Healthcare Management: A Burgeoning Industry
by Alexa K. Apallas
In an uncertain economic climate, job security is a valuable
commodity. But many careers that previously seemed recession-proof
have been downsized, outsourced or shipped off to foreign
countries. The trick is to find an industry in which the
demand for services will be continual. One such area is
healthcare.
No matter which way the economic indicators are pointing,
people will continue to need medical care. And as the
Baby Boomers get older, they’ll need more and more
health services, whether they seek care in hospitals,
assisted living facilities, or at home. The demand for
doctors and nurses will stay strong—as will the
demand for the type of take-charge individuals who have
the business skills and healthcare experience to run these
facilities or programs.
This career path is generally known as health services
management, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
demand for personnel is on the rise. According to the
bureau’s 2003/2004 Occupational Outlook Handbook,
“Employment of medical and health services managers
is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations
through 2012, as the health services industry continues
to expand and diversify. Opportunities will be especially
good in offices of physicians and other health practitioners,
home healthcare services and outpatient centers. Applicants
with work experience in the healthcare field and strong
business and management skills should have the best opportunities.”
Earning potential is solid, as well. The median salary
for health services managers was $61,370 in 2002, with
the highest 10 percent in the field earning more than
$109,000, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Career opportunities are good for job seekers who have
either a Bachelor’s degree or
Master’s degree
in health services. Those with Bachelor’s degrees
tend to start out in entry-level assistant positions,
while those with Master’s degrees may find work
as department managers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
reports.
The key is to find a program that provides the necessary
training. At American InterContinental University
(AIU)
Online, students can earn either a Bachelor’s or
an MBA in healthcare management, and they can do it all
online.
Distance learning holds several advantages over traditional
on-campus learning. According to Dr. Judie Stein, a professor
in
AIU Online’s healthcare management program, online
learning provides “nontraditional” students—those
with different learning styles, those with obligations
that might prevent them from taking part in an on-campus
degree program, or those who don’t live near a brick-and-mortar
university—with a way to advance their education
and their careers. Dr. Lyn Hoffman, AIU Online’s
dean of academic affairs, agrees. “Online education
is so important to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise
have the opportunity,” she says.
Online learning also provides students with a flexibility
they might not otherwise receive. Stein tells the story
of one student who is stationed on a ship with the Navy.
He was going to be without Internet access, so Stein worked
with him so that he could remain on track with his coursework.
At
AIU Online, students receive the same services and
support that they might find at a traditional campus.
They can access the campus “Cybrary” (that’s
AIU Online’s term for its cyber-library) and get
career guidance from the Career Services Center, where
a Career Services Advisor can assist them with a cover
letter, their résumé, and interviewing tips.
Students earn a degree from a regionally accredited university
and may even qualify for financial aid to help pay for
their studies, if eligible. And contrary to a popular
misconception, Hoffman says, students have as much, if
not more, interaction with their professors than they
would at a traditional university. While the interaction
might not be face-to-face, students can communicate with
their teachers via email or online chats. Stein says she
really gets to know her students personally because she
responds to 10 to 15 student emails a day, and she holds
two live online chats per week that allow students to
ask questions or clarify assignments. The chats are archived
for students who are unable to log on at the designated
time. Students interact with their peers as well, by conducting
discussions on a class bulletin board.
AIU Online is also geared toward adult learners. Instead
of a traditional final exam or paper, students work on
projects that are focused on real-world deliverables.
The AIU Online program is ideal for career changers who
can’t afford to give up the steady job they currently
hold but are eager to explore new career options. Students
on the virtual campus can earn a
Bachelor of Business
Administration in Healthcare Management
much faster than traditional degree programs
provided they have already earned an associate’s
degree or its equivalent. The specialized curriculum includes
courses offering an overview of the healthcare industry,
the ethical and legal aspects of healthcare and healthcare
management, and statistical analysis and economics in
a global environment.
AIU Online also offers
an
MBA in Healthcare
Management,
that involves studies in topics like health policy, global financial management,
systems in healthcare, and leadership and ethics for managers.
“The healthcare management program is especially
attractive to students who are already in the healthcare
field and want to move their careers in a new direction,”
says Stein. But even students who are new to the field
can find success with an online degree from AIU Online.
By studying
healthcare management, students can open the
door to a career in a fast-growing, well-paying new field,
and they can do it all from the comfort of their own computer
screen.
American InterContinental University is accredited by
the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools to award Associate, Bachelor’s
and Master’s Degrees.
About the Author: Alexa K. Apallas is a writer for http://www.searchforclasses.com. To read other related articles please visit the site or join our newsletter at
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AIU Online School of Healthcare Management
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing fields according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There will be over 2.8 million new jobs in healthcare in the U.S. by the year 2008.
A degree from AIU Online will help to prepare you for an excellent career in the healthcare field. Our Healthcare Management programs were designed to provide a unique, market-relevant combination of a comprehensive business education with real-world, healthcare-focused applications.
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