The U.S. health care industry continues to grow, fed by the health care needs of an aging population as well as demand created by the Affordable Care Act. As a result, there is a growing need for health care administrators and managers with the leadership, critical thinking, and professional skills to ensure that health care operations run smoothly, efficiently, and within regulatory parameters, all while ensuring patients receive safe and high-quality care.
With the health care MBA from Widener, you'll gain knowledge to thrive in this pivotal role, making you valuable to health care employers. Whether you manage a department or an entire facility, you will learn to take a leading role in making sure your organization keeps up with constant changes in health care laws, policies, and technology.
Health Care Management Faculty Spotlight
Widener's Health Care Management courses are instructed by faculty who are recognized experts in the field. Their distinguished publication records and extensive field experience make Widener's Health Care Management faculty some of the most sought-after knowledge experts and instructors in the country.
Michael D. Rosko, Ph.D. is a Professor of Health Care Management with Widener. He is a published health economist with three books and over eighty articles to his name. His work examines how hospitals and nursing homes respond to public cost containment initiatives, payment policy by HMOs, and financial pressures associated with uncompensated care. Dr. Rosko received the first ever Award for Outstanding Research at Widener University, as well as the Fitz Dixon Award for Civic Engagement. He maintains ongoing collaborations with the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and he was an expert panelist on the Robert Wood Johnson–sponsored study on Hospital Ownership and Performance. Dr. Rosko also serves as a consultant for the Health Systems Efficiency Measurement Panel, sponsored by the Ellison institute for Global Health Initiatives at Harvard University.
What do Widener's Health Care Management Graduates Have to Say?
"The Widener program was seminal in my career." – Thomas Beeman, CEO, Lancaster General Health, President, Lancaster General Hospital
"This degree gave me the tools to integrate clinical and financial expertise to effectively manage programs at a large managed care organization." – Debbie Sweeney, Director, Medical Management, Delaware Physicians Care Inc., Aetna Health Plan
Health Care Management Concentration Coursework Highlights
Whether they are on-campus or online, Widener's MBA students are constantly challenged to connect the business concepts they learn in their MBA classes to their real life experiences. They are encouraged to take an active role in their community and our global society through service-based projects, hands-on learning experiences, and advanced career prep opportunities.
In addition to Widener's rigorous MBA program curriculum, students in the Health Care Management concentration develop crucial leadership skills as they directly relate to the health care industry. The three courses required for completing the Health Care Management curriculum include:
- In the Health Care Policy course, students analyze the finances, ethics, and regulation of today's health care system. The roles of health insurance and government in America's health care supply, demand, and distribution systems are also covered.
- Community Health Management examines the elements of effective population-based health care, including interventions, education, habits and behavior. This class examines subjects from epidemiology and demographics to community organizing and social marketing, as well as ethical dilemmas in public health. Until recently, health care providers and insurers paid little attention to the management of community health. But they are starting to recognize that improving the health of a whole population can help keep costs down, improve outcomes and provide broader access to health care — vital in this era of the Affordable Care Act and more managed care.
- Widener's Developing Management Skills course was created in response to data from industry leaders pointing to a lack in management and interpersonal skills among MBA graduates. Activities such as role playing, simulations, and case studies, paired with individualized feedback, provide students with valuable training in the people management skills that are pivotal to a successful career in health care leadership.
Career Prospects for Health Care Management MBA Graduates
As the one of the largest and fastest growing fields in our nation, health care will need business professionals with the advanced skills to manage effectively while providing high-quality and affordable care to more patients. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 23% job growth for Medical and Health Services Managers through 2022. The health care management concentration at Widener will provide you with the leadership, analysis, and communication skills you will need to succeed in this developing area of business.
Start on the Road to a Successful Health Care Leadership Career
Contact a Program Manager at 1-844-386-7321 or request more information to learn more about the Health Care Management concentration offered through Widener's online MBA.