������ý

A Master of Health Administration (MHA) encompasses more than you might think when it comes to skills and experience. Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in this degree program.

Pursuing a Master of Health Administration can help prepare healthcare professionals with foundational knowledge to transition into leadership and management positions. Skills learned in a Master of Health Administration program may include management, data analysis, policy enforcement, accounting and more.

Health administration involves managing the day-to-day functions of medical facilities like hospitals or clinics. Duties encompass multiple aspects of facility operations, including budgeting and financial oversight, allocation of resources, implementation of quality improvement initiatives, and patient safety. Health administrators manage the administrative tasks that enable high-quality care, while physicians and nurses concentrate on patient care.

The ultimate goal of healthcare systems is improved patient outcomes, and health administration has expanded its scope over the years to drive these results while also adjusting to an evolving healthcare field. In addition to administrative tasks and logistics, for example, administrators now focus on data-driven decision-making, strategic planning and patient-centered care.

An MHA program teaches concepts and principles specific to the healthcare field and can help professionals who want to learn more about leadership in healthcare. Master of Health Administration students typically learn about technology and managing healthcare information, healthcare systems, financial management, patient safety and more.

A Master of Health Administration program may include such courses as:

• Systems thinking for healthcare
• Ethical marketing
• Leveraging informatics
• Navigating the healthcare regulatory environment
• Health sector policy and governance
• Health sector industry expertise
• Healthcare talent recruitment

Skills taught in a typical Master of Health Administration program may include:

• Leadership: According to a Forbes Business Council article, healthcare leaders must evaluate their organization’s current condition, understand the immediate needs of the communities they serve and identify which changes will drive lasting, sustainable transformation.
• Business management: Leadership is charged with overseeing and directing personnel and activities within a professional environment.
• Communication: The Forbes Business Council article also describes leadership as communication that involves establishing a tone that fosters success and cultivating collaboration.
• Strategic planning: Strategic planning aligns daily decisions with a broader vision to guide the direction of an organization and enhance the ability to effectively impact surroundings.

The average time needed to complete a Master of Health Administration program can be between one and three years, depending on the program’s structure. Online MHA programs offer flexibility that working adults often find valuable, and competency-based programs can offer an expedited pathway to a degree for individuals who have both ample professional experience and self-discipline.

Overall employment in all healthcare occupations, regardless of degree level, is projected to . About 1.9 million openings are projected each year, on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Jobs aligned with a Master of Health Administration degree include:

• Medical and health services manager
• Health information management director
• Health manager
• Practice administrator

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2023-2033 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ������ý students or graduates.

If you’re looking for a Master of Health Administration program, ������ý offers online healthcare programs, including an online master’s in health administration.��

Contact ������ý for more information.