ABOUT HSA

Industry

The Department of Labor estimates that one out of every six new jobs in the 21st century will be in the health care industry. Health care encompasses a wide variety of careers, including both clinicians and management. Jobs in Health Services Administration, in particular, are expected to grow by as much as 35% by the year 2010 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for highly skilled workers is invaluable to companies seeking to keep up with increased demands from both consumers and the government.

Facilitating the delivery of health care to the baby boomers and the current elderly population is a concern for the industry. People are now living longer, more meaningful lives, and the market for health care is greatly expanding. However, because the health care industry is so complex and rapidly changing, it is imperative for managers to be educated and to understand the complexities of the industry. There are numerous challenges presented to the health care organizations striving to succeed at providing quality care for those who need it. A proficient health service administrator is the key to a successful and profitable organization. Health Services Administration is essential in all health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, medical group practices and public health departments.

HSA at JMU

The JMU HSA Program has been in existence since 1991, and graduates have been successful in obtaining professional employment in the health services industry and gaining acceptance to graduate schools.

The Health Services Administration Program at James Madison University is one of only thirty-two Full Certified undergraduate programs in the United States. In 1998, the program received approval as a Full Certified program by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the highest recognition for undergraduate programs in health services administration in the country. In 2002, the program was re-certified under AUPHA.

Effective Fall, 2004, students who graduate from the James Madison University Health Services Administration Program earn a B.S. Degree in Health Services Administration as well as a Business minor. This change from a Health Science B.S. Degree to the Health Services Administration B.S. will put students at an advantage. The HSA B.S. degree will help HSA students to keep up with the increasing need for qualified health services managers. The HSA B.S. degree will also enable employers to easily recognize the graduates within the Health Administration field.

Program Description

There is a variety of required courses offered within the HSA program that provides students the necessary foundation for the successful practice of health administration. The different courses address the industry in general, the different populations that the industry serves (e.g. the Medicaid and Medicare population), and challenges that the industry faces. There are courses that focus on subjects such as the role of administrators in ethical decision making to provide services effectively, roles and functions of health administrators, a better understanding of older adults, the importance of teamwork and efficient planning, organizing, implementation and evaluation, managed care needs, and health benefits. The program gives students the option to choose from senior level courses in Hospital Administration, Ambulatory Care Administration, and Long Term Care Administration. Hospital Administration focuses on the workings of hospitals; Ambulatory Care Administration focuses on outpatient care services, and Long Term Care Administration provides a comprehensive understanding of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These courses include field visits and valuable advice from guest speakers who are practicing administrators. Lastly, students are required to complete an eight week internship, where they will apply the skills and knowledge they have attained.

Within the HSA program, students are also exposed to financial and managerial decision making courses such as funding, statistics and economics, specific to the health care industry. This specificity provides students with greater understanding of key quantitative functions that will enable them to become as asset to the organization that they work in.

The business minor that is required of an HSA student adds to the knowledge they acquire from HSA courses. These classes which are selected from each of the various departments in the College of Business, such as accounting, business law, computer information systems, economics, finance, management and marketing, help students develop a greater appreciation for business which is key in health services administration. It helps them understand risks involved in different undertakings, about laws involved, principles in accounting, economics and finance which will help them make important decisions that will help them not just in their professional life but also in their private life. The inclusion of an application based computer class gives students experience with databases. Marketing and management skills provide valuable information and skills to students who seek a career in health services administration.

In addition to the required classes, the program offers complementary elective courses. Health Care Marketing (HSA 360) is one of the electives HSA students take because it teaches students an additional skill that they can use in their field of work. A course in Medical Terminology (HTH 300) gives students a better understanding of clinical terms used in the health care field. A course in Quality Management in Health Care (HSA 463) provides students valuable information on the importance of continually improving quality and providing exceptional services to customers. Rural Health Interdisciplinary Approach (HHS 490) is a special topics class offered during the summer. It provides the opportunity for students to observe and participate in interdisciplinary assessment and planning of community-based primary health care in partnership with health and human service professionals and residents of Page County, VA.

The volunteer hours that students are required to complete prior to their entry into the program gives them hands on experience in the field to help them decide if this is in fact the career they want to pursue. The internship after graduation enables students to transition from school and applies course work into the working field.