B.S. in Business Admin or B.S. in Healthcare Management? (bachelors, degrees)

[mysticpenguin]

Hi!

I recently graduated with an A.A. from a community college and am transferring to Bay Path College in Massachusetts. (I will be attending their one-day-a-week Saturday program, which is regionally accredited.) I have extensive administrative experience (it's kind of taking me forever to finish my Bachelors degree), with my most recent experience being in the medical field (low-level management; front office manager). I am trying to decide between a B.S. in Business Administration or a B.S. in Business Administration in Health Care Operations Management.

I would ultimately like to work as a healthcare administrator. I have been working at a low level in this capacity and enjoy it. However, I have heard of people having difficulty getting jobs in healthcare administration without an R.N. or similar title after their name.

I am looking for input... a possibility for me would be simultaneously obtaining a certificate and *specific* experience in medical assisting or medical coding and billing. (I have some experience in both areas.)

Any input, experiences, etc?

[simetime]

Personally I think that you will have more options with a B.S in Health Administration depending on what area that you want to go in.

[SJCPHL]

Hello. Former BusAd major currently working in healthcare administration.

I say the ideal course is the general BusAd major complemented with some practical experience in healthcare. I say this for two reasons:
1) Healthcare is huge on starting from the bottom. Both majors, unless this is some fantastic healthcare admin program, will likely result in you winding up in the same position.
2) The business of healthcare is easy enough to learn on your own. Every healthcare administrator you meet will say, "Oh, but healthcare is like totally different." But it's not: we find a need (unhealthy people wanting to be healthy) and fill it (provide treatment). I think you'd be better taking some marketing and accounting courses than "The US Healthcare System" when you could check out a few books from the library and learn it yourself just as easily.

Bonus reasons:
3) The BusAd major will help you see how far behind healthcare is compared to other industries and help you refuse to settle. (Seriously, I've worked for two major medical centers that are considered at least average in technology use and they both love paper.)
4) A lot of healthcare has an academic bent, so they love superfluous degrees. You'll be getting your MHA soon enough.

If anything, I'd recommend getting a certificate in medical coding (one that prepares you for the CPC). A lot of administrators I meet have that background, since it's so helpful in understanding the revenue cycle.

Please feel free to PM with any questions.