Health Care Administration and Management Degree Program and Career Education

Health care administration covers numerous administrative positions within the health care industry which are concerned with the management of the physical and human resources, finances, and policies and procedures necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of medical organizations in order to meet the needs of their patients. Health care administrators, managers and executives plan, manage, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health and medical services.

During this decade, health care in the U.S. alone is estimated to become a $3 trillion industry. Public demands for high-quality health care, organizational requirements for cost control and continuing rapid advances in medical technology require leadership in health care organizations that is strong, flexible, financially responsible, and ethically compassionate.

Education, Training and Degrees in Health Care Administration and Management

Although a bachelor's degree is often enough of a credential to land an entry-level position or to qualify for employment in a small organization, most executive positions in health care require a master's degree. Degrees can reflect a business concentration, but job candidates with a background in both health care and business will often have an advantage.

According to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, there are currently approximately 70 schools which offer accredited programs resulting in a master's degree in health services administration.

Find out more information about online Health Care degrees, certificates, and diplomas.

Explore Career Opportunities in Health Care Administration and Management

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately 248,000 people were employed as health care administrators of some sort in 2004, and employment prospects will grow rapidly during the upcoming decade, particularly in hospitals, health practitioner offices, and for facilities which provide health care services on an outpatient or in-home basis.

Below are more details concerning careers within this field.

Clinical Manager
Clinical managers are medical personnel who are highly trained in their specialty and who have moved into the position of managing others in that profession. One example might be a surgeon who has been promoted to head of the department of surgery of a hospital. The clinical manager is in a position to understand the unique concerns of his workforce. In a managerial role, the clinical manager determines and enforces policy, procedures, budgets and departmental goals and manages employees on his staff, among other functions.

Health Information Manager
Health information managers are charged with overseeing and managing patient records. This executive ensures that all records are up to date and are securely stored electronically.

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