The need for more healthcare workers continues to rise across the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment in healthcare occupations to grow by 17 percent by 2024, adding 2.3 million new jobs.As the need for more healthcare professionals continues to grow, one of the most often overlooked careers is healthcare administration.
As the need for more healthcare professionals continues to grow, one of the most often overlooked careers is healthcare administration.
Dr. Gary Hackbarth
“There are two sides to healthcare, a clinical side and business side,” said Dr. Gary Hackbarth, assistant professor of management at Valdosta State University. “On the business side, healthcare administrators support the clinical side that includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and all the people that deal directly with the patient.”
VSU offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in healthcare management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in healthcare management. These degrees were added to address the rapid growth in the healthcare administration field.
The bachelor’s program includes several aspects of healthcare administration with courses covering healthcare management, informatics, marketing, insurance, information systems, law, and ethics. Students are also introduced to SAP software to improve their analytical and technical skills.
“Students also experience rigorous internships that integrate classroom knowledge and real-world practices,” Hackbarth said.
The MBA with a concentration in healthcare administration is offered online and addresses the academic and professional expectations of those currently employed in healthcare administration, as well as those seeking new careers in the field. Students study management, health information technology, healthcare finance and economics, quantitative methods, health operation management, healthcare law and ethics, and strategic management.
“We are providing healthcare administrators with the business skills they need,” said Hackbarth, “as well as an understanding of the clinical side of what it takes to support patients.’
Hackbarth said VSU’s undergraduate and graduate programs also prepare students for leadership roles in a variety of health related careers. The undergraduate program began in fall 2015 and has grown to 161 students by spring 2017 and is the third most popular major in the Langdale College of Business Administration.
Students with a bachelor or master’s in healthcare administration are prepared to work in hospitals, clinics, physician practices and clinics, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, healthcare consulting firms, and pharmaceutical companies, or any type of company that works in the healthcare business space.