, services provided by these professionals can help to increase the quality of service received by clients within their geographical area.
Academic Qualification
To work as a social and community support manager, employers seek professionals with at least a Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration prior to the application date.
Salary
Professionals in this field earn around $62,740 on average every year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more information on the payroll for this career path However, salary for health administrators may be influenced by your current employer and entry-level.
9. Health Insurance Specialist/Underwriter
This career with health administration is one of the most popular positions for entry-level professionals. your daily activity will revolve around working with patients to ensure that medical procedures and office visits are reported accurately to insurance agencies.
you would have to meet with patients to discuss the proper procedures for reporting claims to insurance and determining payment plans and methods.
In addition, you will analyze financial data to evaluate and identify the degree of financial risk. Most importantly, you will communicate the information to other health care professionals on behalf of the insurance company.
Academic Qualification
For entry levels, this profession demands formal academic training by completing a health insurance specialist program. These programs are offered at most community colleges techinical schools, universities or other business colleges.
However, a degree in health Administration alongside certifications through The American Academy of Professional coders(www.aapc.com) is a headstart and will aid you to top the corporate ladder in your career growth. if you ‘re interested in this career, you may have to go further to gain formal training with professional certification to cover up for years of experience as employers lookout for this.
Salary
Actually, according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, medical records and health information technicians earn a median annual salary of $40,350.
also, the employment rate is projected to grow by approximately 11% between 2018 and 2018 which is much faster than the average of all occupations.
10. Chiropractic Office Manager
Another career that exists for a health administration degree is a chiropractic manger. This discipline is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially in the spine.
These professionals are well sought in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Companies like Atlas chiropractic, Back to Health Chiropractic, Advance Chiropractic Center, Health quest. Chiropractic USA and Chiropractic Care Center are top employers of these professionals.
If you choose this career, your daily activity will be to manage a patient’s well-being with chiropractic and physical therapy. In addition, you will also oversee the affairs of the day to day running of any chiropractic facility or physical therapy center.
Academic Qualification
In addition to a degree in health administration, you will have to be a doctor of chiropractic. Basically, this requires 90 semester hours of undergraduate study to acquire.
However, you may manage a Chiropractic Healthcare facility with your degree in Health Administration if you have a consultant doctor.
Salary
According to payscale.com, the average salary for a Chiropractic manager is $33,000. You are also entitled to an average bonus of $588. For more information, visit payscale.com
However, note that this salary is dependent on your city and current employer.
Other careers for a health administration degree include
Conclusion
This article, critically analyzes what a degree in health administration can do for you. It details what a health administration degree is, how you can get this degree, what you can do with this degree and how much you may earn with this degree.
Basically, this post will help you get started with choosing a career path from the options available. As you read the details of each career path, your goals and aims in life align with one.
When this happens click the academic requirements and discover the major employers of these professionals.
Though these high paying career paths demand a basic bachelor’s degree in health administration, this post will let you know additional degrees or certifications that can get you up the corporate ladder in no distant time.
Finally, each of these career paths may have different positions. This majorly depends on your educational qualifications and experience alongside your employer and city.
This post throws more light on salary grading for each of these positions. In fact, all you need to get started is embedded in this article, so relax and choose a career that will yield you good pay.
Careers with Health Administration Degree FAQs
What can I do with Health Administration Degree?
With a degree in health adminstration, there are numeruous career paths for you to choose from. However, you may first need to decide what best interests you the health sector. This is because you can work in any healthcare facility or organization anywhere in the world. Find 10 possible careers with health administration degree to choose from at World Scholarship Forum.
Is Healthcare Management and Health Administration same?
No, while healthcare administration handles the staffing, healthcare management runs the healthcare organizations. They both require years of intense education and experience to get it right.
What is Healthcare Administration?
This is a unique field in the medical world and is perfect for anyone interested in the leadership, management and administration of healthcare facilities and organizations.
References
- Payscale.com: Salary scale for health administrators.
- Bureaucratic Labour Statistics: Salary for health administrators
- Study.com: Health Insurance job requirements
- Explore health careers: Allied health professions
- Indeed.com: Chiropractic office managers job opportunities
- Spinehealth.com: Chiropractor fundamentals and goals
- Online sage.com: Health Administration Salary scale
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