Healthcare Managers in Massachusetts assist in specific healthcare organizations to ensure their effective and efficient operation while adhering to laws and regulations. These highly skilled managers are some of the highest-paid employees in the employment marketplace today and their salaries depend on many factors including level of education, years of experience and certifications. With the average mean salary in Massachusetts of over $108,830, considerably higher than national averages, pursuing a career in Healthcare Administration can pave the way to a bright future. As changes to healthcare continue to evolve, more and more of these managers will be needed to keep up with the growing demand. With many accredited graduate programs available in Massachusetts, it is important to choose a program fit your specific educational and career needs.
University of Massachusetts
Lowell Campus College of Health Sciences
Located in Lowell Massachusetts, The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a public research university and is part of the University of Massachusetts Academic System. With a current enrollment of nearly 17,000 students, it is the second-largest public institution in the state (only UMass Amherst is larger). The university offers 39 Master’s Degree and 33 Doctoral Degree programs, including nationally recognized programs in science, engineering, and technology. University of Massachusetts Lowell’s ranking is 156th Nationally in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges and Independent sources such as Forbes and Payscale.com have repeatedly recognized UMass Lowell for providing a best value education with a high return on investment. UMass Lowell provides students with a top-quality education to prepare them for a future employment.
Master of Science in Health Management
The Health Informatics and Management Program at UMass Lowell offers a thirty-six credit Master of Science (MS) degree with a concentration in Health Management for students seeking the skills to allow them the abilities to make sound administrative level decisions while applying management and policy principles to improve the quality of patient care. The graduate program provides the opportunity for college graduates as well as those working professionals to further their education. The Healthcare management emphasis in the Master of Science in Management degree program prepares students for opportunities to address local, national and global issues in healthcare. In addition to the core coursework for the MS Degree, the Health Management concentration allows students an insight into core issues in personnel management, ethics, administrative and regulatory requirements, all from the perspective of a Healthcare manager.
Master of Science in Health Informatics
Health Informatics manages the processing and maintenance of critical healthcare information in a computerized system. Integrating technology assists in the streamlining of processes and communications, and in the current healthcare industry, this is a number one priority. The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) allows students to build strong industry connections in health information to develop the ability to communicate effectively with clinicians, administrators, and IT professionals. Students in the Master’s program learn skills in systems analysis and design, database and project management, decision support, network design, and applications in healthcare and procurement. Coursework for the program includes:
- Methods to help reduce the rising costs in healthcare delivery.
- Increasing patient access to healthcare.
- Methods for the improvement of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of diseases
The thirty-six credit online MSHI Degree Program typically takes about two years to complete whether pursed as a full time or part-time format. The Master’s Degree in Health Informatics allows graduates to pursue executive-level health service management jobs. A capstone project is required completion of the graduate degree.
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program allows students the skills and knowledge critical to the practice of global public health. Coursework in the public health program covers environmental health issues, biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral determinants of health, and also includes choice of concentration in specialization areas to gain the knowledge and expertise required in addressing current issues in public health today. Learning outcomes of the MPH program include:
- Ability to analyze public health information for application to evidence-based practice in public health issues
- Identification, Measure, and reduction of harmful impacts of technologies on the health of the public
- Addressing the current challenges in Public Health applying current scientific knowledge, collaboration and creative problem-solving skills
Areas of Concentration/Focus include Epidemiology, Global Environment Sustainability and Health, Gerontology, Population Health, Nutrition, and Healthcare Management. The Mission of the program is allowing “Graduates of the MPH program to assume leadership positions in public health promoting the health of individuals, communities and globally through research and applying practices in public health”.
Contact
Lowell Campus College of Health Sciences
Department of Community Health and Sustainability
Pinanski Hall
Room 301
205 Riverside Street
Lowell, MA 01854-5127
(978) 934-4515
Email: [email protected]
Accreditation
American College of Healthcare Executives Health Education Network (ACHE)
Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Worcester State College
The Graduate School
Located on the northwest side of Worcester Massachusetts, the second-largest city in New England, Worcester State University is a Liberal Arts and Sciences University with twenty-five majors that include liberal arts and sciences, teacher education, biomedical sciences, business, and health professions. Worcester State University is the only Massachusetts state university to be named a Best Northeastern College by the Princeton Review ten years in a row and the university is nationally recognized for its expansive community service. The Graduate School of Worcester State is the leading public graduate school that serves Central Massachusetts and New England. The mission of the graduate school is “providing a high-quality graduate education facilitating research, creative activity, and scholarship while rooted in scholarship and community service and cooperating with business, social and cultural resources of Worcester County.”
Master of Science in Biotechnology
The Master of Science in Biotechnology (MSB) program is designed to allow students an in-depth understanding of the biological sciences to prepare them for professional careers in Biotechnology or doctoral study. For those already working, the program is available in a part-time format with classes held in the evenings. Many of the students enrolled in the program are employed in Massachusetts Biotech companies. The thirty-three credit degree program can be completed in as little as three years on a part-time basis. For completion of the program, students are required to show computer science proficiency or statistics competency (can be satisfied by taking an approved course). To be awarded the Master of Science in Biotechnology students must pass comprehensive examination/thesis defense in their specific area of specialization. A minimum of twenty-four graduate credits must be earned before submitting requests for scheduling a comprehensive exam/thesis defense.
Master of Science in Healthcare Administration
Healthcare Administration is a profession dedicated to saving lives and enhancing the quality of patient care. Hospitals and other medical providers need skilled administrators with business skills to plan, organize and supervise the many elements of health care delivery. This thirty-six credit Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA) degree allows students to gain necessary management skills and knowledge of the current healthcare delivery systems to meet the demands of management positions in healthcare settings. Students are required to take twenty-seven credit hours in core coursework including Understanding Todays Healthcare Systems, Accounting, and Marketing in Healthcare Systems, Information Systems in Healthcare Organizations, Operations and Management in Healthcare and Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Issues in Healthcare. Additionally, there are six credit hours of electives and a three-credit capstone with either an Internship in Healthcare or a Research Project. Graduates of the MSHA degree program are prepared for management and leadership roles in a wide variety of healthcare organizations including:
- Health and Hospital Systems
- Health Service Providers
- Managed Care Organizations
- Consulting Companies
- Pharmaceutical Companies
- Public Health Organizations
- Medical Device and Biotechnology Firms
Master of Science in Nursing: Community and Public Health Nursing Specialization
The thirty-six credit Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Degree with a Community and Public Health Nursing Specialization prepares nurses for leadership as advanced public health nurses in management, education, clinical practice, leadership, policy development, and advocacy. Coursework includes the science of nursing intervention, public health, and nursing research. The program allows students to understand the assessment and intervention of populations while studying causes and disparities in health. Practicum experiences are required for completion of the program. In addition to core nursing studies, students also gain skills in evidence-based practice, program evaluation, informatics, teaching and learning, health economics, healthcare policy, environmental health, and epidemiology. Upon completion of all coursework, students will gain eligibility to apply for the Advanced Public Health Nursing certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This Nursing degree provides a foundation of knowledge and practical experiences in Long Term Care, Public Health, Home Health Care, Case Management, Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing, School Nursing, Emergency Preparedness, and Nursing Education.
Contact
Worcester State University
Graduate School
Graduate and Continuing Education Administration Building
4th Floor
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01602
(508) 929-8127
Email: [email protected]
Program Website: www.worcester.edu
Accreditation
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Healthcare has become a popular area of focus for talented and driven business professionals. According to the national data from the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of Managers in the Healthcare and Medical Industry is expected to see a sixteen percent growth from 2006 to 2016 (this is much faster than average job growth). The exact salary you can expect with this kind of degree depends on several factors including educational level, location, and experience. Those talented individuals in Massachusetts pursuing Graduate degrees in Healthcare Management/Administration through the many quality accredited programs will find a booming employment market with incredible growth and potential.