By the time a student achieves his Masters in Health Administration degree, he probably already has a good idea as to what kind of job he wants. But a smart healthcare professional always investigates his options and looks for the best possible career path to follow. Once you get your MHA degree, your adventure is just beginning.
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There are many different avenues for you to follow that can all lead to successful and productive careers in the healthcare industry.
#1 Group Practice Administration
The traditional hospital care philosophy that has been around for a long time is starting to give way to more personalized attention. That is why so many doctors have been banding together to form mega-practices that are growing rapidly. If you want an exciting career in the healthcare industry, then check out the many growing group practices and become part of a growing industry.
#2 Urgent Care Facilities
Another industry that has become popular in the wake of the decline of the hospital is urgent care. These are facilities that perform emergency treatments such as setting a broken arm or stitching up a wound. Instead of waiting at the hospital, patients go to these facilities and get treatment quickly.
#3 Research Facilities
As medical research grows, so does the opportunities for healthcare administration graduates. Many hospitals are starting to turn to research as a way to bring in revenue and that creates opportunities for administrators.
#4 Health Networks
The stand-alone hospital is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. These days, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are being purchased by health networks. The growth of health networks has created a demand for administrators that will be around for a while.
#5 Health Services
Where hospitals are picking up momentum is in offering health services such as alcohol and drug rehabilitation. This is a growing field that will require an influx of talented administrators over the next several years.
#6 Rehabilitation Facilities
Rehabilitation facilities have moved out of hospitals and become big business. It is not uncommon to see a physical therapy facility grow significantly in a short period of time. These kinds of facilities are always in need of talented administrators.
#7 Medical Information Management
With new rules in place around the world, such as the HIPAA regulations in the United States, the field of medical information management has taken off. More and more medical professionals require a service that can centralize data and safely store it, as per local and federal regulations. This field is growing rapidly and there are new companies forming regularly to handle the workload.
#8 Medical Billing
For years now, medical organizations have been outsourcing their billing to insurance companies. But with the new regulations regarding the handling of medical information, the billing industry has seen a sharp increase in the need for larger and more specialized organizations. The medical billing field is shifting and the proactive healthcare administrators are getting on board.
#9 Long-Term Care
There is a growing need for a variety of healthcare administration professionals in the field of long-term care. Nursing homes and other extended-stay facilities have seen an increase in the number of residents thanks to the rapid aging of the American population. These organizations all need talented administrators to help keep the doors open and the patients coming in.
#10 Private Practice Work
One of the things that too many MHA graduates ignore is the kind of opportunity a private practice can offer. A successful practice can be a great stepping stone into a larger organization that offers more opportunities. When you are doing your healthcare job hunting, do not ignore the private practices.
#11 Advocacy Groups
There are a lot of very dynamic health policy advocacy groups that are constantly looking for administrative help. An advocacy group would be the ideal environment to take an entry level position and turn that into a full healthcare career. Find a group that shares your views on public health policy and make a career out of it.
#12 International Care Organizations
If you want to get involved in an exciting career, then check out groups such as Doctors Without Borders or the World Health Organization. These are groups that get involved in everything from international public health policy to the treatment of people in all parts of the world. It can be an extremely exciting and rewarding healthcare career.
#13 Federal Government
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is just one of the many government agencies that are constantly looking for healthcare administrators. With these kinds of jobs, you will be at the forefront of some of the most significant healthcare decisions in the country. These are the kinds of careers that elicit a strong sense of accomplishment and a sense of pride in what you do.
#14 Major Corporations
Many major corporations have their own healthcare system that they use to offer initial treatment to their employees. You will also find that major corporations have a huge staff of healthcare administrators to take care of the company health insurance program and also execute other programs such as the company wellness program.
#15 Health Insurance Carriers
One of the largest employers of healthcare administrators in the United States is health insurance carriers. You will find a long list of positions available with health insurance companies that will challenge you and bring an interesting dynamic to your career.
#16 Consulting Firms
There are many medical consulting firms in the United States that hire qualified healthcare administrators on a regular basis. These are the kinds of organizations that you can grow with and gain valuable career experience.
#17 Small To Medium Sized Business
Many small to medium sized businesses hire healthcare administrators on a contract basis to help them understand their health insurance programs and develop wellness programs for their employees. If you like the idea of working for several companies at the same time, then try starting your own practice that helps small and medium sized businesses.
#18 Pharmaceutical Companies
Pharmaceutical companies get intimately involved in international and domestic health policy. This is the career to have if you are interested in getting involved in international medical law and policy.
#19 Law Firms
The larger law firms who get involved primarily in healthcare related cases hire healthcare administrators on a regular basis.
#20 Medical Equipment Manufacturers
A medical equipment manufacturer has extensive dealings with medical treatment organizations and health insurance companies.
#21 Alternative Care Organizations
Health insurance companies are starting to recognize massage therapy, chiropractor treatment and acupuncture as legitimate forms of treatment. That means that these organizations are starting to find a need for healthcare administrators.
#22 Medical Employment Placement Firms
The larger medical employment placement firms who deal with specialists and doctors who are in demand are in constant need of good healthcare administrators.
#23 Clinics
Clinics are still popular treatment options for many patients who cannot afford full health coverage. That is why clinics are always looking for talented administrators.
#24 Life Insurance Companies
Life insurance companies deal with medical issues on a regular basis and many of the larger life insurance companies have comprehensive healthcare administration departments.
#25 State Governments
The state governments all have significant needs for talented and versatile healthcare administrators.
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