There are many ways to specialize a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree. Students simply have to find the right school that offers their program of choice. As explained below, three of the most popular MHA degree specializations include health care operations, quality care management and health informatics.
Health Care Operations
A Master of Health Administration degree specializing health care operations program will teach students how to find the proper balance between the needs of patients and the organization. The curriculum will concentrate on the fundamental concepts and processes of effective health care operations. This includes human capital, health care and financial management. Upon graduation, students will be ready to optimize and oversee facilities, capital assets and human resources in order to achieve the health care organization’s strategic objectives. Graduates will know how to make data driven decisions that will satisfy the needs of employees, shareholders and health care consumers
Upon graduation, students will move into leadership positions in different health care settings. For example, some of the most common jobs for health care professionals with a MHA in health care operations include clinic, nurse, program and operations manager. Senior positions include nursing, facility and department director. Graduates will work in a variety of workplaces, such health clinics, community care facilities and ambulatory health care organizations.
Quality Care Management
All health care organizations must have continual process improvements in order to ensure the highest levels of safety, quality and efficiency. A quality care management specialization will teach students about the fundamental principles of process and performance improvement programs. Upon graduation, students will go on to work in administrative or managerial positions and be responsible for programs designed to improve health care services. Therefore, their degree program will focus on basic skills and concepts regarding finance, operations and organizational behavior.
Students will also learn advanced topics that cover all relevant topics, such as knowledge, information and health care cost management. For example, an interactive knowledge and information management course will teach students about the fundamental parts of health care clinical processes and information systems. Additionally, health care cost management will explore how health care organizations allocate, report and review costs and finances. Students will be empowered to make informed decisions that will reduce health care consumer costs while saving on operational expenses.
Health Care Informatics
A new field to specialize a master of health administration degree is health care informatics, which integrates health care-based IT and data management. Health care informatics courses will examine the most common clinical and patient care challenges, such as privacy, data management, emerging regulations and cutting edge information technology. After successful completion of the program, students will become proficient in key areas. For example, how to manage the health care informatics lifecycle and integrate basic informatics concepts into health care administration. Students will learn how to optimize interdepartmental workflows in order to maximize the benefits of health information technology.
On the other hand, students will delve into risk, audit and information technology management, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They will be trained how to design, control and secure confidential health care consumer data. Other major courses will cover information security, change management and internal and external audits. Overall, students will know how to align information technology with clinical practices and legal and regulatory standards.
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To draw to a close, a MHA specialization in operations, quality care and health informatics will enable students to make significant changes in their health care organization. Students who wish to specialize a master of health administration degree should consult with schools for their specific programs.
