What is Healthcare Administration?
Health management positions at all levels become ever more important as the U.S. population ages. While other industries and professions may see a decline in job availability, the reverse is true for the health administration profession. Health care administrators can be found in private clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. Healthcare administrators can earn about $51.74 an hour—this is the median pay for 2019. Annually, they earn approximately $107,610, which is again, median pay.
A large portion of Georgia is rural, making careers in this profession even more challenging. The necessity of reaching out to patients in small towns that have little to offer in health care options requires the health administrator to think beyond the outlines—can this patient receive long-distance services, or will it be necessary to transport them to appointments? This question, along with others, becomes a regular part of the administrator’s thinking and decision-making.
If you are planning on a career in health administration or management, you’ll be able to earn both an undergrad degree and a graduate degree, equipping you for job openings at several levels. And, returning to the opening sentence, you’ll be able to find the job you’re seeking among the plethora of openings.
Featured Online Programs
Online Healthcare Administration Education in Georgia
Online Bachelors (BS or BSHCA)
As you begin your undergraduate program in health administration, you’ll take your general education courses. Once you’ve declared your major, business courses, such as accounting, health care administration and business, will fill your semesters.
As you progress through your degree, expect to take finance courses. Health care informatics systems courses, information systems and human resources management will also become a big part of your learning. Enroll in required entrepreneurship courses—these, too, will be mandatory for your major.
Project management, international management, long-term care management and public administration round out your course requirements.
National Rankings - Top 25 Online bachelors ProgramsOnline Masters (MS or MSHCA)
As a master's candidate in health administration, you'll prepare for roles in nursing homes, hospitals, and managed care facilities. Your coursework will develop critical thinking skills, and programs with simulation tools offer hands-on practice analyzing real-world healthcare challenges.
An on-campus immersion experience builds collaboration, communication, and leadership skills essential for healthcare administration. Universities like Clayton State University offer on- and off-campus learning aligned with CAHME competencies to enhance your education. A strong MHA program develops health administration, economics, finance, and leadership skills while providing exposure to healthcare systems analysis. Graduates can transition smoothly into roles in for-profit, non-profit, private, or public healthcare organizations.
As an MHA candidate, you'll complete a community-based internship for real-world experience, preparing you for your career. You can pursue either an MBA or MHA, both equipping you with essential professional skills. An MBA suits those already in healthcare, while an MHA is better for newcomers. MHA coursework focuses on healthcare administration, sometimes including business courses. If you lack a business background, consider taking prerequisite courses to prepare for your MHA studies.
If you opt for an MBA, seek healthcare-focused courses like ethics, policy law, management, HR, marketing, and finance. However, MBA programs may lack the practical healthcare administration classes needed for a career in this field. The MBA track emphasizes strategy, marketing, healthcare finance, law, ethics, quality management, leadership, and technology. Consider your current background when choosing the best track for you.
Careers and Salary Outlook
Career Options
Prospects for health administrators are excellent. As of July 2018, Northside Hospital in Atlanta has an opening for health administration position, which requires either an MBA or MHA.
- At DeKalb Medical, a practice manager is needed. Northside Hospital in Atlanta has a vacancy for a Coordinator of Physician Practice.
- The Department of the Army, located in Decatur, needs a Health Readiness Coordinator.
- Georgia Correctional Healthcare needs a Health Services Administrator in Atlanta.
- The Strategy House in Roswell needs a Healthcare Analyst.
- Alpha Cord in Atlanta is advertising for a healthcare administrator/medical practice manager.
- In Atlanta, Talantage, LLC is seeking a practice manager. A practice manager II position at Memorial Satilla General Surgery is open. Both positions require a degree in health administration.
- The Erlanger Health System has advertised for a clinical services director for its health centers. Eventually, this position will relocate to Chattanooga, TN.
- Correct Care Solutions in Decatur needs a health services administrator. Gwinnet Medical Center is searching for a neurosurgery practice manager, which requires a minimum of five years of health care practice.
Getting started in the healthcare administration field starts with education, so determining which course you should take is the first step. From there, you are eligible for a wealth of jobs and a successful career is within your reach.
Seen top 50 affordable healthcare administration SchoolsAdditional Helpful Resources
Prominent Employers in Georgia
The list of the largest employers in Georgia is a long one. Some of them are well known; others related to military bases. Starting from the employer with the fewest employees and moving up to those employers with the largest numbers of employees, they include:
Find Online Healthcare Administration Schools
- Memorial Health Foundation in Savannah, employs 3,600 people
- Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, employs 3,601 people
- Dekalb Medical Center Pharmacy in Decatur, employs 3,775 people
- Well Star Kennestone Hospital located in Marietta, employs 3,952 people
- Gwinnett Sports Rehab in Lawrenceville, employs 4,000 people
- Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta, employs 4,000 people
- Grady Health System in Atlanta, employs 4,736
- Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta, employs 5,000
- Medical Center Interventional in Macon, employs 5,000
- Comforce Health in Duluth, employs 5,001
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, employs 5,845
- Piedmont Atlanta Hospital in Atlanta, employs 6,000
- Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton, employs 6,000
- Northside Hospital in Atlanta, employs 7,157
In and around Atlanta, several healthcare organizations employ health administrators. These include Informatica, Molnlycke Health Care (Norcross), Piedmont HC, Fiserv, Tenet Health, Wellstar Health System, Grady Health System, Fresenius Medical Care, PSA Healthcare, Georgia Eye Partners, Enterprise Medical Recruiting, Anthem, Inc., and Emory Healthcare.
Health Administration Associations
Healthcare administrators have several options when they decide to join a professional association. Some are for nursing administrators, others for healthcare administrators, and still others for hospital administrators.
The Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives (GAHE) focuses on the leadership skills of member administrators. Members can also share knowledge and network.
The Georgia Association of Health Underwriters (GAHU) is another such organization. This group welcomes health insurance agents, healthcare administrators and insurance company representatives, strengthening the private healthcare financing marketplace. GAHU operates under a strict code of ethics for every member.
The Georgia Rural Health Association (GRHA) is, as its name implies, focused on rural areas within the state. Healthcare providers, individuals and educators make up the group’s membership. The driving focus of the group is its commitment to help rural residents improve their health. GRHA also helps medical groups improve healthcare services offered to residents in rural areas of the state.
The Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA) focuses its membership solely on health administrators. Members participate in events, network with each other and form working relationships with each other. The goal of HCAA members is to find ways to improve healthcare.
The Georgia Health Information Management Association (GHIMA) membership is made up solely of management professionals who are employed in hospitals and various healthcare settings in Georgia. It is the state’s component for its umbrella association, or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). State members must also belong to the national association.
Learn more about all healthcare consultant CareersSearch All Programs