The healthcare system in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation. Factors such as technological advancements and changes in federal regulations are driving the country towards addressing systemic issues and ultimately becoming a global model to emulate. Healthcare leaders must now possess a combination of business and healthcare training to effectively navigate industry adaptations in both service delivery and business operations. They must tackle present challenges and utilize technologies and tools to address emerging issues.
Whether you choose to work in an urgent care center, outpatient clinic, doctor’s office or an insurance headquarters, you can explore various healthcare administration career paths. Roles in patient advocacy, practice management and health information systems training offer unique opportunities.
For those seeking to acquire the skills and knowledge to provide leadership in healthcare settings, Barry University offers an accelerated online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Services Administration program. This program is accredited by the AACSB and prepares individuals to meet the current demands of the healthcare industry and lead with business knowledge and insight.
Healthcare Administration Skills Are In High Demand
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a rapid job growth rate of 28% for medical and health services managers between 2021 and 2031, far outpacing the average U.S. job growth rate. This expansion is expected to create around 136,200 new job opportunities. As of June 2023, the median annual salary for these professionals stands at $101,340.
It is common for industry professionals to hold a master’s degree, as employers often prioritize it for leadership and executive roles. Consequently, post-graduate students can anticipate earning above the average in this field.
U.S. News & World Report ranks medical and health services managers No. 1 in Best Business Jobs, No. 3 in 100 Best Jobs and No. 3 in Best STEM Jobs.
Careers to Consider
Coursework in this specialized program prepares graduates for a wide variety of healthcare leadership roles, including the following. National salary information comes from Salary.com as of June 2023.
Hospital Administrator: Average salary of $262,107
This position involves managing clinical hospital operations, as well as the execution of planning functions related to staffing and services. A hospital administrator is responsible for developing policies and procedures that align with organizational objectives and meet the needs of patients. Utilizing data analytics, the role monitors progress and service standards to drive continuous improvement. A hospital administrator undertakes various functions, including overseeing administrative offices, managing clinical staff and monitoring financial operations. Some administrators specialize in areas such as equipment and supply procurement, vendor management or staff relations. Extensive experience — combined with a comprehensive business and healthcare education — enables hospital administrators to provide effective leadership.
Health Information Director: Average salary of $92,211
In large organizations, including hospitals and managed care companies, this role oversees the management, security and utilization of patient health. The health information director establishes and maintains systems and processes for accurate data collection, organization, storage and retrieval, via both electronic and physical records. The position ensures compliance with healthcare regulations and patient privacy laws, implements information governance practices and optimizes electronic health record systems. The health information director also analyzes data to identify areas for improvement, leads a team of health information management professionals and contributes to strategic planning initiatives to support quality patient care and organizational decision-making.
Medical Records Director: Average salary of $156,734
In a clinic’s records department, the medical records director is crucial in managing and maintaining health records and patient data. The primary responsibility for this role is to ensure the organization, accuracy and security of this confidential information. This professional has expertise in data storage systems, as well as insurance and billing programs. The medical records director may supervise a team of health information clerks, coders, technicians and secretaries responsible for accurately entering data and adhering to specific guidelines to safeguard patient privacy. It is also this position’s responsibility to enforce policies and ensure that employees follow proper procedures.
Healthcare Analytics Director: Average salary of $123,481
This position is responsible for leading and managing the analytics functions within a healthcare organization. The healthcare analytics director develops and implements strategies to leverage healthcare data and advanced analytics methodologies, such as predictive modeling and machine learning, to extract valuable insights. By overseeing data management, performance measurement, reporting and collaboration with cross-functional teams, this role drives evidence-based decision-making, improves patient outcomes, optimizes operations and enhances the organization’s overall performance — all while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and privacy requirements.
Chief Nursing Officer: Average salary of $252,630
This senior executive in a healthcare organization provides leadership and strategic direction for all nursing operations and reports to top management. The CNO oversees the nursing staff, develops and implements nursing policies and procedures, ensures regulatory compliance and fosters a culture of excellence in patient care. The CNO collaborates with other healthcare leaders to optimize clinical outcomes, manage resources effectively and promote the professional development of nursing staff. The CNO plays a vital role in shaping the organization’s nursing practice, quality improvement initiatives and patient safety programs while also advocating for nursing professionals and patients. In most organizations with a CNO, the role requires at least eight years of managerial experience.
This is just a small sampling of the rapidly growing opportunities available to graduates of Barry University’s online MBA in Health Services Administration program. The program’s coursework prepares graduates with in-demand business and healthcare leadership skills to succeed in the listed roles. For instance, the Economic for Strategic Decisions course equips students with knowledge of management theory and business strategy. The Leadership and Advanced Management Concepts course equips students with abilities to influence change and organizational leadership.
If you would like to stake out your future in the high-demand field of health services administration, Barry University’s program provides the necessary training, flexibility and fast path to your future that is equally important to industry professionals and their employers.
Learn more about Barry University’s online MBA in Health Services Administration program.