Guide to Getting Your Associate Degree in Healthcare Management Online
Earning an associate degree in healthcare management online is the first step toward meaningful employment as an administrator or leader in a medical care facility. Ideal for those who pay close attention to detail, these roles are crucial in ensuring that medical offices run smoothly and efficiently for both the staff and patients.
A student with an associate degree in healthcare management online can often transfer their credits to a related bachelor's degree in the field to expand their earning potential and job responsibilities.
Keep reading to learn more about earning this degree, including:
- How long it takes
- Common coursework
- Job and salary outlooks
- Scholarships to help lessen the financial burden
Earning Your Associate in Healthcare Management Online
When considering getting a degree, students can choose from traditional, campus-based coursework or online learning.
Online degree programs offer flexibility
Balancing professional, personal, and academic responsibilities can feel overwhelming for some. An online healthcare management associate degree can help lessen this stress — it's flexible and affordable.
Online programs allow you to work from the comfort of home and watch lectures and complete assignments on your schedule.
Online degree programs are often more affordable
Because you don't need to visit campus, you'll save on:
- Room and board
- Transportation
- Parking
- Meal plans
You can often work in person if you want
If a program includes an internship, you can complete it at approved sites near you.
Some online classes are hybrid, which means students can come to campus to complete exams, certain class assignments, or test in front of a proctor.
How long does it take to earn your healthcare management associate degree online?
The time required to complete an associate degree in healthcare management online may vary, according to two factors. If you study full-time, you'll typically need two years to graduate, while part-time learners typically need three years.
If you took advanced placement courses in high school, you could graduate in even less time. Most programs mandate 60 credits to complete the associate degree program.
Admission Requirements for an Online Associate in Healthcare Management
Admission requirements at this level vary based on individual school requirements, but most are similar. Each learner should:
- Have a high school diploma or GED and submit transcripts
- Provide ACT or SAT scores
- Write a personal statement on why they want to earn the degree
- Submit professional or personal references
Regardless of the institution, you'll need to fill out an application and pay an application fee (unless you receive a waiver).
Courses in an Online Associate in Healthcare Management Program
Students who enroll in an associate degree in healthcare management online can graduate with the foundational skills and competencies needed to take on entry-level, non-managerial positions.
These programs straddle the line between teaching students about medical fundamentals and business skills to ensure they understand all functions of healthcare administration careers. Review the courses below for a sense of what to expect, but remember that each school has a unique curriculum.
This class teaches learners about basic medical terms, with special emphasis on the overall bodily structure. Upon finishing the course, learners should possess a basic understanding of systems, including:
- Muscular and skeletal
- Immune
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Reproductive
- Digestive
- Nervous
Students in this class explore fundamental management and leadership methods and theories. They learn about:
- Strategic planning
- Human resources
- Managing diverse groups
- Leading change and innovation
- Encouraging employee performance
- Overseeing decision-making processes
This specialized class takes a deeper look at how medical offices function. Students cover topics such as:
- Managing medical records
- Working with insurance companies
- Filing claims
- Coding clinical services
- Medical ethics and liabilities
- Managing communications within a large medical group
A healthcare manager commonly oversees a large staff of professionals. Because of this, individuals in these roles must understand human resources. Topics covered in this class include:
- Recruiting and hiring
- Implementing training programs
- Setting compensation
- Managing payroll
- Understanding benefits packages
Jobs and Salary for Online Associate in Healthcare Management Graduates
There are many roles for those with an online associate degree in healthcare management. If you pursue a bachelor's degree, you could likely advance your career and earn even more.
Potential Careers and Salaries
These professionals work in many settings to ensure offices run smoothly. Secretary and administrative assistants:
- Answer calls
- Prepare conference rooms
- Schedule meetings
- Manage calendars
- Process incoming and outgoing mail
- Create documents for meetings and clients
Median Salary: $44,800
Similar to administrative assistants, clerks work to ensure their offices run smoothly. Duties include:
- Performing data entry
- Processing payments
- Filing documents
- Answering the telephone
- Managing calendars
Median Salary: $37,770
Also known as healthcare documentation specialists, medical transcriptionists review recorded notes from doctors and other healthcare professionals before transcribing them. They may edit for clarity, add these notes to patients' medical histories, and submit them to doctors. Transcriptionists must also understand medical terminology to write everything long-form, rather than using jargon.
Median Salary: $37,310
Accreditation for a Healthcare Management Degree Online Program
Finding an accredited associate degree in healthcare management online is one of the most important steps a prospective degree-seeker can take. Accreditation is an important component of the decision-making process, as it signals to other schools, employers, and licensing boards that your school meets educational and industry standards.
Failing to attend an accredited program can cause issues over time. Learners may struggle to transfer credits to a regionally accredited program, find it difficult to compete against job candidates from regionally accredited schools, or struggle to seek certifications in the future.
Speak with admissions counselors to learn about the accreditation status of any school you consider attending.
Online Associate in Healthcare Management Scholarships
Even when attending a local community college, a degree costs thousands of dollars. For many learners, paying these fees proves challenging. Before seeking out loans, try exhausting scholarship and grant opportunities.
These funds do not require repayment, making it well worth your effort to find and apply for as many as possible. Review those highlighted below, but conduct additional research to find more opportunities.
Who Can Apply: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in medical practice management or related areas can apply to this award, provided they are members of MGMA. Applicants must live in IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, NE, ND, OH, SD, or WI.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Who Can Apply: This scholarship exists for learners studying healthcare management or a relevant topic. They must reside in AL, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, SC, TN, or TX.
Amount: $5,000 for 1st place, $2,500 for 2nd place.
Who Can Apply: Students who are members of the Society for Public Health Education and enrolled full-time studying a topic related to health education or management can apply to this award, provided they can supply proper documentation.
Amount: $2,500
Who Can Apply: This scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing healthcare administration or healthcare information management. Applicants must maintain HIMSS membership to qualify.
Amount: $5,000
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