Health Service Administration sounds vague, but it is one of those discrete careers that are always in demand, with good salary prospects and offers a diverse career path. Health Services Administration involves planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services. Health Service Administrators might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians.
In the private and public sectors of the United States, certain careers tend to stand out more than others for obvious reasons. Police officers, for example, are very visible in our communities and even stockbrokers have a bit of visibility because news broadcasts are constantly reporting activity on Wall Street.
There is an entire subset of careers that can be described as “flying under the radar,” meaning that they are not commonly discussed despite their attractive salaries and the opportunities they present to prospective students.
A Bachelor’s Degree Can Prepare a Student for A Position As A:
• Dental Clinic Director/Supervisor/CEO
• Clinic or Hospital Director/Supervisor/CEO
• Nursing Home or Hospice Administrator
• Long-term or Rehab Facilities Administrator
• Social Worker
• Insurance/HMO Underwriter
• Insurance/HMO Analyst
• Legislative Lobbyist
• HMO specialist for Human Resource department in any business
The Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration is one of the most valuable and dynamic undergraduate programs offered by Florida National University, but many students are unfamiliar with what a healthcare administrator does and classes they would take for the degree. We will answer some of those questions below.
Health Services Administration, Then and Now 
Consider this: hospitals have existed since civilizations first realized they needed a place for the sick to turn to. How were they managed? The first was by religious or military administrators, for example in ancient India, Ayurveda clinics were operated by members of the Hindu religious caste; in ancient Rome, hospitals that treated soldiers and gladiators were administered by legion officers. Civilian administration of hospitals started during the Islamic Golden Age in Iraq and Syria. By the time a hospital in North America was founded by the conquistador Hernán Cortés in Mexico, a long tradition of health services administration had been developed.
In essence, health services administration refers to the management and development of healthcare as well as its policies, products, and solutions. To a certain extent, health services administrators work behind the scenes to ensure that healthcare is practiced and delivered in an efficient and compliant manner.
Do Health Administrators Work With Patients?
Most health services administration professionals do not work on patients as medics do; however, some work in counseling, management and research positions that will require them to talk with patients about their experiences with healthcare services received.
The nature of the job of a healthcare executive or manager has similar responsibilities to those of leadership positions, social service managers, and human resource managers, among others. While they are present in the patient’s settings, their work often goes on behind the scenes, unnoticed by patients.
What To Know Before Pursuing Health Services Administration As a Career
It’s important before choosing any career to know what your future prospects within the field will be. This way you don’t later find out that you have no room for growth in position or salary or are otherwise surprised by the number of certifications you must maintain just to continue working. Here are some of the most common concerns when joining such a broad industry.
Are Continuing Education Credits A Requirement Of The Field?
Continuing education requirements vary by position in Health Services. For roles that don’t require a clinical background, healthcare administrators typically don’t need to complete any continuing education coursework. However, administrators who earn specialty certifications in their field, such as Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist, Certified Healthcare Access Manager, or one of the many other industry certifications, are usually required to complete continuing education credits to earn recertification. Administrators who run care facilities or other clinical facilities may be required to earn state licensure and complete regular continuing education credits to maintain licensure.
Is It Necessary To Have Clinical Experience To Work In Healthcare Administration?
Although many administrators do have years of experience working in care settings on a hospital floor, it’s not a requirement for a wide range of administrative positions since healthcare administrators come from many different careers, including working as administrative assistants, finance clerks, medical records supervisors, and similar non-clinical jobs.
It Is Better To Earn A Master’s Degree?
Although healthcare administrators completing a bachelor’s degree program meet the minimum educational attainment for a wide range of jobs, those with master’s degrees get better and higher-paying jobs. Many senior-level positions in administration and management are only available to candidates who have completed graduate-level work. The level of educational attainment administrators decide to obtain can dictate many of their career options. That said, it is common to begin working and earn your MA degree while working. Sometimes the company even offers to pay part or all of your continuing education.
What Are The Main Industry Certifications For Healthcare Administrators?
Certification truly depends upon the type of setting in which administrators work. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management offers two types of certification, while the American Health Information Management Association offers 10 different health information, coding, and specialty certifications. The Professional Association of Healthcare Office Management also offers two types of certification. Administrators interested in earning specialty certifications should look into relevant industry trade groups and organizations to determine which certifications carry the most weight for their particular job.
Health Services Administration Career and Salary Prospects
The healthcare industry will continue to grow exponentially due to population growth, aging and longer lifespans. In South Florida in particular, demand for healthcare administration professionals tends to be higher than other regions thanks to the large numbers of senior citizens who move here for the purpose of enjoying their golden years in a sunny place.
The duties and responsibilities that can be assumed by health services administration professionals range from business development to policy compliance and from management of resources to consulting.
Salaries:
• Entry level specialists $48,860
• Healthcare Managers earn upwards of $101,340
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that this career will grow by more than 28 percent between now and the year 2031, which means that it will expand faster than the average career.
The B.S. Degree in Health Services Administration
Florida National University offers two health administration services degrees; one is a Bachelor of Science program and the other is a Master’s degree. Both programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. Both programs are fully available online for the convenience of students who are working adults or who prefer the flexibility of e-learning.
To ensure that students meet the competencies and challenges required of health services administration professionals these days, Florida National University offers a comprehensive curriculum.
Some of the classes required for the Health Administration Services B.S. FNU include:
• Biology and anatomy
• English and communication
• Information technology
• Accounting
• Business management
• Medical terminology
• Risk management
• Statistics
• Human resources
• Healthcare law
• Public health
As for electives, Florida National University students who seek this bachelor’s degree can choose from the following suggested classes (although you can arrange other classes with your program director):
• Healthcare legislation
• Elderly care
• Entrepreneurship
• Ethics
• Health Information Systems
Individuals who want job security and competitive salaries will find that health services administration will meet their expectations.
Special Attention to Veterans
Veterans who have served as medics in the Army or the Air Force often transition into health administration professionals because they want to explore opportunities beyond direct patient care, and the same goes for those who have served in the Hospital Corps of the Navy and the Coast Guard. To this effect, Florida National University is an institution approved for veterans training by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, thus you can put your G.I. Bill benefits to good use when you enroll.
Bahamas Recognizes FNU Degree in Health Service Administration
If you are a student from The Bahamas, or if you intend to relocate to the islands and look for a job there, your Florida National University degree will be fully recognized in accordance with the standards set forth by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council.
Financial Aid for a Health Service Administration Degree
Many of our health services administration program receive financial aid obtained with coordination from our specialists, and you can also apply to receive one of our scholarships. International students are welcome at Florida National University; for more information, contact one of our admissions counselors.
What You Can Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration
One of the most appealing factors of a health administration degree is that it is a truly diverse field. Traditionally, this career is associated with hospital administrators, but with your Florida National University degree, you have options outside of the clinical setting, as highlighted in the bullet list of positions above.
Insurance companies that offer medical plans are major employers of health services administration professionals; in fact, the entire healthcare industry is being guided by managed care policies that are handled and executed upon by administration professionals. Upon graduation of the Health Service Administration Degree program, you may be able to find work in a public health office at the municipal, state or federal level, and you should keep in mind that you will not always work in a management position; many health administration professionals find work as specialists in medical research projects, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms.
When you are ready to expand your career horizons and enjoy the highest salaries available in your chosen professional field, you can take advantage of the Florida National University Master in Health Services Administration degree program, which is also a fully online program.
Get in touch with one of our counselors today to learn more about our Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration program.
You can also visit our campus facilities in Hialeah and southwest Miami. Aside from being a fully accredited college, Florida National University also has a thriving athletics program in case you are interested in a sports scholarship.
With Florida National University, you also have the flexibility of online education, and the health administration degree program is ideal in this regard; don’t wait too long to start forging your future, contact us today.
