Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management

Transcription

1 Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management Department of Nutrition & Health Care Management College of Health Sciences Appalachian State University

2 About the Health Care Management (HCM) Major The need for health care managers in the US is strong and will grow faster than for other occupations through The complexity and critical nature of services in the health care industry require leaders of health care organizations to be bold and innovative with solid business knowledge and management skills. The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management (BS-HCM) degree program prepares such leaders. The mission of the BS-HCM degree program is to prepare students to assume leadership responsibilities in healthcare organizations and to make valuable contributions to health care delivery systems within their communities. With this degree, graduates are prepared to assume entry-level managerial or administrative positions in a variety of health care organizations. The BS-HCM Program emphasizes practical application of health care management principles from faculty who have health industry experience and who perform relevant research on issues of healthcare financing, organization and delivery. Students and faculty are encouraged to continuously improve the health care system through diligent education, research and service. Primary focus of the degree is preparing graduates to manage health care delivery organizations (namely hospitals and health systems, medical group practice, ambulatory care, long-term care, etc.); however, graduates are also prepared for administrative or management positions in health insurance companies and managed care organizations; public health and other governmental agencies; medical product manufacturing, distribution or sales companies; consulting firms; and health information management firms. BS-HCM majors have many opportunities to interact with professionals in the field, enhancing their educational and professional development. Through the student club, the Future Healthcare Executives, mentoring programs and the HCM Internship, students will graduate with important contacts in the professional community contacts that help launch successful careers. Since 1972, ASU's HCM program has demonstrated a remarkable reputation for producing graduates who assume key leadership positions in their organizations. Building on its long tradition of excellence, the curriculum for the BS-HCM degree is redesigned and strengthened beginning in the academic year as the BS-HCM transitions from the Walker College of Business to the new College of Health Sciences. The degree combines a foundation of strong business courses from the Walker College of Business with an in-depth curriculum of HCM courses and real-world experiences that well-prepares students for a career in the health care industry. 1 US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Edition, available at

3 BS in Health Care Management Degree Requirements ( Academic Year) General Education (44 semester hours) Refer to the following resources for more information about General Education requirements: The Undergraduate Bulletin, The General Education Curriculum, ACC 2100 ACC 2110 ECO 2030 ECO 2100 ECO 3610 MKT 3050 College of Business Core (18 semester hours) Principles of Accounting I Principles of Accounting II Principles of Economics Price Theory* Business and Economic Statistics I Economics of Health Care Principles of Marketing Other Related Core (11 semester hours) MAT 1030 Calculus with Business Applications* HP 2200 Lifestyle Disease and Risk Reduction ENG 3100 or BE 3340 Business Writing NUT 4552 Medical Terminology HCM 2110 HCM 3130 HCM 3570 HCM 3580 HCM 3590 HCM 3630 HCM 3680 HCM 3700 HCM 3800 HCM 3810 HCM 3900 HCM 4570 HCM 4630 HCM 4710 HCM 4910 HCM 4930 HCM 4950 Health Care Management Courses (50 semester hours) Introduction to Health System Organization Managing Health Care Organizations Principles of Financial Management for Health Care Health Services Research Methods Quality Management & Process Improvement in Health Care Health Services Organizational Behavior and Design Human Resource Mgmt in Health Svc Orgs Health Information Systems Professional Development I Professional Development II Internship Health Services Financial Management Principles of Leadership for Health Services Orgs. Health Informatics Health Law and Policy Ethics in Health Care Seminar in Health Care Management (Capstone) Required Electives ( 13 semester hours) At least 2 semester hours of electives are required outside the College of Health Sciences (* These are required courses that count toward Gen Ed requirements)

4 BS in Health Care Management Suggested Four Year Plan Academic Year Fall Semester Spring Semester *ENG 1000 Expository Writing 3 *UCO 1200 First Year Seminar 3 Science Inquiry 4 Historical and Social Perspective 3 Wellness Literacy 2 Freshman Year *MAT 1030 (based on math placement) 4 Science Inquiry 4 Historical and Social Perspective 3 Aesthetic Perspective 3 Local to Global Perspective 3 TOTAL HOURS 15 TOTAL HOURS 17 *ENG 2001 Intro to Writing 3 ACC 2100 Principles of Accounting I 3 *ECO 2030 Principles of Economics 3 Aesthetic Perspective 3 Local to Global Perspective 3 Sophomore Year ACC 2110 Principles of Accounting II 3 HP 2200 Lifestyle Disease & Risk Reduction 3 HCM 2110 Intro to Health System Organization 3 ECO 2100 Business and Economics Statistics 3 Additional Perspective course 3 TOTAL HOURS 15 TOTAL HOURS 15 MKT 3050 Principles of Marketing 3 HCM 3130 Managing Health Care Organizations 3 HCM 3630 Health Services Organization Behavior 3 HCM 3580 Health Services Research Methods 3 HCM 3800 Professional Development I 1 HCM 3680 Human Resources Management in 3 Health Services Organizations TOTAL HOURS 16 Junior Year Summer Term HCM 3570 Princ. of Financial Mgmt for Health Care 3 HCM 3590 Quality Mgmt/Process Improvement 3 HCM 3700 Health Information Systems 3 HCM 3810 Professional Development II 1 ECO 3610 Economics of Health Care 3 ENG 3100 or BE 3340 Business Writing 3 TOTAL HOURS 16 HCM 3900 Internship 6 hours HCM 4570 Health Services Financial Mgmt 3 HCM 4630 Princ. of Leadership for Hlth Svc Orgs 3 HCM 4930 Ethics in Health Care 3 NUT 4552 Medical Terminology 1 Elective 3 Elective 3 Senior Year HCM 4710 Health Informatics 3 HCM 4910 Health Law and Policy 3 HCM 4950 Seminar in Health Care Management 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 1 TOTAL HOURS 16 TOTAL HOURS 15 (* These are required courses that count toward Gen Ed requirements)

5 Course Descriptions for Required HCM Courses HCM Introduction to Health System Organization (3).F;S. This course provides an overview of the organizational structure of health care services and the determinant forces that influence the organization of health services in the United States. The perspectives of health and health status of Americans are examined in the context of cultural, economic, social and political forces. The course is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge regarding the issues of relevance to the future of health care delivery. HCM Managing Health Care Organizations (3).F;S. This course focuses on the structure, function, and inter-relatedness of various health care organizations that make up the US health care system. Specific attention is paid to the unique challenges faced by health care managers, in addition to the unique aspect of managing various health care professionals. The course instructs students on the attributes of key health care organizations, namely hospitals and integrated delivery systems; ambulatory care; managed care organizations and insurance firms; biopharmaceutical firms and, other health care organizations. Prerequisite: HCM 2110 or permission of the instructor. HCM Principles of Financial Management for Health Care (3). F;S. This course provides an introduction to the role of finance in the private and public sectors of the health services industry. Topics covered include corporate finance, financial markets and sources of capital for healthcare organizations. Common tools for the financial analyses of healthcare firms are explored and students should develop foundation knowledge of the financial concepts important to managerial decision-making in the health services industry. Prerequisites: ACC 2100 and MAT HCM Health Services Research Methods (3). F. This course shall involve an overview of the fundamentals of health services research emphasizing how health care managers and administrators can apply fundamentals of scientific methods and research principles to management problems and decision-making. The course will also instruct students how to read and understand scientific literature and research, which is critical for lifelong learning in the health services. Prerequisites: ECO 2100 and HCM 2110 or permission of the instructor. HCM Quality Management and Process Improvement in Health Care (3). S. This course is an overview of the fundamental theories and principles of quality management and performance improvement in US health care organizations. The course instructs students on techniques and tools currently used by health care organizations to monitor and improve the quality of their clinical and administrative functions. Prerequisites: HCM 2110 or permission of the instructor. HCM Health Services Organization Behavior and Design (3). F;S. This course informs and instructs in the theories, principles and concepts of organization behavior and design particularly related to health care organizations. The course focuses on understanding behavior at the level of individuals, groups and teams, and the organization as a whole. Concepts of health care organizational structure and design are also covered in this course. The aim of the course is to develop skills, attributes and behaviors of managerial professionals working in the health services industry.

6 HCM Human Resource Management in Health Service Organizations (3). F. This course provides an overview of the human resource management function, particularly the functions, structure, laws and principles of effective human resources management in the health services industry. Instruction emphasizes managing health care personnel focusing on the unique nature of health care specialization, professional licensure, employee productivity and satisfaction. Additionally, the course addresses current issues in human resources management, such as managing health labor shortages. Prerequisites: HCM 2110 and HCM 3130, or permission of instructor. HCM Health Information Systems (3). F; S. This course is a general introduction to information technology and the management of information systems in complex organizations such as health services organizations. The course will instruct students in basic hardware/software concepts, communication and networking concepts and the important considerations in planning strategically for information technology in health service organizations. HCM Professional Development I (1). F This course provides an introduction to the professional environment in which health care supervisors and managers work. Students will be exposed to the skills and behaviors of professional health care managers and leaders. Students will also begin developing strategies for securing their Internship in Health Care Management. Prerequisite: HCM 2110 or permission of instructor. Graded on a S/U basis. HCM Professional Development II (1). S. This course provides further instruction regarding the professional environment in which health care supervisors and managers work. Students will continue to learn the skills and behaviors of professional health care managers and leaders, with additional emphasis on written and verbal communication; how managers interact with other health professionals; and the educational requirements for health executive careers. Students will continue working toward securing their Internship in Health Care Management, as well as developing personal career goals. Prerequisites: HCM 3800 or permission of instructor. Graded on a S/U basis. HCM Internship (6).SS. A full-time work experience in health care management and limited to HCM majors in the College of Health Sciences. Six semester hours are granted for a 300 hour internship during the summer term in a health care facility, service or program. Prerequisites: HCM 2110, HCM 3130 and permission of the HCM program director. Graded on an S/U basis. HCM Health Services Financial Management (3).F; S. This course provides an overview of the organizational and operational aspect of fiscal management, control and analysis of health care organizations. Because the role of third party payment is a distinct and unique characteristic of the health care industry, particular attention is given to public and private health insurers and managed care, as well as operational considerations for managing reimbursement, revenue and expenses, and for developing budgets in health service organizations. Prerequisites: ACC 2100 and ACC 2110, and HCM 3570 or FIN 3680, or permission of the instructor.

7 HCM Principles of Leadership for Health Service Organizations (3). F;S This course informs and instructs in the theories, principles and concepts of leadership particularly applied to health service organizations. The aim of the course is to develop leadership skills, attributes and behaviors to enable graduates to lead successful health care organizations. Prerequisites: HCM 2110 and HCM 3130, or permission of instructor. HCM Health Informatics (3). F;S. This course instructs students how healthcare organizations can use information technology (IT) to achieve better operational performance and strengthen the quality of services offered to their patients. Topics covered include using IT to transform clinical processes, integrating clinical and administrative work processes through IT, aligning business and clinical strategies. The course will explore in detail electronic medical records, medical informatics and privacy/security requirements for healthcare IT. Prerequisite: HCM 3700 or CIS 3050 or permission of instructor. HCM Health Law and Policy (3). S. This course is designed to provide students with a background in law and introduction to health policy as applied to health care organizations and health professionals. The course will cover aspects of tort, contract, criminal, antitrust, and administrative law and civil procedure as they relate to health service organizations and health personnel. Prerequisite: HCM 2110 or permission of the instructor. HCM Ethics in Health Care (3). F. This course will explore the role of ethics in management and leadership in today s healthcare environment through analysis of ethical and bioethical issues confronting the US health care delivery system. The course explores the use of moral reasoning applied to health care concerns encountered by health care leaders, managers and clinicians. Emphasis will be on critical thinking, real-world application, and decision-making in a professional environment. HCM Seminar in Health Care Management (3).F;S. This course is an integrative course for all HCM courses and other core courses through readings, case and scenario analyses, and small projects. The course requires students to apply the concepts of accounting, financial management, quality management, marketing, business planning, operations, strategic management, and public policy specifically to the unique environmental, regulatory, legal, ethical, and professional demands of the health care industry. Prerequisites: HCM 2110, HCM 3130 and final semester senior status, or permission of the instructor. (Capstone Course)

8 Health Care Management Internship We believe the Internship is a valuable learning experience and a necessary complement to coursework covered in the classroom. It is through the Internship that students gain real world experience and exposure to professional work behavior. This is so critical to the education and development of competent and successful health care managers. Working under the supervision of a health care manager (called a Preceptor) the student gets hands-on experience in the field through actual work assignments, attending management meetings and by observing the work that others do in a health care organization. The following information should answer questions that you may have about the HCM Internship Program and requirements. What is the HCM Internship? The Internship is a 300-hour work experience where students in the BS-HCM degree program work full-time in a health care organization. Successful completion of the Internship is required prior to graduation and students receive six hours of academic credit for the Internship. The course (HCM 3900) is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Most students complete their Internships in the summer between Junior and Senior years of study, although some students do their Internships at the conclusion of all classroom requirements. The starting and ending dates of the Internship are arranged by the Preceptor, as long as the student can complete 300 worked hours. What are the expectations of the Intern? We believe the best learning experience for HCM students is a full immersion in the working environment; therefore, we like to see students being given real responsibilities and work duties. Of course, such expectations should be matched to the students abilities and experience. In planning an Internship, we ask that the Preceptor consider the following learning opportunities: Require the Intern to attend new employee orientation; Plan rotations through the organization, so the student can observe the work performed and the contribution of various functions to the organization s overall mission; Assign the Intern various projects or duties for which they are responsible; Assign the Intern at least one large project which requires substantial effort and for which the Intern assumes primary responsibility. The scope and focus of the project should be something that provides both a valuable learning experience for the Intern and a contribution to the sponsoring organization; and, Require the Intern to attend management meetings, as appropriate. Interns develop Learning Objectives for the Internship, in consultation with the Preceptor. Interns are also required to write a final report that summarizes the Internship experience and describes the assignments and projects accomplished during the Internship.

9 Are Interns compensated? We do not require the sponsoring organization to compensate our Interns, however we strongly encourage it. The Intern should be performing work that has value to the sponsoring organization. We believe that when an organization pays an Intern, they have higher expectations for performance, resulting in more challenging and rewarding learning for the students. Likewise, Interns will view the experience more seriously if they are receiving compensation. Currently, most of our Interns receive compensation in the range of $8 to $12 per hour. How is the Intern supervised? The Preceptor should supervise the Intern as they would any other employee. We encourage Preceptors to have regular (i.e. weekly) conversations with the Intern about their work duties, expected professional behaviors and in general, about a career in health care. Honest and open feedback and evaluation by the Preceptor is critical to help the student learn and improve their work performance. Preceptors are asked to complete a formal evaluation of the Intern and a positive evaluation is required in order to receive academic credit for the Internship. HCM faculty will also monitor the Internship through routine phone calls or conversations with Interns. For Internships within 300 miles of Boone, the faculty will make at least one site visit to meet in person with the Preceptor and Intern. Throughout the Internship, the faculty advisor may call the preceptor periodically to check on the Intern s status; likewise, the Preceptor should feel comfortable calling the faculty advisor at any time if there are questions or concerns. Is it hard to find an Internship? While it is ultimately the student s responsibility to find their own internship, the HCM faculty provide a lot of help and support. We give students an extensive list of managers who have been Preceptors or have expressed interest in being a Preceptor. In the two classes HCM 3800 and 3810, Professional Development I and II, we coach students and give advice on finding their internship. We provide opportunities for students to meet potential Preceptors and help them with resume preparation and interview skills. HCM faculty routinely speak with prospective Preceptors to answer questions. Students can secure an internship anywhere in the US, although most are done in North Carolina. What are the advantages of doing an Internship? The primary advantage of doing an internship is that you will have actual work experience to put on your resume. When you interview for jobs after graduation, you will be able to talk about what you did during the internship, and impress upon potential employers that you already have some working experience in the field. Another valuable aspect of completing the internship is the relationship that you will build with your Preceptor. Many of our students find their first jobs with the help of their Preceptor, either through leads or positive personal references. Most jobs are found through personal networking the Internship is the best way to begin building this network. Students always say that the Internship was one of the best learning experiences they had while at ASU!

10 Future Healthcare Executives Future Healthcare Executives (FHE) is the student club for the Health Care Management program. This club has close ties with professional organizations in the field, namely the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and North Carolina Medical Group Managers (NCMGM). FHE has meetings throughout the school year where we invite health care executives to speak. This is a great networking opportunity and a chance to learn more about careers in health care. FHE members often attend state conferences and meetings which help students learn professional behaviors and expand their professional contacts. FHE also organizes site visits and tours of health systems throughout North Carolina. Additionally, FHE sponsors service projects and fund raising activities. The social interaction that FHE provide HCM majors is a strong complement to the major. Scholarships There are several scholarships available specifically to HCM majors: The Richard L. Davis Scholarship, provided by the NC Medical Group Managers, provides a generous scholarship for students who are interested in a career in physician office management. The Phoenix/Greene Scholarship provides funds to students who have overcome personal obstacles in order to pursue a college education. The WellSpring Scholarship is available to students interested in a career in longterm care management. The Foster McGaw Scholarship is a national scholarship that recognizes academic excellence in health administration education. More information about these and other scholarships can be obtained from the College of Health Sciences Dean s Office or the HCM Program Director. The HCM Program is one of only 44 undergraduate degree programs in the US that is a fully certified member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), which is the primary accrediting body for undergraduate and graduate health administration education in the US. For more information about AUPHA, visit their website at

11 Visit these web sites for more information about.. Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management: The College of Health Sciences: A career in health care management: Graduate programs in health administration and management: For more information about the HCM program, contact: Dr. Susan Roggenkamp Associate Professor and Program Director Health Care Management Program Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management College of Health Sciences Room 142C, DD Dougherty Hall Appalachian State University Boone, NC Phone: 828/ [email protected] Make a Difference.. Discover a career in health care management!

12 Make a Difference... discover a Career in Healthcare Management!

13 What is a healthcare executive? do you: Enjoy solving problems? Like your work to be meaningful? Desire a career that is personally rewarding? Like to help people? Care about the health of individuals and communities? Want a job with excellent compensation and growth opportunities? While medical personnel are the frontline of any healthcare organization, there are other healthcare professionals in whom patients invest their trust and hope even though they re not always aware of who these people are or the roles they play. These professionals are healthcare executives (also called healthcare administrators and healthcare managers). They are the men and women who manage today s hospital and healthcare organizations. HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES... Ensure that their organizations have strong medical, operational, and financial footing to serve the needs of patients, their families, and the communities Are skilled, trained professionals, who care deeply about the quality of care patients receive. They partner with physicians, nurses, and other professionals to provide care Help in educating community members about important health issues If so, a career as a healthcare executive may be right for you! Ensure that hospitals and other healthcare organizations serve as safety nets in their communities by providing emergency and ongoing care, as well as accurate and timely information about public threats in times of crisis

14 Be part of a dynamic & growing field... The healthcare management field offers a wide range of opportunities and challenges. Today, an estimated 100,000 people occupy health management positions at numerous organizational levels, from department head to chief executive officer. Positions for healthcare executives may be found in a variety of settings, such as: Clinics Consulting firms Health insurance organizations Healthcare associations Hospitals Nursing Homes Physician practices Mental health organizations Public health departments Rehabilitation centers Skilled nursing facilities Universities and research institutions If you choose a career in healthcare management, your first job might be an entry- to mid-level management position in a specialized area, such as Finance Government relations Human resources Information systems Marketing and public affairs Material management (purchasing of equipment and supplies) Medical staff relations Nursing administration Patient care services Planning and development

15 What you need to succeed Take the next step... Find out if healthcare management is the right career choice for you. Learn more about healthcare management careers. Talk to professionals in the field, visit career planning Web sites, tour a nearby hospital or other healthcare facility, or participate in a healthcare-focused volunteer program. Begin planning as early as possible for a career in healthcare management. A good scholastic record is important especially since you will want to attend a graduate program for a master s degree or doctorate. Many careers in healthcare management require a master s degree in health administration from a school accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Service Administration. Beyond the educational requirements, to become a healthcare executive, you need certain abilities, which you can work to develop now, including: Strong written and oral communication skills Ability to develop and present reports and proposals Ability to work well with others Honest and ethical business conduct Ability to train, delegate, evaluate, coordinate, and negotiate Leadership that inspires and motivates others Maturity to make decisions and take responsibility for them Read about healthcare. You can find interesting articles in local newspapers, national magazines such as Newsweek and Time, and trade publications such as Healthcare Executive, Frontiers of Health Service Management, Journal of Healthcare Management, or Modern Healthcare. Visit university libraries. Investigate many educational programs. Discuss your interest in a healthcare administration career with a guidance counselor and ask for help in identifying appropriate colleges. Check out both undergraduate and graduate programs as well as financing opportunities such as scholarships and financial aid. For information about financial aid call the Federal Student Financial Aid Information Center at (800) To learn more about an exciting career in healthcare management, visit

16 Medical and Health Services Managers Significant Points Job opportunities will be good, especially for applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business and management skills. A master s degree is the standard credential, although a bachelor s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions. Medical and health services managers typically work long hours and may be called at all hours to deal with problems. Nature of the Work Healthcare is a business and, like every business, it needs good management to keep the business running smoothly. Medical and health services managers, also referred to as healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare. These workers are either specialists in charge of a specific clinical department or generalists who manage an entire facility or system. The structure and financing of healthcare are changing rapidly. Future medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with the integration of healthcare delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. They will be called on to improve efficiency in healthcare facilities and the quality of the care provided. Large facilities usually have several assistant administrators who aid the top administrator and handle daily decisions. Assistant administrators direct activities in clinical areas, such as nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records, and health information. In smaller facilities, top administrators handle more of the details of daily operations. For example, many nursing home administrators manage personnel, finances, facility operations, and admissions, while also providing resident care. Clinical managers have training or experience in a specific clinical area and, accordingly, have more specific responsibilities than do generalists. For example, directors of physical therapy are experienced physical therapists, and most health information and medical record administrators have a bachelor s degree in health information or medical record administration. Clinical managers establish and implement policies, objectives, and procedures for their departments; evaluate personnel and work quality; develop reports and budgets; and coordinate activities with other managers. Health information managers are responsible for the maintenance and security of all patient records. Recent regulations enacted by the Federal Government require that all healthcare providers maintain electronic patient records and that these records be secure. As a result, health information managers must keep up with current computer and software technology, as well as with legislative requirements. In addition, as patient data become more frequently used for quality management and in medical research, health information managers must ensure that databases are complete, accurate, and available only to authorized personnel. In group medical practices, managers work closely with physicians. Whereas an office manager might handle business affairs in small medical groups, leaving policy decisions to the physicians themselves, larger groups usually employ a full-time administrator to help formulate business strategies and coordinate day-to-day business. A small group of 10 to 15 physicians might employ 1 administrator to oversee personnel matters, billing and collection, budgeting, planning, equipment outlays, and patient flow. A large practice of 40 to 50 physicians might have a chief administrator and several assistants, each responsible for a different area of expertise. Medical and health services managers in managed care settings perform functions similar to those of their counterparts in large group practices, except that they could have larger staffs to manage. In addition, they might do more community outreach and preventive care than do managers of a group practice. Some medical and health services managers oversee the activities of a number of facilities in health systems. Such systems might contain both inpatient and outpatient facilities and offer a wide range of patient services. Work environment. Some managers work in comfortable, private offices; others share space with other staff. Many medical and health services managers work long hours. Nursing care facilities and hospitals operate around the clock; administrators and managers may be called at all hours to deal with problems. They also travel to attend meetings or to inspect satellite facilities. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement A master s degree in one of a number of fields is the standard credential for most generalist positions as a medical or healthcare manager. A bachelor s degree is sometimes adequate for entry-level positions in smaller facilities and departments. In physicians offices and some other facilities, on-the-job experience may substitute for formal education. Large healthcare facilities usually have several assistant administrators who aid the top administrator and handle daily decisions. 1

17 Education and training. Medical and health services managers must be familiar with management principles and practices. A master s degree in health services administration, long-term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration is the standard credential for most generalist positions in this field. However, a bachelor s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities, at the departmental level within healthcare organizations, and in health information management. Physicians offices and some other facilities hire those with on-thejob experience instead of formal education. Bachelor s, master s, and doctoral degree programs in health administration are offered by colleges; universities; and schools of public health, medicine, allied health, public administration, and business administration. In 2008, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, there were 72 schools that had accredited programs leading to the master s degree in health services administration. For people seeking to become heads of clinical departments, a degree in the appropriate field and work experience may be sufficient early in their career. However, a master s degree in health services administration or a related field might be required to advance. For example, nursing service administrators usually are chosen from among supervisory registered nurses with administrative abilities and graduate degrees in nursing or health services administration. Health information managers require a bachelor s degree from an accredited program. In 2008, there were 48 accredited bachelor s degree programs and 5 master s degree programs in health information management, according to the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. Some graduate programs seek students with undergraduate degrees in business or health administration; however, many graduate programs prefer students with a liberal arts or health profession background. Candidates with previous work experience in healthcare also may have an advantage. Competition for entry into these programs is keen, and applicants need aboveaverage grades to gain admission. Graduate programs usually last between 2 and 3 years. They may include up to 1 year of supervised administrative experience and coursework in areas such as hospital organization and management, marketing, accounting and budgeting, human resources administration, strategic planning, law and ethics, biostatistics or epidemiology, health economics, and health information systems. Some programs allow students to specialize in one type of facility hospitals, nursing care facilities, mental health facilities, or medical groups. Other programs encourage a generalist approach to health administration education. Licensure. All States and the District of Columbia require nursing care facility administrators to have a bachelor s degree, pass a licensing examination, complete a State-approved training program, and pursue continuing education. Some States also require licenses for administrators in assisted-living facilities. A license is not required in other areas of medical and health services management. Certification and other qualifications. Medical and health services managers often are responsible for facilities and equipment worth millions of dollars, and for hundreds of employees. To make effective decisions, they need to be open to different opinions and good at analyzing contradictory information. They must understand finance and information systems and be able to interpret data. Motivating others to implement their decisions requires strong leadership abilities. Tact, diplomacy, flexibility, and communication skills are essential because medical and health services managers spend most of their time interacting with others. Health information managers who have a bachelor s degree or post baccalaureate degree from an approved program and who pass an exam can earn certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator from the American Health Information Management Association. Advancement. Medical and health services managers advance by moving into more responsible and higher paying positions, such as assistant or associate administrator, department head, or chief executive officer, or by moving to larger facilities. Some experienced managers also may become consultants or professors of health care management. New graduates with master s degrees in health services administration may start as department managers or as supervisory staff. The level of the starting position varies with the experience of the applicant and the size of the organization. Hospitals and other health facilities offer postgraduate residencies and fellowships, which usually are staff positions. Graduates from master s degree programs also take jobs in large medical group practices, clinics, mental health facilities, nursing care corporations, and consulting firms. Graduates with bachelor s degrees in health administration usually begin as administrative assistants or assistant department heads in larger hospitals. They also may begin as department heads or assistant administrators in small hospitals or nursing care facilities. Employment Medical and health services managers held about 283,500 jobs in About 38 percent worked in hospitals, and another 19 percent worked in offices of physicians or in nursing and residential care facilities. Many of the remainder worked in home healthcare services, Federal Government health care facilities, outpatient care centers, insurance carriers, and community care facilities for the elderly. Job Outlook Employment is projected to grow faster than the average. Job opportunities should be good, especially for applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business management skills. Employment change. Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 16 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. The healthcare industry will continue to expand and diversify, requiring managers to help ensure smooth business operations. Managers in all settings will be needed to improve quality and efficiency of healthcare, while controlling costs, as insurance companies and Medicare demand higher levels of accountability. Managers also will be needed to oversee the computerization of patient records and to ensure their security as required by law. Additional demand for managers will stem 2

18 Projections data from the National Employment Matrix Projected Change, SOC Employment, Occupational Title Employment, Code Number Percent Medical and health services managers , ,800 45, (NOTE) Data in this table are rounded. See the discussion of the employment projections table in the Handbook introductory chapter on Occupational Information Included in the Handbook. from the need to recruit workers and increase employee retention, to comply with changing regulations, to implement new technology, and to help improve the health of their communities by emphasizing preventive care. Hospitals will continue to employ the most medical and health services managers over the decade. However, the number of new jobs created is expected to increase at a slower rate in hospitals than in many other industries because of the growing use of clinics and other outpatient care sites. Despite relatively slow employment growth in hospitals, a large number of new jobs will be created because of the industry s large size. Employment will grow fast in offices of health practitioners. Many services previously provided in hospitals will continue to shift to these settings, especially as medical technologies improve. Demand in medical group practice management will grow as medical group practices become larger and more complex. Medical and health services managers also will be employed by healthcare management companies that provide management services to hospitals and other organizations and to specific departments such as emergency, information management systems, managed care contract negotiations, and physician recruiting. Job prospects. Job opportunities will be good, especially for applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business management skills. Medical and health services managers with experience in large hospital facilities will enjoy an advantage in the job market, as hospitals become larger and more complex. Competition for jobs at the highest management levels will be keen because of the high pay and prestige. Earnings Median annual wages of wage and salary medical and health services managers were $80,240 in May The middle 50 percent earned between $62,170 and $104,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $137,800. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical and health services managers in May 2008 were: General medical and surgical hospitals...$87,040 Outpatient care centers...74,130 Offices of physicians...74,060 Home health care services...71,450 Nursing care facilities...71,190 Earnings of medical and health services managers vary by type and size of the facility and by level of responsibility. For example, the Medical Group Management Association reported that, in 2007, median salaries for administrators were $82,423 in practices with 6 or fewer physicians; $105,710 in practices with 7 to 25 physicians; and $119,000 in practices with 26 or more physicians. According to a survey by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, 2009 average total compensation for office managers in specialty physicians practices was $54,314 in gastroenterology; $54,201 in dermatology; $58,899 in cardiology; $48,793 in ophthalmology; $44,910 in obstetrics and gynecology; $51,263 in orthopedics; $51,466 in pediatrics; $48,814 in internal medicine; and $47,152 in family practice. Related Occupations Medical and health services managers have training or experience in both health and management. Other occupations requiring knowledge of both fields include: Insurance underwriters Social and community service managers Sources of Additional Information Information about undergraduate and graduate academic programs in this field is available from: hhassociation of University Programs in Health Administration, 2000 North 14th St., Suite 780, Arlington, VA Internet: For a list of accredited graduate programs in medical and health services administration, contact: hhcommission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700, Arlington, VA Internet: For information about career opportunities in healthcare management, contact: hhamerican College of Healthcare Executives, One N. Franklin St., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL Internet: For information about career opportunities in long-term care administration, contact: hhamerican College of Healthcare Administrators, 1321 Duke St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA Internet: For information about career opportunities in medical group practices and ambulatory care management, contact: hhmedical Group Management Association, 104 Inverness Terrace East, Englewood, CO Internet: For information about medical and healthcare office managers, contact: hhprofessional Association of Health Care Office Management, 3755 Avocado Blvd., Suite 306, La Mesa, CA Internet: 3

19 For information about career opportunities in health information management, contact: hhamerican Health Information Management Association, 233 N. Michigan Ave., 21 st Floor, Chicago, IL Internet: The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) provides information on a wide range of occupational characteristics. Links to O*NET appear at the end of the Internet version of this occupational statement, accessible at 4