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In an uncertain economic climate, job security is a valuable
commodity. But many careers that previously seemed recession-proof have been
downsized, outsourced or shipped off to foreign countries. The trick is to
find an industry in which the demand for services will be continual. One
such area is healthcare.
No matter which way the economic indicators are pointing,
people will continue to need medical care. And as the Baby Boomers get
older, they’ll need more and more health services, whether they seek care in
hospitals, assisted living facilities, or at home. The demand for doctors
and nurses will stay strong—as will the demand for the type of take-charge
individuals who have the business skills and healthcare experience to run
these facilities or programs.
This career path is generally known as health services
management, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for
personnel is on the rise. According to the bureau’s 2003/2004 Occupational
Outlook Handbook, “Employment of medical and health services managers is
expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012,
as the health services industry continues to expand and diversify.
Opportunities will be especially good in offices of physicians and other
health practitioners, home healthcare services and outpatient centers.
Applicants with work experience in the healthcare field and strong business
and management skills should have the best opportunities.”
Earning potential is solid, as well. The median salary for
health services managers was $61,370 in 2002, with the highest 10 percent in
the field earning more than $109,000, according to a Bureau of Labor
Statistics report.
Career opportunities are good for job seekers who have either
a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in health services. Those with
Bachelor’s degrees tend to start out in entry-level assistant positions,
while those with Master’s degrees may find work as department managers, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
The key is to find a program that provides the necessary
training. At American InterContinental University (AIU) Online, students can
earn either a Bachelor’s or an MBA in healthcare management, and they can do
it all online.
Distance learning holds several advantages over traditional
on-campus learning. According to Dr. Judy Stein, a professor in AIU Online’s
healthcare management program, online learning provides “nontraditional”
students—those with different learning styles, those with obligations that
might prevent them from taking part in an on-campus degree program, or those
who don’t live near a brick-and-mortar university—with a way to advance
their education and their careers. Dr. Lyn Hoffman, AIU Online’s dean of
academic affairs, agrees. “Online education is so important to reach people
who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity,” she says.
Online learning also provides students with a flexibility they might not
otherwise receive. Stein tells the story of one student who is stationed on
a ship with the Navy. He was going to be without Internet access, so Stein
worked with him so that he could remain on track with his coursework.
At AIU Online, students receive the same services and support
that they might find at a traditional campus. They can access the campus
“Cybrary” (that’s AIU Online’s term for its cyber-library) and get career
guidance from the Career Services Center, where a Career Services Advisor
can assist them with a cover letter, their résumé, and interviewing tips.
Students earn a degree from a regionally accredited university and may even
qualify for financial aid to help pay for their studies, if eligible. And
contrary to a popular misconception, Hoffman says, students have as much, if
not more, interaction with their professors than they would at a traditional
university. While the interaction might not be face-to-face, students can
communicate with their teachers via email or online chats. Stein says she
really gets to know her students personally because she responds to 10 to 15
student emails a day, and she holds two live online chats per week that
allow students to ask questions or clarify assignments. The chats are
archived for students who are unable to log on at the designated time.
Students interact with their peers as well, by conducting discussions on a
class bulletin board.
AIU Online is also geared toward adult learners. Instead of a
traditional final exam or paper, students work on projects that are focused
on real-world deliverables.
The AIU Online program is ideal for career changers who can’t
afford to give up the steady job they currently hold but are eager to
explore new career options. Students on the virtual campus can earn a
Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management in just 13
months,* provided they have already earned an associate’s degree or its
equivalent. The specialized curriculum includes courses offering an overview
of the healthcare industry, the ethical and legal aspects of healthcare and
healthcare management, and statistical analysis and economics in a global
environment. Students seeking an MBA in Healthcare Management can earn that
degree in 10 months. They will study topics like health policy, global
financial management, systems in healthcare, and leadership and ethics for
managers.
“The healthcare management program is especially attractive
to students who are already in the healthcare field and want to move their
careers in a new direction,” says Stein. But even students who are new to
the field can find success with an online degree from AIU Online. By
studying healthcare management, students can open the door to a career in a
fast-growing, well-paying new field, and they can do it all from the comfort
of their own computer screen.
*The 13-month Bachelor’s degree is a 2+2 program and assumes
that all associate-level requirements have been met through an Associate
degree or the equivalent.
American InterContinental University is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
to award Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.
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Highway Hypodermics
