Associates Degree in Healthcare Management

Health Care is a big business that continues to grow each day. Like any business, health care requires professionals who are well- trained and highly skilled. Researchers expect the demand for trained administrators and professionals to continue to grow. Health Care Management is one of the fastest growing areas in the sector. There are many health care jobs presently available and training courses in Healthcare Management are in demand. The courses are targeted at professionals working in different areas including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and many more.

Training for an Associates Degree in Health Care Management prepares the individual for administration in various areas. Some of the specific areas include surgery, nursing, information centre, medical records and even therapy. Some school programs offer additional courses such as pharmacology, physiology, medical terminology, anatomy, and law and ethics. Choosing to specialize in a clinical area can help to improve an individual's employment chances. In order to get the best education, it is important to ensure that the school is accredited.

 

Administrators in the health care sector have a lot of responsibilities. Efficiency and dedication is essential for those hoping to join this industry. Having the right skills and training equips the individual with the right tools for a successful career in health care. To increase your chances of finding employment, you have to invest in education. Many health care institutions have entry-level Health Care Management positions available at certain times. Other centers such as medical clinics and doctors' offices also need administrators with management qualifications. Private insurance companies and government agencies also offer employment to health care professionals. By having a degree or certificate in Health Care Management, you will increase your chances of getting a secure administrative job in health care.

 

Healthcare Management Schools

 

The internet makes it easy to research and compare schools and training programs for Healthcare Management. The different websites offer complete information about the programs, which helps in identifying the benefits of each. Selecting the right program could make a difference in your chances of securing employment. As the health care industry continues to grow, the management courses are becoming popular with many schools around the country, who are now offering the courses.

If you decide that the healthcare industry is where you want to be, you will find a career in Healthcare Administration to be very demanding and challenging yet also very rewarding. The training can assist you in securing a job in busy hospitals. Some of the things you should know as you begin a career in this field include:

- In many cases, Healthcare Administrators are expected to work long hours. This is especially so in busy hospitals and clinics.

- You will meet and interact with many different people in any given day. You need to be a people person who can deal with different kinds of individuals.

- The career offers a high earning potential. It is also very versatile and the high demand ensures that you will not find it difficult to secure employment.

- You may be called upon to perform different tasks when the need arises. Having specialized skills is very helpful for administrators.

There are many online programs available for anyone who wants to pursue a career in Healthcare Management. Studying online has many advantages, the most important being the ability to learn as you continue to work. The flexible schedule will give you the opportunity to learn at your own pace.

 

Training Courses in Healthcare Management AA Degree

Allied Health – Learn about medical terminology, management and the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry is massive with positions in nursing, pharmacy, therapy, speech and more. Learn about all the different areas of healthcare and pick the right path for your career training.

Law and Ethics – Due to the size of the healthcare industry it is facing large legal issues. Understand HIPPA laws and privacy for clients as well as how to protect yourself. Your Associates degree in healthcare management will cover law and ethics as it deals with management and employees.

Medical Software – Get trained in all of the latest medical billing and coding software as well as word processing. As an employee in healthcare management you’ll need to understand software used by medical professionals.

Medical Anatomy – Learn about the human skeletal system and nervous system, body and bones as well as the immune system to fight off diseases.

Leadership and Management – If you are employed at a hospital you’ll be in charge of lots of employees. Your duties in healthcare management can cover the hiring of staff as well as departmental management. Get the leadership skills you need to be a successful manager.

 

Common Questions Students Should Ask Before Enrolling

Earning your Associates degree in healthcare management can be a great experience and can lead to you continuing on with our education after graduation. Before enrolling in any school it is recommended you talk to an enrollment counselor at the school regarding the below topics.

Online vs Campus – Often schools will offer the healthcare management degree as part of a campus program but can also offer it online. Some colleges offer a blended program where you’ll take your core courses in healthcare management at a campus but some of the electives can be done 100% online. Be sure to get all of your options before you enroll as sometimes the degree can be completed quicker if given the ability to take it online at your own pace.

Will this lead to employment? – No school can or will guarantee that you’ll get hired once you graduate but they can tell you if the degree you are taking will lead to employment if the area you are interested in. If you need a more advanced degree to actually get a job in healthcare management find out from the school what options you have. This degree is a good starting point and can lead to an entry level position at most healthcare facilities but additional training is recommended.

Credit Transfer – Because you’ll want to get an advanced degree in healthcare management you’ll want to see if the school offers such a degree and if you can transfer your credits into the more advanced degree upon completion of your Associates degree. Many will allow you to transfer the credits in for free and some schools will only accept a certain number of credit hours from a different school.

Which is the best school?

Answering this question is hard as every school will have their strengths and weaknesses. The first thing to look at is if the school is focused on medical training or do they offer other programs. Some of the best schools that offer healthcare management degrees only focus on medical training. If the school offers trade programs and only a few medical you might want to look at another school since their strengths are probably not in medical. Another thing to look at is the schools online reputation. Do a simple search on the school to discover online reviews and evaluations from former employees.

Another thing to review is the schools job placement rates. Every school that offers federal financial aid must report to every new student this placement percentage. If their placement rate is too low they will lose their ability to offer that program but you don’t want to be a student at that college if they can’t place their graduates in healthcare management careers.

 

Healthcare Management Career Opportunities

Once you graduate with your Associate’s degree in healthcare management it is time to start apply for jobs. Below are just some of the areas not to overlook during your job search. Be sure to work with your school as they often have relationships set-up in these areas and could have job openings just waiting for you to apply.
- Doctors’ Offices
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Insurance Companies
- Nonprofit Healthcare Clinics
- Hospitals
- Home Healthcare
- Assisted Living Facilities

 

Resources
American College of Healthcare Executives
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
Association of University Programs in health Administration AUPHA