Are you driven by the desire to make a real difference in the lives of patients? If so, a career as a health services administrator could be your calling. While doctors may see dozens of patients daily, you can positively impact thousands of patients as a health services administrator. You can help enhance the quality and efficiency of patient care, even without direct patient contact. Your role will be pivotal in managing a hospital, senior care facility, clinic, or other medical facility, and your contributions will be felt by every patient who walks through the doors.
Health Services Administration vs Healthcare Management
These terms are used interchangeably within the medical community. Both health services administrators and healthcare managers run medical departments or facilities from behind the scenes. The only difference will be the level of responsibility and that also correlates with the level of degree you have completed. They develop and implement goals and procedures, manage finances, improve the standard of care for patients, comply with laws and regulations, and collaborate with medical boards, medical staff, and investors.
What is the Difference Between a Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s Degree?
Depending on the level of responsibility you are seeking, the stage of your career, and your advancement aspirations, there are three degree options for Florida National University’s Health Services Administration programs: the Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, and Master’s Degree.
Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration
This degree program offers courses in law, economics, and statistics. It helps medical professionals advance their careers and take on leadership roles. The following courses are included in the program:
- Applied Managerial Finance
- US Health Care System
- Health Care Finance
- Health Care Law and Legislation
- Planning and Marketing in Healthcare Services Administration
- Statistics in Health Care Management
- Management of Health Care Organizations
- Health Information System & Electronic Health Records
- Health Care Human Resources Management
- Health Care Risk Management
- Managerial Epidemiology
- Health Service Administration Master’s Degree Capstone
Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration
This degree program is a review of the healthcare system. It provides skills for medical professionals seeking administrative positions. This program also prepares students for the Master’s-degree program in Health Services Administration. The courses include:
- Principles of Accounting I
- Principles of Accounting I Lab.
- Managerial Accounting
- Introduction to Health Care
- Medical Terminology
- Principles of Business Management
- Medical Office Management
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Insurance Coding and Billing
- Business Communications
- Financial Issues In Health Care
- Cultural Diversity in Health Care
- Ethics in Health Care
- Long Term Care Administration
- Risk Management
- Introduction to Health Services
- Community Health Care
- Organizational Behavior
- Human Resources Management
- Health Care Marketing
- Health Care law
- Health Service Administration Capstone
Associate Degree in Health Services Administration
This program prepares students for higher-level degrees in Health Services Administration and to attain entry-level supervisory positions in the health services industry. The courses in this program include:
- College Study Skills
- English Composition I & II
- Fundamentals of Oral Communication
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- General Biology
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- College Algebra
- Introduction to Statistics
- Introduction to Information Technology
- Principles of Accounting I
- Introduction to Health Care
- Medical Terminology
- Principles of Business Management
- Medical Office Management
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Insurance Coding and Billing
What Does a Health Services Administrator Do?
Health services administrators perform nonclinical functions and make decisions for healthcare facilities. They provide leadership and expertise to facility staff, stakeholders, patients, and the board of directors. They also manage policies and budgets to ensure the health and safety of patients.
Develop Human Relations
In addition to recruiting, training, and supervising staff, health services administrators develop work schedules to keep the medical facility running smoothly and efficiently. This includes the work schedules of both staff and physicians. They also engage employees in collaborative practices to benefit the facility and improve the patient experience.
Manage Risk
Medical facilities are scrutinized by laws and regulations that help manage risk. Health services administrators must not only abide by those laws but also work to reduce the risk of medical errors and poor patient outcomes. The board of a medical facility holds health services administrators to high standards to help manage the inherent risks associated with the medical industry.
Develop Business
The health services administration oversees the promotion of the medical facility and coordinates patient and community outreach activities.
Manage Finances
The health services administrator monitors the overarching budgets, spending, patient fees, and billing procedures. The managing board typically approves budgets annually.
Manage Compliance with Laws and Regulations
The healthcare management team works to comply with laws and regulations. Some of the rules and regulations include:
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) – keeps patient healthcare information confidential. It regulates how medical professionals use, store, and disseminate patient information.
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) – a federal law that requires hospitals to provide emergency medical services regardless of insurance status or payment completion.
Anti-Kickback Statute (AKBS) – prevents the intentional abuse of the healthcare system.
Stark Laws – a federal healthcare fraud and abuse law that prohibits physicians from referring patients paid for by Medicare to a provider financially associated with the patient’s provider.
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA) – protects healthcare whistleblowers who report unsafe conditions. This act allows people to report medical errors and remain anonymous.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) – a reform law enacted in 2010 that makes healthcare affordable for low-income individuals.
The False Claims Act (FCA) – liability to the government for any person who knowingly submits, or causes to submit false claims.
Improve Quality and Efficiency of Care for Patients
The ultimate goal of a medical facility is to offer quality and efficient patient care. Health services administrators are responsible for ensuring that the facility runs smoothly and efficiently and that all patients receive high-quality care. Many decisions that the health services administrator enacts are reviewed by the medical board and delegated to entry-level supervisors within the medical staff.
Final Thoughts
Did you know that health services administrators are in demand? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow 28 percent by 2032. The time is now to advance in your career. So, which degree are you ready to start?
Eager to Learn More?
This Associate of Arts in Health Services Administration program is designed for students planning to pursue a higher-level degree in health services administration and to equip students with skills needed in entry-level supervisory positions in the health services field. It offers key introductory courses in health services administration and also includes a thirty-nine-credit-hour component of general education/liberal arts courses.
The Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration program provides students with a broad view of today’s Healthcare System. It also provides the professional skills needed for administrative positions throughout the Healthcare Industry and prepares its graduates for admission into graduate-level studies in the Healthcare system.
The Master of Health Services Administration degree program is designed to provide high-quality professional education to assist executives and prepare the new generation of healthcare professionals for leading positions in the administration, management, and planning of the healthcare industry in either the public or private sector.
If you are interested in health services administration, let Florida National University answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to learn more about our degree programs.
