What is Healthcare Administration?
To become a healthcare administrator in Massachusetts, it’s essential to understand the high demand for skilled professionals in the growing healthcare industry. Healthcare administrators are responsible for a variety of important tasks, including strategic planning, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and overseeing organizational development. These professionals ensure that healthcare operations run smoothly, allowing doctors and nurses to focus on providing quality care to patients.
Healthcare administration professionals are integral to the success of healthcare facilities, handling the financial, managerial, logistical, legal, and operational responsibilities that keep healthcare systems functioning efficiently. By pursuing a career in healthcare administration, you can be part of a rapidly expanding field while playing a key role in shaping the future of healthcare in Massachusetts.
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How to Become a Healthcare Administrator in Massachusetts
Becoming a healthcare administrator in Massachusetts requires a combination of education, experience, and specific qualifications. Follow these steps to pursue a successful career in healthcare administration in the state:
- Step 1: Earn a Relevant Degree – Start by earning a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or a related field. A master's degree in healthcare administration (MHA) or business administration (MBA) with a focus on healthcare is highly recommended for advanced positions.
- Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience – Many healthcare administration roles require prior experience in healthcare settings. Look for internships, entry-level roles, or volunteer opportunities in hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes to gain hands-on experience and a strong understanding of the industry.
- Step 3: Obtain Certifications – While not always required, obtaining certifications such as the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) can enhance your credentials and improve your job prospects.
- Step 4: Apply for Healthcare Administration Positions – With your education and experience in hand, start applying for healthcare administrator roles at hospitals, private healthcare organizations, nursing homes, or public health agencies in Massachusetts.
- Step 5: Continue Education and Network – To stay competitive, continue to pursue professional development opportunities, certifications, and networking within healthcare administration organizations such as the Massachusetts Health Care Administration Association (MHCAA).
By following these steps and staying committed to your professional development, you can build a rewarding career as a healthcare administrator in Massachusetts.
Online Healthcare Administration Education in Massachusetts
Online Bachelor's (AS or BSHCA)
There are lots of jobs in hospital, clinics, and care facilities open to applicants with a high school diploma or associate’s degree. However, a bachelor’s degree from a four-year institution is a prerequisite for basically every health care administration job in Massachusetts. Luckily, degree options are available throughout the state and in a variety of formats to suit a student’s needs.
- Types of Undergraduate Programs
There is not a single title to describe the applicable degrees, and they may be designated differently depending on the school.
Look for some variation on these types of bachelor’s degrees:
- Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Health Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
- Bachelor of Health Administration
- Health Admin Curriculum
Four-year programs typically require 120 credits to complete. The first two years of schooling focus on broad topics in healthcare, businesses, and management. The final two years are more directly focused on issues and ideas within health administration.
The specific curriculum is different in every program, but students can expect to take some combination of classes like these:
- Electronic Health Records
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare Delivery in the U.S.
- Healthcare Management
- Healthcare Ethics
- Healthcare Accounting
- Healthcare Marketing
- Public and Community Health
- Organizational Behavior
Bachelor’s degrees are available in-person, online, or in a hybrid environment. Typically, hands-on experience is not a graduation requirement, but some programs may require students to complete a practicum, internship, or capstone project in their final years of school.
One advantage of healthcare administration compared to other careers in medicine is that professional certification is not necessary. Unlike doctors, nurses, and other hands-on care providers, administrators do no need to be licensed by the state or any other body in order to begin working legally. That means new graduates are eligible for many healthcare administration jobs immediately after graduating or even while still in school.
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Online Master's (MS or MHA)
It’s possible to find full-time employment in health administration with only a bachelor’s degree. In order to advance, however, these professionals usually need to earn a master’s degree. Higher-level health administration jobs require specialized knowledge. Plus, they require the same kind of focus and commitment that graduate programs do.
- Types of Graduate Programs
Since master’s degree programs have a sharper focus, there is a greater variety of program options available. There are some highly specialized and esoteric options out there, but most executive health administrators have some form of one of these degrees:
- Master of Health Administration
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Science in Healthcare Management
- Master of Public Health
Admission to health administration graduate programs can be highly selective. Every institution sets its own criteria for acceptance, and students will typically need to provide some or all of these documents:
- Official copies of undergraduate transcripts
- Proof of a bachelor’s degree – an undergraduate degree in health administration is ideal, but many schools accept students from outside the discipline.
- Proof of a minimum GPA during undergrad.
- Proof of a minimum score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- Descriptions of past work experience in healthcare.
- Letters of recommendation
- Courses for Completion
Students must complete 32-60 credits to graduate from most master’s programs. Full-time students can expect to meet this requirement in 2 years, but there some accelerated programs that make it possible to graduate faster. There are also certain specialties that take longer to complete. Finally, some schools offer hybrid bachelor’s/master’s programs that take 4-6 years to earn both degrees.
The curriculum varies widely between programs, but these are some of the most common courses:
- Statistical Reasoning
- Strategic Planning
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Administration
- Financial Management in Healthcare
- Human Resources in Healthcare
- Managing Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
- Organizational Behavior and Management
- Healthcare Regulation
Most master’s degree programs culminate with a research project or comprehensive thesis. Students may also be asked to complete hands-on training at a hospital, clinic, non-profit, or other relevant organization. Working professionals can often find evening, weekend, or online classes that allow them to stay on the job while simultaneously working towards a degree.
A doctoral degree is typically not necessary, but a number of high-level healthcare administrators have one. The degree is usually in a very specific academic discipline related to organizational management or healthcare policy. There are also some administrators who come from the worlds of science and have a medical degree or some other technical background.
Careers and Salary Outlook
Salary and Earnings Potential
The career outlook for healthcare administration is strong and continues to grow in the United States. Between 2020 and 2030, the demand for healthcare administrators is expected to increase by 32%, much faster than the average for all occupations. This rapid growth is driven by the expanding healthcare industry, particularly as the population ages and healthcare needs increase.
In Massachusetts, the median salary for healthcare administrators was approximately $141,000 in 2021, with top earners making $175,000 or more. The healthcare sector in the state offers abundant opportunities for advancement and high compensation. The demand for skilled administrators is set to increase, making now an ideal time to pursue a career in healthcare administration.
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Career Options
With a degree in healthcare administration, you have a wide array of career options available to you, ranging from administrative roles in healthcare organizations to leadership positions. Below are some of the most common job roles and settings where healthcare administration professionals can work:
- Hospital Administrator – Oversee the daily operations of hospitals, including managing staff, budgets, and patient services. Hospital administrators ensure smooth operational workflows and compliance with healthcare regulations.
- Health Services Manager – Manage a specific department or service within a healthcare organization, such as outpatient care or long-term care. Health services managers focus on improving patient care quality and operational efficiency.
- Medical Practice Manager – Work in medical offices or group practices, handling business operations like billing, human resources, and patient scheduling. They help ensure smooth day-to-day operations while complying with medical and ethical regulations.
- Nursing Home Administrator – Manage the operations of a nursing home, ensuring the well-being of residents while handling administrative duties like staffing, regulatory compliance, and budget management.
- Healthcare Consultant – Advise healthcare organizations on improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, or implementing new technologies. Healthcare consultants may work independently or as part of a consulting firm.
- Insurance Claims Manager – Oversee the claims process for health insurance companies, ensuring that claims are processed accurately and efficiently while complying with health laws and regulations.
- Public Health Administrator – Work in government agencies or non-profit organizations to oversee public health programs, manage budgets, and coordinate initiatives aimed at improving community health outcomes.
Healthcare administration professionals can work in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, public health organizations, or consulting firms. The field offers diverse opportunities, allowing professionals to specialize in different aspects of healthcare management and grow into leadership roles.
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Prominent Employers
Massachusetts has a strong economy and one of the most innovative healthcare systems in the country. That is part of why demand for health administrators is growing, and it means there are a number of major employers located within the state. Job prospects are available throughout Massachusetts in both large/small and urban/rural settings.
However, these are the largest healthcare administration employers in the area:
- Partners Healthcare System, Inc. in Braintree, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA
- Bringham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA
- Raytheon in Andover, MA
- Dan Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA
- Raytheon Systems International Co in Andover, MA
- UMass System Admin Ofc in Worcester, MA
Professional Associations
Getting the right education and experience are important for advancing a career in healthcare administration, but so is participation in professional associations. These groups provide information, education, resources, and connections that help professionals excel at what they do while moving up the career ladder.
Here are a few to consider participating in:
- Healthcare Management Association of Massachusetts
- American College of Healthcare Executive of Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association
- Massachusetts Society for Healthcare Risk Management
- Massachusetts Association of Patient Account Management
- Massachusetts Public Health Association
- Massachusetts Association of Community Health
- Massachusetts Medical Society
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