Masters in Healthcare Management

What is a Master of Healthcare Management Degree?

A master’s degree is necessary credential for most healthcare management or administration positions in the U.S. There are numerous recognized management degree types that are considered equivalent in professional preparation. Different degree titles include: Master of Health Service Administration (MHSA), Master of Business Administration in Hospital Management (MBA-HM), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH, MSPH, MSHPM), Master of Science (MS-HSM, MS-HA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA). The purpose of healthcare management postgraduate degrees is to strengthen leadership and management within healthcare systems. This means having adequate numbers of managers deployed, managers with appropriate competencies, functioning management support systems and a work environment that expects, supports and rewards good management performance.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “effective leadership and management are essential to scaling up the quantity and quality of health services and to improving population healthcare.” Their clarifications for good leadership and management include: providing direction and gaining commitment from healthcare partners and staff; facilitating change; achieving better health services through efficient, creative, and responsible deployment of people and other healthcare resources.

Being open to different opinions, having good skills at analyzing contradictory information, motivating others to implement your decisions, and strong leadership qualities are all important factors in becoming a healthcare manager. Tact, diplomacy, flexibility, and communication skills are essential, as well as understanding finance and information systems, and being able to interpret data. If you think you possess these qualifications, a Master of Healthcare Management could be a great educational program for you.

Educational Path of a Master of Healthcare Management Student

To become a healthcare manager you must be familiar with management principles and practices. Although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions in smaller healthcare facilities, 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 positions in the healthcare management field. In order to advance in a healthcare management position, you almost always need a master’s degree. All states in the U.S. 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.

It’s important to obtain a Master of Healthcare Management degree from an accredited university or college. The Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) is the accrediting body that oversees master’s level programs on behalf of the United States Department of Education. According to CAHME, in 2008 there were 72 schools that had accredited programs leading to the master’s degree in health services administration, including online programs.

Online programs usually last two to three years, or even longer if taken only part-time. Sometimes healthcare management graduate programs also require one 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, healthcare policy, biostatistics or epidemiology, health economics, and health information systems. Programs may also include a supervised internship, residency, or fellowship. Although some programs encourage a generalist approach to health administration education, usually programs allow students to specialize in one type of facility such as hospitals, nursing care facilities, mental health facilities, or medical groups.

Occasionally these programs seek out students with undergraduate degrees in business or health administration, but more often they accept students with liberal arts or health profession, such as nursing, backgrounds. Previous work experience within the healthcare field is an advantage to getting acceptance into a healthcare management program. You need above-average grades from your bachelor’s degree, as well as a high GPA, for entry into programs.

Because healthcare managers are responsible for facilities and equipment within healthcare centers, as well as hundreds of employees, there are certifications and training they must go through even after obtaining their master’s degree. Health information managers who have a graduate 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 (AHIMA).

Earnings for a Master of Healthcare Management Graduate

As in all professions, the earnings of healthcare management professionals depends on the type and size of the facility you work at, as well as the level of responsibility and experience you’ve had. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that healthcare is one of the fastest growing career fields in the U.S., and that in May 2008 the median annual wages of wage and salary medical and health services manager were $80,240. 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. The following facilities’ median annual wages 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

According to a 2009 survey by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, the average total compensation for office managers in specialty physicians’ practices was:

• Gastroenterology: $54,314
• Dermatology: $54,201
• Cardiology: $58,899
• Ophthalmology: $48,793
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: $44,910
• Orthopedics: $51,263
• Pediatrics: $51,466
• Internal medicine: $48,814
• Family practice: $47,152

As a recent graduate of a Master of Healthcare Management program you can expect to start your career as a department manager or supervisory staff. Hospitals and other health facilities offer postgraduate residencies and fellowships, which are usually 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. You can expect advancement by moving up into more responsible and higher paying positions, such as assistant or associate administrator, department head, or chief executive officer. Also moving to larger facilities can increase your pay and give you a more prestigious title. Some experienced managers also may become consultants or professors of healthcare management.

Scholarship Info for Master of Healthcare Management Students

There are many grant, scholarship, and financial aid options for Master of Healthcare Management students. These can be found through university programs, healthcare organizations, or external non-related healthcare organizations. A few options for you include:

• The Stuart A Wesbury Jr. Postgraduate Fellowship: This one-year fellowship program is designed to assist graduate students of healthcare or association management.
• Healthcare Management Research Award: This ACHE award is $25,000 towards full-time faculty members of healthcare administration programs.
• Association of University Programs in Health Administration: Many scholarships and financial aid options are offered through the AHIMA Foundation.
• The Association of University Programs in Health Administration: Funding for Master of healthcare administration come from here and are determined by merit as well on the basis of need from the applying student.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Almost all grants are given depending on your qualification through the FAFSA. Many sources for funding education are in forms of loans.

What Industry Trade Associations Exist for Master of Healthcare Management?

• Academy Health: This organization represents a broad community of people with an interest and commitment to using health services research to improve health care.
• The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE): This is an international professional society of more than 30,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other healthcare organizations. There are more than 80 chapters within ACHE that provide access to networking, education and career development at the local level.
• The American College of Healthcare Administrators (ACHCA): This organization identifies, recognizes, and supports long term healthcare leaders, advocating for their mission and promoting excellence in their profession.
• The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA): This is the nation’s leading membership organization for healthcare financial management executives and leaders.
• The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): This is the healthcare industry’s membership organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.
• The American Marketing Association (AMA): This is the largest marketing association in North America. It is a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide, as well as the source marketer’s turn to every day for information and resources, education and training, and professional networking.
• The Medical Group Management Association (MHMA): This group’s mission is to continually improve the performance of medical group practice professionals and the organizations they represent.
• The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): This is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. The society serves the needs of HR professionals, including those in HR healthcare management positions, and advances the interests of the HR profession.