Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration degree programs contain a unique blend of business and healthcare instruction. Students learn about the financial and managerial intricacies of running a healthcare organization, as well as the issues related to population health.

The bare minimum for entry into this profession is typically a bachelor’s degree, but many leaders in healthcare choose to earn an advanced degree. A master’s of health administration (MHA), a master’s of public health (MPH), or a master’s of business administration (MBA) with a healthcare focus can improve one’s job prospects, establish specialized expertise, and lead to a significant boost in salary. And, unlike other types of healthcare degrees with hands-on laboratory training, a healthcare administration education is easily delivered online.

Many specialized careers exist under the umbrella of healthcare management and there’s more than one pathway to get where you want to go. Discover the various types of careers and online degree programs in healthcare administration below.

Biostatistician The primary premise of the work of a biostatistician is to turn data into knowledge. They use mathematical principles, statistical analysis, and specialty software to examine large data sets. Sometimes biostatisticians will even be involved in designing the data collection process, but they will often simply analyze data collected through other means.	Clinical Documentation Specialist A clinical documentation specialist, also known as a documentation improvement specialist, is responsible for ensuring that official standards of healthcare recording and documentation are upheld.
Clinical Research Coordinator Clinical research coordinators help manage much of the administrative work from budgeting, compliance, and reporting in addition to helping execute a trial itself by obtaining informed consent, administering questionnaires, and screening applicants for eligibility.	Clinical Trials Manager For clinical trials to run smoothly, there has to be a clinical trial manager who can handle both the business and medical sides of the trial. Clinical trial managers have to understand the trial’s objective and be able to manage the minutiae of day-to-day tasks to ensure the trial happens correctly.
Correctional Health Administrator Correctional health administrators perform many of the same duties as healthcare administrators but have the added challenge of doing so within the confines of a prison. Typical duties include setting clinic policies, managing budgets, supervising staff, ensuring patients receive adequate care, maintaining patient records, and developing preventative care programs.	Health Commissioner In the context of a global pandemic, health commissioners have become immensely valuable professionals in public and private healthcare. Read on to learn more about what it takes to become a health commissioner.
Health Communications Specialist The field of health communication focuses on four areas: health promotion; healthcare intervention; communication between patient and provider and family; and communication technologies.	Health Data Analyst Health data analysts use their knowledge of management, data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation to provide actionable insights that physicians, senior staff, and researchers can use.
Health Educator Health educators are professionals who help prevent illness and promote wellness through education programs. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, public health offices, government agencies, and even businesses.	Health Information Manager Health information managers have completed the necessary schooling to have the expertise to help guide healthcare organizations to make data-driven decisions that improve patient outcomes.
Health Unit Coordinator Health unit coordinators work behind the scenes in hospitals, clinics, outpatient clinics, and care facilities to ensure patients have everything they need during their stay. Duties for health unit coordinators include preparing a hospital room for a patient, ordering supplies as needed, coordinating medical procedures, and supervising the stay.	Healthcare Compliance Officer A healthcare compliance officer is responsible for ensuring that official standards of healthcare recording, documentation, and law observation are upheld. Certified healthcare compliance officers must be aware of federal and state regulations.
Healthcare Project Manager The process of refining innovative products and services can either help or hinder a company depending on how well a project is coordinated.	Healthcare Risk Manager Healthcare risk managers are key members of healthcare administration. Their primary role is to minimize organizational risk by implementing, monitoring, and evaluating risk management plans.
Healthcare Systems Engineer Healthcare system engineers are integral to the modern healthcare landscape. Learn more about how this unique engineering career pathway supports patients and providers.	Hospital Administrator Hospital administrators carry a lot of responsibility to make sure that a healthcare center runs smoothly. Duties can include managing budgets, hiring staff, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, meeting with senior staff, proposing new workflows, and auditing efficiencies and quality of care.
Medical and Health Services Manager – Health Administrator While other medical staff members are focused on delivering the best quality care to patients, it’s up to medical and health services managers—sometimes called health administrators—to see that the business side of a medical facility is running as efficiently as possible.	Medical Coder and Biller The modern-day role of a certified medical coder and biller is crucial in supporting medical institutions and patients. The primary function of the job is to manage invoices, payments, and insurance claims. Medical coder and biller roles are the direct lifelines from patient services to medical institutions and insurance agencies.
Medical Director Medical directors marry medical expertise with leadership and administrative skills. This job is critical to a smooth-running clinic as it involves overseeing the operations of healthcare facilities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care, and maintaining regulatory compliance.	Medical Office Assistant Medical office assistants help maintain quality patient care while ensuring that healthcare providers can focus on their primary goal of providing excellent medical care.
Medical Science Liaison Medical science liaisons generally specialize in areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and other healthcare-related fields. They concentrate on a specific disease state or therapeutic areas such as cardiology, oncology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, and infectious diseases.	Nursing Home Administrator Roughly 69 percent of the United States will be in long-term care at some point in their lives. Nursing home administrators ensure that the business side of these nursing homes run smoothly. They are responsible for a range of duties, including budgeting, staffing, facilities management, patient satisfaction, and compliance.
Population Health Manager Population health managers work in hospitals, community clinics, government agencies, and non-profits. They are tasked with improving the health of a designated population, enhancing outcomes, and simultaneously reducing the per-capita cost of healthcare.	Public Health Advisor Government agencies, non-profit organizations, community centers, private corporations, consulting firms, and hospitals all employ public health advisors. In all of these settings, public health advisors provide advice and guidance on protecting and improving the population’s health.