With the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting above-average growth in healthcare administration careers, this is an ideal time to go to school for a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Courses in this field of study will provide students with a general understanding of the factors that are important for businesses in the healthcare industry. In addition to general education requirements, below are some courses that are important for setting up the basis of a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration.
Resource: Top 10 Best Online Healthcare Administration Degree Programs
The Healthcare Industry in the United States
Most healthcare administration bachelor's degrees will include a course that discusses the history and fundamentals of the country's healthcare system. Students will typically learn how healthcare has evolved, learning about different healthcare delivery systems and provider models. The concept of how financing affects healthcare models will be addressed in this class to tie together the aspects of healthcare as a business and healthcare as a way of improving the wellbeing of the community.
Basic Illness and Disease
A general course on illness and disease is often a foundational part of a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Students will learn about common diseases and how they are addressed in a variety of clinical settings. This class should contrast disease treatment with prevention and wellness and discuss how medical practices can successfully address both the treatment and prevention of disease.
Healthcare Management
This course is a combination of a business class and a healthcare administration class. Students will learn how concepts that are crucial to managing a business apply to a medical model. In a healthcare management course, students will investigate the way the healthcare system is organized. They will look at challenges that healthcare administrators must deal with in this ever-changing environment and learn about administrative processes that increase productivity, organization and overall success of a business in the healthcare industry.
Healthcare Accounting
The financial aspect of running a business is just as important as the social and medical aspects. Students earning a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration should be able to understand basic accounting concepts and read financial statements. A course in accounting should also address how to create a budget that takes into account the past and the future of the business. A healthcare accounting course combines the specifics of the industry with general financial information.
Health Law
Health regulations are constantly changing, and it's important to understand what subjects are affected by health law. In a course about health law, students will learn about patient rights, including privacy information. Students will also gain a general knowledge of corporate rights and the responsibilities an ethical business is required to uphold. Malpractice and corporate misconduct will also be investigated in a course about health law.
Healthcare delivery systems can't exist without someone to run the business side of things. Students interested in a healthcare administration career will be leaders in the industry, supporting and growing the businesses that help our healthcare system thrive.
Additional Resources:
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