Healthcare administration involves managing personnel in a medical office, being responsible for financing and accounting and meeting other healthcare-related managerial needs, according to DegreeDirectory.org. Associate degree programs in this field teach both administrative and clinical skills related to the healthcare industry, which allow students to support a company and its upper management personnel, according to Education-Portal.com. Students in an associate degree program in healthcare management also can choose to focus on certain aspects of the industry such as pharmacy practice, medical records or billing and coding. Usually these programs take one to two years to complete, according to GuideToOnlineSchools.com.
Various colleges offer different degree programs such as associate of arts, associate of applied science and associate of science in healthcare administration. To enter any of these programs, students must have a high school diploma or GED. Students also usually are required to submit all past transcripts of high school or college courses as well as a completed application.
In an associate degree program in healthcare management, classes might focus on an introduction to healthcare management, healthcare law and ethics and medical information systems. University of Phoenix's Axia College, for instance, offers an Associate of Arts with a concentration in healthcare administration, with courses focusing on the language of health care; the psychology of health, illness and disease, and financial matters for healthcare professionals. Through this program, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, students learn the roles of healthcare workers, hospital protocol, the importance of patient confidentiality, information technology, billing, public policy and the strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare system in the United States.
With an associate degree in healthcare management, students can work as medical and health service managers or even work as mangers in a specialized kind of practice such as pediatrics, ophthalmology or cardiology. Usually associate-degree holders become office managers in smaller doctor's offices and handle daily business functions. They also can manage smaller departments in a large healthcare setting. To land a higher management position, usually professionals must obtain a bachelor's or graduate degree in the field.
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 16 percent from 2008 to 2018. Many healthcare managers who have an associate degree earn between $30,000 and $50,000 a year depending on their level of experience. By obtaining a higher degree, the pay substantially increases.