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An online doctorate degree in health care administration provides candidates with the skills to plan, coordinate and supervise the functions of health care facilities and employees. Hospitals and other health care institutions depend on efficient, knowledgeable health care administrators, and an online PhD in health care administration offers the necessary skills and experience to fulfill this role. In addition, an online doctoral program in health care administration provides students with an opportunity to further their studies without interrupting current employment or family responsibilities, thus giving them additional marketable skills and job experience.

Online PhD in Health Care Administration Requirements

Earning an online doctorate in health care administration requires motivation, determination and some background in the health care field. These programs take, on average, 3-4 years to complete. Students applying for an online doctorate program in health care administration hold a Masters or equivalent degree in a related field, thus coming to the program with essential background skills and experience.

Candidates for an online PhD in health care administration should have a Masters or equivalent degree in one of the following:

• Master in Health Services Administration
• Master in Public Health Administration
• MBA in Business Administration
• Master in Nursing
• JD in Health Law

In addition, most applicants for an online doctorate in health care administration have a strong background in lower level health care administration, social services or nursing.

Information on Health Care Administration Courses

Accredited online PhD programs in health care administration offer a variety of courses covering all aspects of the field. Candidates must be able to grasp management a social services theories and apply them to daily situations. Some common courses found in the best online doctorate programs include:

• Organizational Behavior
  The management of an organization requires the understanding of human behavior, methods of motivation and styles of leadership. This course provides insight into issues of power, authority, teamwork and the effectiveness of different leadership styles within an organization.
• Health Care Economics
  In this course, students will explore many factors of economics in relation to patient care, including health care issues for people of all income levels, investigation of managed care and appropriation of limited funds.
• Health Care Ethics
  The survey of controversial and important medical issues is a crucial area of knowledge for a health care administrator. In this course, students analyze real-life case studies, explore ethical issues involved and find possible solutions.
• Health Care Law
  This course involves investigation of legal regulation of the quality of, access to and financing of health care. Students survey issues of social justice, ethics, administrative law and contracts.
• Strategic Planning and Marketing
  With ever-changing economic issues surrounding health care, successful health care administrators must have in-depth knowledge of strategic planning and marketing. In this course, students will develop effective business strategies and marketing plans for their institution in order to increase profitability in the workplace.
• Managed Care and Health Insurance
  This course presents an overview of issues relating to the regulation, design and evaluation of health insurance and managed care. Topics include provider payment, cost-containment and issues of public policy.

Specializations and Concentrations

Health care administration is a somewhat narrow field of choice and covers specific issues and information. However, top online PhD programs in health care administration can offer several specializations to further narrow down a student’s area of interest.

Concentrations within the online doctorate in health care administration can include:

• Methods and Applications of Health Services Research
• Health Administration
• Health Policy
• Health Services Law

Careers in Health Care Administration

Health care administration is fast-growing and ever-changing profession. An online PhD in health care administration provides candidates with a variety of career options. Some popular career choices of graduates of the best online doctoral programs include :

• Health Care Marketing and Public Affairs
  A health care marketing and public affairs administrator serves as an advocate for their institution with the intention of providing a positive public image. They must understand the issues surrounding health care, political influence on particular issues, investor relations and staff concerns. Marketing and public relations administrators earn between $51,280 and $108,850.
• Health Care Planning and Development
  Health care administrators in planning and development must be able to ensure that quality health care is available at a reasonable cost. They must understand changes in the political arena, plan for changes in managed care policy and develop contracts beneficial to the organization. Health care administrators in this field earn an average of $90,970.
• Patient Services
  Access to care is a priority for an administrator charged with Patient Services. These individuals ensure that clients have the care and resources they need. Patient Services administrators must have outstanding communication skills, access to and understanding of all available resources, and compassion for those they serve. A Patient Services Administrator earns a median of $81,850 per year.
• Health Care Lawyer
  A health care lawyer provides advice and education around issues relating to health care, including emerging trends in the health care field, ethics issues, managed care concerns and government initiatives. With the expanding public debate about access to quality health care services, this field of law is rapidly expanding. A health care lawyer typically comes to the online PhD program with a JD in place. An individual in this field earns an average of $113,240 per year.
• Medical Staff Relations
  A Medical Staff Relations Administrator develops education programs for both staff and supervisors, monitors ongoing compliance issues and is knowledgeable of trends in the highly regulated field of medical staff labor and employment. Medical Staff Relations Administrators earn between $74,480 and $164,270 per year.

Health care is a rapidly growing field and offers many career opportunities. An online doctorate degree in health care administration can provide more specialized experience and beneficial prospects for those employed in this important field of work.