Healthcare administration is – without a doubt – considered one of the top career paths for professionals looking to make a sizable income and substantially impact providing a positive patient experience. Whether you’re interested in working for a nonprofit clinic or reaching for the stars to become a key player in a metropolitan hospital, earning your online B.S. in Healthcare Administration can get you where you want to be in as little as four years. As an ACU Online student, you can focus your efforts and studies on the job you want while simultaneously preparing for an entry- to mid-level administrative and policy role. From concentrations in change management, public and community health or general healthcare administration, this fully online degree program welcomes your mission-driven nature while holistically introducing you to the healthcare management field — from its tools and technology to its strategies for improving patient care quality and access. Considered one of the most sought-after positions in healthcare, you may be wondering what is truly out there and how can you reach your goals to serve and lead in today’s climate.
Using the latest resources in job market research, we’ve compiled the perfect list of exciting career paths you can take as a healthcare administration professional.
Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and healthcare service managers are considered ‘jacks of all trades.’ From overseeing facilities to improving patient care quality through their administrative and problem-solving, medical and healthcare service managers are seen as highly skilled professionals who aim to operate clinics and hospitals with the utmost care and respect. Some key duties involve managing budgets, complying with healthcare laws, managing staff and developing healthcare policies that improve patient experiences. Unlike other healthcare professions, they also have the opportunity to manage entire facilities and focus on leading departments to help them deliver high-quality medical services and significant revenues for the business or organization.
Currently, medical and healthcare service managers earn approximately $110K per year with the possibility of earning a significant boost if additional certifications are obtained.
Practice Administrator
Practice administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of medical practices. Depending on the size and type of facility, the duties of a practice manager can vary. However, their key responsibilities often include creating schedules for employees, training and supervising office staff, handling disputes with insurance companies, providing excellent customer service to patients and ensuring compliance across staff members. With the chance to develop stronger skills in leadership, communication, human resources management and even accounting, becoming a practice manager is more than just managing people; it can also impact your clinic or office in the best possible ways.
Currently, practice managers earn approximately $104K per year with the possibility of earning a significant boost depending on the size of the facility.
Health Information Manager
Health information managers (HIMs) are deeply interested in organizing, overseeing and protecting patient health information. Whether it’s looking at a patient’s symptoms, diagnoses, medical histories, test results or previous procedures, HIMs make sure that traditional and digital medical data maintain their quality, accuracy, accessibility and security to help physicians, patients and third-party insurances. Trained in IT applications, HIMs will often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational and administrative functions – all valuable and critical hospital roles with important patient information.
Currently, health information managers earn approximately $110K per year with the possibility of earning a significant boost if additional certifications in information technology are obtained.
Community Services Director
A Community Services Director is someone who is responsible for the planning, coordination and management of community-based programs and services. Working in various settings like community organizations and government agencies, community services directors aim to address the community’s needs and improve the quality of life for residents with special services like housing assistance, youth development and health and wellness initiatives. Plus, community services directors conduct research, gather data and engage with community members to determine what programs and services are needed, such as additional funding for health-related programs and exercise spaces.
Community services directors earn approximately $97K per year depending on the organization’s size and location.
Healthcare Human Resources Manager
A Healthcare Human Resources Manager typically oversees all human resource functions, including ensuring hospitals comply with all state and federal regulations concerning employee hiring, firing, benefits and other human resource issues. For the most part, healthcare human resources managers hold a variety of duties, some of which include recruiting and interviewing new employees, administering employee benefit programs, coordinating training initiatives for hospital staff, overseeing payroll processes, ensuring legal compliance with HR regulations and of course, handling all employee relations issues. On top of this, healthcare human resources managers strive to make the workplace a safe environment for all employees and administrators across the organization.
Healthcare human resources managers earn approximately $136K per year, depending on the organization’s size, location and certifications. The breadth of roles available to healthcare managers is extensive, and the need for talented individuals in the industry continues to grow. The healthcare field is changing faster than almost any other sector of society, and its rapid transformation has become a hot topic in today’s conversations and media.
There’s no better time to consider a career in healthcare administration. Whether you want to work in a clinic or a major hospital, earning your online B.S. in Healthcare Administration can open a world of possibilities for you. Visit our website and learn why you should consider achieving your online degree with ACU Online.
