Health science

Job Options
Usually possessing at least a bachelor's degree and often some related work experience, medical and health services managers oversee many aspects of healthcare organizations. They're responsible for managing workplace productivity, patient records and computer systems. Popular employers of these workers include hospitals, nursing homes, inpatient and outpatient facilities, doctor's offices and rehabilitation centers. Some types of health services managers include nursing home administrators, health information managers, clinical managers and assistant administrators.

Types of Health Services Managers
Nursing home administrators need to get licensed by their state's government and help take care of nursing home residents, staff and the building itself. Health information managers ensure that patient records are maintained, are accurate and kept secure. Clinical managers are responsible for managing one department, such as nursing or surgery. While an assistant administrator might also manage one department, this kind of manager is usually found in large health care organizations and makes decisions with the organization's top manager.

Employment Outlook & Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for health services and medical managers are predicted to grow by 17% between 2014 and 2024. Much of this growth is based on the need for health care services due to the expansion of the aging population. Most new jobs in health administration are expected to be found in physicians' offices. Statistics from BLS show that hospitals were the largest employers of medical and health services managers, employing 37% of them as of 2014.

The BLS reported a median annual salary of $92,810 for medical and health services managers in May 2014. Salaries in this field differ based on employer, responsibility and area of specialty. PayScale.com reported in February 2016 that most nursing home administrators with a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration degree earned a median annual salary of $62,500; the lower end of the pay range for nursing home administrators at all degree levels was $48,404. Health information managers of all degree levels earned between $30,580 and $70,005 a year, according to the same PayScale.com data in January 2016.

Overview of a Health Administration Bachelor's Degree
In this major, students learn how to manage healthcare services that add to the quality of care that patients experience and how these services fit into the overall scope of health administration. The degree program discusses the importance of technology, preventative healthcare, employee relations and other related areas needed in this field. Courses in a bachelor's degree in health administration program may include health care delivery and information systems, financial management, health care ethics and health care law. Students are usually required to complete an internship at a health care facility to gain practical knowledge and skills.