If you鈥檙e drawn to working in the healthcare industry, but you鈥檙e not interested in a patient-facing position, you may be the right fit for a healthcare administration or healthcare management role.
Individuals in these types of roles work behind the scenes to help ensure that healthcare facilities and teams are running efficiently so they can deliver quality patient care while maximizing profitability for the organization.

But what鈥檚 the difference between healthcare administration and healthcare management? While there are big areas of overlap between these professional fields, they do have some key distinctions.

What Is Healthcare Management?

Healthcare management involves leading and overseeing the business activities of a healthcare facility or organization, such as a hospital, clinic, or healthcare system. While a healthcare management role may involve a certain level of administration of day-to-day operations, this type of professional is more heavily focused on the big-picture strategy and business operations.

Here are some examples of some of the more business-focused duties that are typical of
healthcare management jobs:

• Strategic planning and goal setting
• Budgeting and finance management
• Implementation of IT systems
• Purchasing of medical equipment and supplies
• Management of contracts and service agreements
• Oversight of relationships with business and community partners
• Quality assurance for the delivery of patient care
• Compliance review, helping to ensure the facility or organization is complying with laws and regulations

Healthcare managers may be in charge of a specific department or division within a healthcare organization or facility, or they may have a larger role, such as the role of an executive who oversees an entire facility or multiple facilities.

What Is Healthcare Administration?

While healthcare administration does require management skills and understanding of business strategy, this field tends to be more heavily focused on overseeing staff and the day-to-day operations of a healthcare unit or facility.

A few common healthcare administrator duties include:

• Recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new clinicians or staff members
• Creating and managing staff schedules
• Addressing staff-related needs and concerns
• Managing the delivery of patient care services and evaluating opportunities for improvement
• Overseeing technical processes such as billing and health informatics
• Addressing daily operational needs such as by ordering medical supplies

Some health administrators may also carry out some of the same business-focused duties that health managers perform, such as budgeting, financial oversight, and regulatory compliance review.

Common Job Titles Within Health Administration & Healthcare Management

Health administrators and managers can hold many different types of jobs which may vary in seniority level, depending on the role. Here are just a couple of potential job titles for people who work in these two fields.

Potential Healthcare Administration Job Titles:

• Clinical Director
• Healthcare Executive
• Hospital Administrator
• Practice Administrator
• Nursing home Administrator

Potential Healthcare Management Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Hospital Manager
• Health Information Manager
• Health Services Manager

Educational Requirements for Healthcare Administrators and Manager

vary by employers. Some healthcare employers may require a minimum of a bachelor鈥檚 degree while others may require or prefer a minimum of a master鈥檚 degree. A couple of degrees that serve as natural a natural segue into healthcare administrator and healthcare manager roles include the following:

• Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA)
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)

While the degrees noted above have 鈥渉ealth administration鈥� in the name, they often include education on healthcare management practices. Additionally, prospective students especially interested in business strategy and management within the healthcare industry may also want to consider a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in health administration.

BSHA, MHA, and MBA – Health Administration programs often include courses on topics including but not limited to the following (as they pertain to healthcare settings):

• Financial management
• Project management
• Leadership models
• Legal and ethical issues
• Information systems
• Strategic planning
• Risk management
• Hospital administration and management

WCU Programs for Aspiring Healthcare Administrators & Managers

Below are some details about BSHA, MHA, and MBA programs offered at 国产主播:

Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA)

• Instruction Method: Online
• Duration:
  • 40 Months at the Accelerated Pace
  • 80 months at the Working Professional Pace
• Specializations:
  • Finance
  • Strategic Management

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

• Instruction Method: Online
• Duration:
  • 8 months at the Accelerated Plus Pace
  • 12 months at the Accelerated Pace
  • 20 months at the Working Professional Pace
• Specializations:
  • Informatics
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Project Management
  • Public Health

Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Health Administration & Leadership

• Instruction Method: Online
• Duration:
  • 12 months at the Accelerated Pace
  • 24 months at the Working Professional Pace
• Specializations:
  • Health Administration & Leadership

Healthcare managers and administrators play an important role in turning healthcare facilities in
teams into well-oiled machines so they can achieve organizational efficiency while providing positive experiences for patients.

Click on the links above to learn more about these WCU programs, or fill out the form on this page to get your questions about a program answered

The post Healthcare Administration vs. Healthcare Management: What鈥檚 the Difference? appeared first on 国产主播.

If you鈥檙e thinking about launching a business venture within the healthcare sector, you鈥檙e definitely onto something.

From the rising healthcare needs of aging Baby Boomers to advances in technology to demands for premium experiences from healthcare consumers, there鈥檚 ample opportunity for entrepreneurs who are looking to disrupt the marketplace with new ideas and solutions.

There鈥檚 no questioning the opportunities that abound 鈥� but what does it take to be a successful healthcare entrepreneur? Here鈥檚 a list of the top five qualities that are essential for making it in the world of healthcare business venturing.

1. Passion-Driven Vision

The best healthcare entrepreneurs are focused on the big picture. They have a vision for not just starting a business or making money, but for solving real problems within the healthcare industry and subsequently creating better experiences and outcomes for patients, healthcare providers, and/or other parties within the system.

Creating and sustaining a healthcare business takes a lot of time, energy, and resources. Having a passion for what you鈥檙e doing can help keep you motivated through all the ups and downs you are bound to encounter in your entrepreneurial journey.

Whether you鈥檙e designing tech-based solutions to streamline health administration processes or you鈥檙e providing public health solutions that give the masses better access to care, you should always have a strong grasp of your 鈥渨hy鈥� and let that passion serve as the momentum that propels you.

2. Understanding of the Healthcare Industry

You can鈥檛 create business solutions for the healthcare space unless you have an in-depth understanding of how this industry works, including its current systems, challenges, and needs. Healthcare entrepreneurs should have knowledge in areas such as health administration best practices, payer-provider dynamics, healthcare laws and regulations, health system infrastructure, healthcare information management, health technologies, and more.

While healthcare entrepreneurs do not have to be licensed clinicians, they should be familiar with the world of clinical care, especially if they plan to open and operate a clinical practice or provide solutions that support clinicians.

3. A Business Mindset

Passion and understanding of the healthcare industry aren鈥檛 enough to help you build a thriving healthcare business or practice. You should also have a strong grasp of business and managerial best practices, as you will be securing capital, managing budgets, building teams, overseeing operations, and more.

As a healthcare entrepreneur, you will need to understand topics such as:

• Budgeting and finance
• Marketing
• Organizational leadership
• Business law and ethics
• Strategic planning
• Operations management

You can build a solid foundation for future entrepreneurship and business management in healthcare by earning a business degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in an area such as health administration or public health. You may even want to consider a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration (BSHA).

4. An Eye for Innovation

With the rise of and applications in healthcare, there鈥檚 plenty of opportunity for innovation. From health-tracking mobile apps to integrated health information management systems to smart medical devices to unique healthcare service offerings, healthcare entrepreneurs have the chance to disrupt the current marketplace with new solutions that meet healthcare consumers鈥� or providers鈥� needs in a whole new way.

Healthcare entrepreneurs need to be able to think outside the box and also think long-term so they can come up with unique product and service offerings that stand out from the competition while sustaining strong positioning in the marketplace over the long run.

5. Resilience

There will be times that you will feel stretched thin (at least until you can grow your business to the point of hiring others for some of these roles), and you will undoubtedly come across challenges along the way.

Successful healthcare entrepreneurs don鈥檛 give up easily when faced with challenges, they use creative problem-solving to get through business setbacks, and use their passion-driven vision (see #1 on this list) as their motivation to keep moving forward.

Work Toward Your Goal with an MBA

国产主播 helps provide the foundational education that students need to become business leaders and entrepreneurs. Explore our online MBA program, which offers specializations in Health Administration and Leadership, Public Health, and Project Management.

WCU also offers a Master of Health Administration program, which offers specializations in
Informatics, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, and Public Health.

If you鈥檙e interested in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program, WCU offers a BS in Health Administration
program, which offers specializations in Finance and Strategic Management.

WCU is here to help equip you with the tools you need to make a difference in healthcare!

The post The Top 5 Qualities of Healthcare Entrepreneurs appeared first on 国产主播.

Considering an advanced degree in healthcare or business? Becoming a leader in these industries requires discipline and the right education. You鈥檒l add to your undergraduate degree, amp up your resume bona fides, and do a deep dive into how organizations work and function, whether in the public sector, the corporate world, or your own personal entrepreneurial ambitions.

But first it鈥檚 important to find the right learning environment. Nowadays it鈥檚 possible to earn a master鈥檚 degree either in person or online. Do your diligence in researching the right school, make the big decisions about the degree you want to achieve, and consider how you鈥檇 like to focus your education even further. Start here with an overview of a few popular graduate degrees:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Businesses of all types and sizes need proficient, passionate administrators to keep things running smoothly and efficiently. As of 2020, 96% or Fortune 100 companies and 77% of startups were for near-term hiring. And because this is such a diverse degree, your options for employment after graduation are extensive and varied. An MBA degree will prepare you with advanced knowledge in all key aspects of established corporate and startup enterprises. You鈥檒l graduate with a solid foundation in the essentials of business leadership and administration:

• Finance
• Management
• Organizational models

Within each of these disciplines you鈥檒l learn the settled knowledge as well as evolving principles and practices in business administration. The right MBA will outfit you with a cutting-edge, forward-thinking education so you’ll be as future-proof as possible when you enter the workforce. Equipped with these skills, you’ll be able to work in technology-driven industries and bring your acumen to businesses looking to modernize.

Earning a master鈥檚 in business administration is more accessible than before, with accredited online MBA programs available that offer convenience and flexibility for working professionals. If you鈥檙e curious about achieving this advanced degree, consider also how you鈥檇 like to focus your education further. Many MBA programs offer tracks with a particular emphasis, such as health administration and leadership, project management, and public health, to name a few.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Health administrators are crucial to the planning, organization, and supervision of care. Pursuing a Master of Health Administration degree requires excellence in communication and cooperation, and an affinity for leadership. The right MHA school can help prepare you to administrate in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Consulting firms
• The insurance industry
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Colleges and universities
• Public health agencies

As an MHA student, you鈥檒l learn diverse skills that will help prepare you to enter into鈥揳nd adapt readily within鈥揳 field that continuously evolves with technology, infrastructural demands, and more. Aspiring MHAs can choose a specialty area and focus on a particular branch of health administration, such as organizational leadership, public health, or project management.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Public health experts and leaders are more essential than ever. at a rate more than double the average across industries. Leaders in this field develop, implement, and oversee the methodologies and processes that ensure the best possible communication and care to serve the public.

This means creating the protocols and plans ahead of the next major public health crisis, crafting response readiness for when those needs arise, and maintaining the health of specific populations on an ongoing and evolving basis. As an MPH student, you鈥檒l learn several core disciplines within public health such as:

• Legal and ethical issues in healthcare management
• Managerial epidemiology
• Health research methods
• Biostatistics
• Social and behavioral health sciences
• Development and evaluation of health education programs
• Environmental and occupational health

These disciplines prepare you for a critical role both for health emergencies and for preserving and enhancing the health of the public generally. With your MPH degree, you鈥檙e positioned to make a difference in a field designed to safeguard lives.

Once you鈥檙e committed to a course of study and school, get ready for a rewarding path to a new or advanced career, and the respect that a master鈥檚 degree in business or healthcare administration commands.

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Earning an MBA will help open the door to a wide range of careers in upper management. MBA students typically choose a sector of focus and enter a particular industry upon graduation. As of 2020, 96% or Fortune 100 companies and 77% of startups were for near-term hiring.

All MBA programs include the foundations of business to build on a bachelor-level degree, often 鈥� but not always 鈥� a BA or a BS from an undergraduate university or college. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) will offer :

• Finance
• Management
• Accounting
• Leadership
• Operations
• Economics
• Data analytics
• Business communication
• Business ethics
• Marketing
• Business strategy

This range of core disciplines will be complemented by coursework in your area of interest, so you鈥檒l not only receive a comprehensive education in business fundamentals and trends, but you鈥檒l also receive focused instruction through a curriculum designed to prepare you for your intended field. Profiled here are a few available online MBA programs with concentrations in project management and healthcare:

Featured Online MBA Degrees

The list of is long, so consider your preferred focus as you research schools and programs. Most MBAs require a two-year commitment for study, though there are some accelerated programs available for MBA candidates who want to achieve a degree quickly. We鈥檝e outlined three concentrations:

Health Administration and Leadership

This MBA is designed for students eager to lead as upper-level managers and executives who possess both business and healthcare acumen. MBA-Healthcare Administration and Leadership professionals oversee both healthcare delivery to patients and the working environments of providers. They take steps to boost both the health of the business and the health of consumers. Many Master of Business Administration programs are now available as online study with flexible schedules for working professionals. Learn about WCU鈥檚 MBA – Health Administration and Leadership track.

Project Management

Project management is a vital organ of any business; without it, a company ceases to function. As a project manager at any level, your job is to marshal an initiative from ideation to deployment, effectively coordinating resources, deadlines, and teams to move a business undertaking forward. MBAs with a concentration in project management are qualified for a range of professional pursuits, including in-house management, portfolio management, and consulting. Earning an MBA with a project management focus prepares you for the demands of this leadership role. And this advanced degree is a path to the highest tiers of management, including C-suite positions. Learn about WCU鈥檚 MBA – Project Management track.

Public Health

This degree is designed for students who want to work at a high level supporting the business side of public health. You receive all the training included in a Master of Business Administration with a concentration on the public health sector, its principles, and its policies. MBA-Public Health graduates are employed in a variety of leadership roles, from within hospitals to nonprofits to government. Pursuing an MBA in public health can prepare you to work in healthcare consulting, jobs for large healthcare-focused corporations like pharmaceutical companies, jobs for hospital systems, and more. In a public health MBA program, you鈥檒l study topics such as healthcare marketing and finance, technology, and additional healthcare-focused curricula to complement your MBA foundation. Learn about WCU鈥檚 MBA 鈥� Public Health track.

The post Exploring an MBA Degree in Healthcare or Project Management appeared first on 国产主播.

With all the options for business administration programs, you may be wondering what makes business degree at WCU different. Simply put, we provide an academically rigorous, industry-relevant, supportive environment for you to achieve your degree goals. Here are some of the ways we accomplish this.

Academics

Both our online BSBA and MBA programs provide a comprehensive business education. The BSBA provides foundational business knowledge relevant to a wide range of careers in business management and administration. Each course is focused on important aspects of business including finance, accounting, marketing, management, strategy, communication, and much more. The MBA also supports a range of careers but aims to prepare students to serve as leaders in their chosen field.

Throughout your business degree program, you will engage in meaningful discussions and produce deliverables that mirror real-world situations. Learn to research topics, analyze problems in business settings, and write professionally while adhering to academic standards for bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees.

Industry Focus

Business is ever-changing and evolving. So are our business programs at WCU. We intentionally research industry-relevant skills across multiple sources and build opportunities for you to develop in these areas.

Below are some of the skills recently presented by the following sources: , , , and . As a student in our business administration programs, you have opportunities to build and enhance these skills during your time at WCU.

Industry experience matters. WCU鈥檚 business faculty are industry practitioners in the fields they teach. This is reflected in course discussions and the feedback you receive. We also recognize that your industry experience matters, too. If you have industry experience aligned with one of our courses, we will work with you to offer credit for your experience through a portfolio evaluation process.

Supportive Environment

As a student, we meet you where you are. You have multiple ways to interact with our faculty and staff outside your online course whether by phone, text, or email. Our faculty will support you with one-on-one connections, engaging conversations, and feedback aimed at increasing your business knowledge.

Come experience business programs at WCU. We are welcoming and supportive, industry-focused, and academically rigorous.

WCU Distance education programs are delivered out of the California and Texas campuses and may not be available to residents in all states.

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