For those looking to advance their career as dietitians and nutritionists, the new Accelerated Health Care Administration (HCA) master’s degree program offered by the California State University at Long Beach is an ideal step up. It’s among four programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and the only M.S. degree among these programs.
The CSULB program was developed by faculty and health care professionals to help career-minded individuals move into administrative posts in hospitals, managed care organizations, mental health and long-term care settings.
“Our graduates are employed primarily in hospitals and networks and HMOs with a small number of them working at public health facilities, clinics and physician practices,” said Tony Sinay, professor and chair of CSULB’s Department of Health Care Administration. “Although this is a relatively new program, just started in 2004, these graduates are already holding highly desirable positions to increase the visibility of the HCA program.”
Recently ranked 19th in the nation by Modern Healthcare on its list of “Top Business Graduate Schools for Physician Executives,” the CSULB program is becoming increasingly popular with those already in management positions.
“Our accelerated master’s degree program in health care administration draws applicants primarily from hospitals and networks, HMOs, public health facilities, and clinics and physician practices. In addition to physicians, nurses and other clinicians, the program admits a large number of management staff, which includes senior members of management teams in local health care organizations,” said Sinay.
The program’s curriculum combines online and face-to-face weekend instruction, allowing students to schedule classes around work and dovetail their professional experiences with their academic studies. Subjects covered include an analysis of the U.S. health care system, management and organizational behavior of health care organizations, economic and financial aspects of health administration, strategic planning and marketing, public policy, and ethical and legal aspects of health care management.
Jenny Tomka, an administrator at Association of South Bay Surgeons in Torrance and a program enrollee, noted that her experience exceeded her expectations. She manages more than 60 employees in four locations, is responsible for daily company operations and oversees all human resources, including credentialing, payroll and IT functions for the office.
“I find the most beneficial aspect is the fact that many of the professors are currently working in the field,” said Tomka. “The classes we are taking are current and with the state of the health care industry changing rapidly, the fact that our professors are on the front lines gives us an advantage over other programs.
“The other factor that has made a difference for me is the breadth of the education we are exposed to,” she added. “The program covers every aspect of health care administration from finance to IT to management of people. The wealth of information provided makes me feel prepared to enter into any area of health care.”
For more information, contact Natalie Whitehouse-Capuano, the accelerated program coordinator at 562/985-5414 or Deby McGill, Health Care Department coordinator at 562/985-5694.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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