Excelsior College® BS-MBA Program Meets Rising Demand for Health Care Management Professionals
Experienced industry professionals are the next wave of health care managers
Albany, NY (Vocus) October 13, 2010
With demand for health care management professionals growing at a faster pace than for all other occupations, Sgt. Loudivie Enguillado may be on the right path toward her future career. A dental hygienist stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, Loudivie has enrolled in the Excelsior College® BS-MBA program, a dual-degree track with a health care management focus that will bring more qualified working adults into a rapidly expanding field.
The mother of five is finally back in the U. S. after a deployment, and she now envisions a well-paying career in health care management. But she needs more education in order to move up.
“This program is the best way for me to achieve a master’s degree, and I hope to someday work in a management position in a hospital or other health care facility,” she said. “The coursework is demanding, but it means a lot to me that I can do my homework right along with my kids. I want them to see that their mom is a student, too, and to know that perseverance and dedication are the key to success.”
“The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management and MBA degree program is Excelsior’s response to workforce demands and student interest in the health care industry,” said Dr. Deborah Sopczyk, dean of the School of Health Sciences at Excelsior. In addition, she said, as more Americans gain access to medical care under the new federal health care law, more management-level professionals will be needed to administer an expanded patient population.
“There is great opportunity in this field, and the best-qualified health care managers will be working adults already in the field who gain master’s-level education,” said Dr. Jane LeClair, dean of the School of Business and Technology. “Some of these adults must first earn a relevant bachelor’s degree, and our program streamlines this educational process for working professionals.”
Data from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest Sgt. Enguillado may have a bright future: employment in the medical/health care management field is projected expected to grow 16 percent from 2008-2018, faster than the average for all occupations. Job opportunities will be best for applicants who bring work experience and strong business management skills, and the BLS reports that the median annual wage for management-level health care professionals is $81,850.
“The health care industry will continue to expand and diversify, requiring managers to ensure smooth business operations,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Among the health care industry’s key challenges are achieving health care efficiencies, cost-control, accountability to insurance companies and Medicare, computerization of patient records, recruitment and retention of employees, regulatory issues and preventive care. Employment opportunities will grow quickly in health practitioner offices and in health care management companies.
Loudivie, 38, first enrolled at Excelsior to complete a BS in health science, but changed her track upon learning of the new combined degree program, which was introduced in September 2010. The combined degree will allow her to complete three graduate-level “bridge” courses as an undergraduate. Her nine earned credits will transfer into the Excelsior MBA program, and then she will be just 27 credits away from her master’s degree.
Loudivie is already well on her way toward a BS degree, since much of her military training and prior college courses were accepted for academic transfer credit by Excelsior.
Meanwhile, Excelsior’s flexible online coursework requirements enable her to care for her children, work full-time, and complete her class assignments.
For further information about Excelsior College’s BS-MBA program, contact at 1-(888)-647-2388, and press 27 at the greeting, or visit http://www. excelsior. edu/healthsciences.
Excelsior College http://www. excelsior. edu is an accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Contact:
Ellen G. Lahr
Director of Communications
Excelsior College
Albany, N. Y. 12203
518.608.8280 (o)
518.337.7041 (m)
elahr(at)excelsior(dot)edu
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