Are you interested in working in health care but you are not interested in being a doctor or a nurse? If you want to enter a growing field that is changing on what seems like a daily basis, you may want to consider becoming a healthcare administrator and working with supervising, planning, and coordination behind the scenes in hospitals and other health care facilities. If you already possess a Bachelors in IT and you now want to pursue a degree that will prepare you for a career in the fast-paced healthcare industry, you can put your IT degree to use and work in healthcare by pursuing a Master of Health Administration. Read on and find out why you should pursue a career in Health Administration, and what you can do with a degree in the field.
Why You Should Consider a Career in Health Administration
Chances are, when you enrolled in an IT degree program to earn your Bachelor’s, you probably were not pushing towards entering the healthcare industry. Many students who enroll in degree programs will focus on choosing a subject or career they are passionate about, but these students will learn that passion is not always in demand, or they may develop new interests while enrolled in college. Finding the right career choice is about identifying what you are talented at, what you enjoy, and what is in demand at the time. Luckily for you, there are plenty of routes you can go with your IT degree, but competition may be very high in some of the industries. If you want to enter an industry where the demand continues to grow and where regulatory systems change, healthcare administration is right for you. Here are some facts to keep in mind:
- There are jobs in the public and private sector, and a wide range of different career paths that you can take.
- You can enter the industry at any level, from entry-level administrative assistant to the manager or CEO of a hospital.
- Flexibility in the future
- High salaries and good benefits packages
- Room for advancement
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will grow by 22% by 2020.
What Types of Jobs Are Available?
A Master of Health Administration will prepare you for a wide range of jobs in the field, but if you specifically love IT you may want to become an IT administrator. This could be the obvious choice, but there are several other choices where knowing computers and Information Technology can help you. Here are some other positions you could pursue with a BS in IT and a Master’s in Health Administration:
- Health Services Manager who oversees the operations at a facility
- Medical Office Manager who oversees operations in a practice
- Project Manager who will oversee a specific project or team
- Health Information Managers are a very popular choice if you want to deal with securing databases and maintaining confidentiality on computer systems.
As a healthcare administrator, you can work in the growing industry and still do what you have a passion for. Take time to compare different degree programs, choose an accredited program that is recognized, and enter a field that is growing much faster than average.
