What Types of Degree Options are Available for Those Interested in Health Administration?

The health care industry is one of the fastest growing markets as far as employment is concerned, and many of these health related careers are not clinical positions but administrative ones. Health administration positions require a combination of business skills and specialized knowledge of health care systems. While some health administrative professionals gain entrance into this career field by leveraging their business school credentials, employment trends show that the preferred academic path is via health administration degree programs specializing in distinct subcategories of health care services. Here are some of the popular degree programs that prepare health administrators and policy analysts for a variety of employment opportunities within health care.

Bachelor of Science in Long-Term Care Administration

Advancements in medical technology has succeeded in prolonging the years of many people, and this aging segment of the population has created an undeniable demand for long-term care facilities that are competently and ethically managed. Because protecting the welfare of elderly citizens within long-term care facilities has become increasingly important, this segment of health care management is a highly regulated one that requires its administrators to become licensed. Health care administrative degrees with concentrations in long-term care administration prepare health care professionals to manage the daily operations of the growing number of long-term care facilities across the nation as well as sit for state license examinations. Long-Term Care Administration degree candidates should look for programs that are accredited by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards.

Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

The health care segment of information management has received a boost from new regulations that advocates the use of electronic record keeping throughout the health care industry. Today’s health care organizations must balance the efficiencies achieved by bringing health care records keeping management into the digital age with the need to comply with patient privacy rights. Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) work with these health care facilities to help them achieve this balance. Health Information Management degree programs prepare health information technicians to work as administrators after they sit for the RHIA licensing examination.

Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Services

Most health care administration careers take place behind the scenes of the various hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. While these professional work hard to improve the quality and access to care that patients receive at the health care facilities that they manage, they normally do not connect with the patrons on a personal level. This is often not the case of those working in health and human services positions. These health care professionals work directly with the public to provide guidance concerning complicated new health laws and information about benefits and services that may be unknown to them.

Conclusion

A general degree in business, public or health care administration are appropriate from some jobs within the industry, but many positions require distinct skill sets that are only taught in specialized degree programs within university health care administration departments. Employers often view candidates with these degree specializations more favorably when they apply for jobs within their category than their peers with more general health administration degree credentials.