Healthcare management is a fast-growing career. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is predicting a massive 23.2% increase in these roles through 2034. Healthcare management professionals are responsible for the daily operations of healthcare facilities such as doctor’s offices, hospital units and nursing care facilities. This includes taking on tasks such as budgeting, filing, information and data management, hiring, scheduling and more.

The BLS stated that professionals in this role earned a median salary of $117,960 and an associate degree can be a great way to get your start in this rapidly growing, well-paying field.

“Whether you’re looking to move up from your current healthcare role, you’re making a complete career transition, or you’re just starting out, you can get a strong foundation.”

“An associate degree is a great start for anyone in this field,” said Erin Morrow, an Assistant Professor Educator of Health Information Systems Technology at the University of Cincinnati Online. “Whether you’re looking to move up from your current healthcare role, you’re making a complete career transition, or you’re just starting out, you can get a strong foundation.”

Many schools around the country offer online options to help you earn your degree from home. A typical degree online associate degree in healthcare management takes less than two years of full-time study. You’ll have earned around 60 credits—which may transfer to a bachelor’s degree program when you’re ready to advance—once you complete your degree.

Earning your online associate degree in healthcare management

The exact courses you’ll take will depend on the associate degree program you choose. However, there are some common courses you can expect across most schools that offer this degree. For instance, you’ll often take courses in:

Admission to an online healthcare management program

The exact requirements for admission will vary depending on the school you choose. You’ll often need at least a high school diploma, but some programs will accept students who’ve earned a GED. You might also be asked for:

• Transcripts from previous education
• An essay
• A resume of your previous work experience
• An admissions interview
• Letters of recommendation

Working as a healthcare manager

Graduates of healthcare management degree associate programs can find roles in several healthcare areas. Often, healthcare management graduates hold job titles such as long-term care administrator or home care service manager, but those aren’t the only options available to professionals who’ve completed a healthcare management degree. Common options for graduates include:

• Long-term care administrator: Long-term care administrators oversee the daily operations of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation facilities and other long-term care options. They take on a wide range of tasks that include budget management, hiring, scheduling, compliance and patient and family communication.
• Healthcare office manager: Healthcare office managers are responsible for the communications, insurance reimbursements, patient scheduling and many other tasks at physician’s offices and medical practices.
• Healthcare unit manager: Healthcare unit managers handle vital tasks such as hiring, scheduling, supply management, compliance and patient satisfaction.
• Training and development manager: Training and development managers are responsible for ensuring staff have all the education and training they need to perform their jobs safely and effectively. They create materials, fliers and more to help meet this goal.
• Human resource manager: Human resource managers oversee hiring and employee management. They ensure that pay and benefits are correct for each employee and that any needed licenses and certifications are up to date.

“Healthcare managers can be generalists or specialists. Generalists oversee an entire facility or unit,” Morrow explained. “Specialists focus on specific departments. So that would include areas like human resources, development, finance or information management.”

Browse our vetted online healthcare management associate programs

How to succeed in your online associate in health management program

It can be overwhelming to balance earning a degree along with your other commitments. Many online degree programs are built for busy adults who are juggling obligations such as work and family, along with their educational needs. Many schools offer tools that can help you succeed and navigate the requirements of your education. This might include options such as video meetings with instructors, self-paced coursework and online study groups and tutoring.

You can also take steps in your everyday life to manage your study schedule. The best methods will depend on you and on factors such as your learning style and home environment. Some students find that it’s helpful to try some of the following:

• Make flashcards
• Remove electronic distractions from their learning environment
• Set aside blocks of time each day for studies
• Create a schedule for all assignments, readings and exams
• Break large assignments into smaller and more manageable sections
• Take breaks during study sessions to help improve your focus
• Complete practice exams to prepare for upcoming tests

Resources for healthcare management associate degree students

It’s smart to stay on top of the latest news and developments in your professional field. Associations and organizations can help you meet this goal. They can also provide resources while you earn your education and can be a great way to make connections. Students pursuing an associate degree in healthcare management can consider joining or contacting:

• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)—AHIMA is a national organization for healthcare management professionals who work with health information. They offer events, industry connections, training programs and certifications.
• The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM)—NAHAM is focused on patient access professionals, including healthcare managers. They offer resources such as webinars, job listings, an industry journal and an online forum for members. 
• Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals (AHCAP)—AHCAP is an association for all healthcare administrative workers, including assistants, executive assistants and office managers. They provide advocacy, education, events and networking opportunities.
• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)—ACHE is focused on healthcare managers. They have regional chapters and offer educational programming, career advancement resources, networking opportunities, advocacy and more.

Choosing the right online program for you

Many of the factors that can help you choose a program are unique to your life and circumstances. It’s important to find a program that matches your career goals, budget and lifestyle. For instance, if you need to work nine to five while you earn your degree, it will be critical to choose a program that allows you to attend online courses in the evenings and on weekends.

As you research available programs, it can help to keep some questions in mind:

• What experience does the faculty and staff of this program have?
• Where do graduates of this program typically find employment?
• What financial aid is offered by this program?
• Does this program offer part-time study?
• Does this program offer self-paced coursework?
• Does the school offer career counseling, tutoring and other services to students?

Final thoughts

An associate-level degree can help start your healthcare management career. Professionals in these roles take on a wide variety of tasks, including handling budgets, scheduling, staffing, compliance, health information and patient satisfaction. Health managers are vital in hospitals, nursing facilities, doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities.

This fast-growing career can also be a great way to jump into the healthcare field. You might be able to earn an online associate’s degree in less than two years of full-time study. When you’re ready to start researching schools, we can help. You can use the Find Schools button to begin researching accredited online programs.

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