When Oregon State University alumna Meagan English reflects on her career with a degree in healthcare administration, her excitement is contagious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis field is perfect for those that want to make a difference for other people, have an interest in business, want to make a good living and have a huge upside for growth,\u201d English said. \u201cThe possibilities are nearly limitless for smart, dedicated, passionate people.\u201d<\/p>\n
With opportunities spanning leadership, operations, quality, human resources and innovation, the world of healthcare administration offers a career path that\u2019s as rewarding as it is expansive.<\/p>\n
Health care settings like clinics, large hospitals and private practices all need administrators to help keep things running efficiently. And with the rapidly aging population of the United States, employment in this field is expected to increase by a staggering 29% by 2033<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe industry needs skilled healthcare administrators to manage business operations,\u201d said Hilary Roman, assistant director of career development with Oregon State\u2019s College of Health. \u201cAnd this degree provides students with the tools they need to adapt and thrive in leadership roles in this field.\u201d<\/p>\n With a core focus on health care leadership that can help you enhance your business acumen, Oregon State\u2019s bachelor\u2019s degree in healthcare administration online<\/a> can prepare you for exciting and impactful careers. One of the program\u2019s most notable aspects is its origins. Whereas other programs in the United States are exclusively housed in colleges of health or human sciences, this program is grounded in collaboration between Oregon State\u2019s College of Health<\/a> and<\/em> College of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n That balance of skills from health care, public health and business helps graduates to be effective in a wide range of roles. Let\u2019s explore the many roles in the field.<\/p>\n Your education is rooted in practical application, emphasizing skills like healthcare quality, operations management and \u00a0entrepreneurship. You can put your knowledge to work in the administration department of almost any health care organization. Administrators also spend time reviewing needs like compliance, facility efficiency and finances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing very swift growth in the number of positions available for medical and health care organization managers,\u201d shares Elizabeth Simmons, director of external communications for the Oregon State Career Development Center. Simmons also said program grads will be \u201cwell prepared to improve patient care and health and to reduce health care costs.\u201d<\/p>\n As outpatient clinics and smaller practices become more common<\/a>, more non-hospital settings will need administrative support. In fact, over 30% of medical and health services managers<\/a> work in ambulatory health care services \u2014 facilities such as walk-in clinics, outpatient clinics, dental and therapy offices, private practices and home health care services.<\/p>\n Common job titles for healthcare administrators with a focus on administration include medical and health services administrator<\/a>, nonprofit management, health care analyst, compliance manager, medical records manager<\/a>, health care quality specialist and practice administrator.<\/p>\n “<\/span>The industry needs skilled healthcare administrators … and this degree provides students with the tools they need to adapt and thrive in leadership roles.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Supporting patients also means supporting the health care workforce. If you\u2019re more interested in the \u201cpeople\u201d aspects of healthcare administration \u2014 think staffing, training and helping employees reach their potential \u2014 you\u2019re in luck. Healthcare administrators spend a fair amount of time on various human resources tasks, leading a team and building interpersonal relationships.<\/p>\n Meagan English, the alumna mentioned earlier in this story, is the Chief People Officer for Marquis Companies<\/a>. With 25 years of industry experience, she leads a team that spans seven human resources departments and the organization\u2019s nonprofit foundation. And she credits her success at Marquis to her Oregon State degree and related work experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout my experience directly in healthcare administration for so long, I would have neither the credibility that my team and I do now, nor the empathy and understanding of what they truly want and need that is supportive to their work,\u201d English said.<\/p>\n Healthcare administrators who are interested in personnel-focused roles can search for positions such as nursing recruiter, human resources manager<\/a>, employee performance manager, regulatory compliance manager and employee wellness officer.<\/p>\n Patients come first for many in the health care industry. If that sounds like you, you\u2019re probably drawn to healthcare administration because of its connection to supporting those in need. Administrators often find themselves striving to streamline operations to make sure providers can spend their time focused on patient care.<\/p>\n According to Indeed<\/a>, pursuing a career related to patient health would set you up for success in the field of healthcare administration: \u201cIf you have a passion for the well-being of others, this degree can allow you to make a difference in the lives of patients and caregivers.\u201d<\/p>\n Healthcare administrators who want to play a role in patient services should seek out positions like clinic director, medical office manager outpatient care supervisor, service director and assisted living residence administrator<\/a>.<\/p>\n Oregon State\u2019s online healthcare administration program requires an internship which will help you gain firsthand experience in the field and further prepare for your career.<\/p>\n Because a healthcare administration bachelor\u2019s degree program has such varied applications, you can bolster your learning with a microcredential<\/a>, certificate<\/a> or graduate degree<\/a>. Some great options from Oregon State include:<\/p>\n Explore Oregon State\u2019s 100+ online degrees, certificates and microcredentials<\/a> and find a program that’s right for you.<\/p>\nHealthcare administration jobs<\/h3>\n
Health care human resources jobs<\/h3>\n
Health care customer service jobs<\/h3>\n
Strengthen your healthcare administration skills<\/h3>\n
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So, how do you make your next move?<\/h3>\n