Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Management

Healthcare management is rapidly expanding due to an aging population and technological developments in collecting, storing, and using data. Healthcare management professionals are increasingly integral to bridging administrative, operational, and clinical functions in medical facilities. They ensure patients’ medical information’s privacy and integrity, thereby providing a crucial patient care component.

An online MBA in Healthcare Management can help equip you to take on leadership roles in many levels of organizations such as hospitals, clinics, insurance providers, HMO administrative offices, and long-term care facilities. If you’re considering this degree, this page shows you what you need to get started. You’ll find the basics of an online MBA program in healthcare management, coursework required, job prospects, and comparisons to similar degrees.

5 Best Online MBA Programs in Healthcare Management

Using data sourced directly from schools, US News, and Princeton Review these our the top-ranked online MBA programs of 2023. The below six programs all offer a concentration or specialization in healthcare management.

6 Most Affordable Online MBA in Healthcare Management

The below five programs offer the most affordable tuition rates before taking into consideration additional costs and any scholarships or financial aid. Our data is soured from top publications and directly from the schools themselves. These programs all offer a concentration or specialization in healthcare management.

What is an MBA in Healthcare Management?

Modern healthcare is full of complexities and opportunities involving pressing financial, administrative, operational, and technical factors. Medical enterprises urgently need professionals who are grounded in sound business principles and best healthcare practices. As more data is being created and digitalized, demand is heavy for high-level workers who can optimize and protect sensitive patient information.

An online MBA with a healthcare management concentration provides advanced education that equips students to acquire, analyze, and safeguard digital and paper-based medical data. This degree program trains people in the latest information management technology practices and organizational workflow. An online MBA can help open doors for you to progress into a lucrative and fulfilling career as a medical and health services manager, health information manager, clinical manager, nursing home administrator, or any of a host of emerging senior-level positions.

With an online MBA program in healthcare management, you can gain extensive insight into the application of technology and information to face the industry’s mounting challenges with confidence, competence, and excellence. You can also obtain this sought-after credential without the full-time commitment and expenses of going to a class. There’s no need to step away from work or family commitments; you can fit your studies into your schedule.

When considering an MBA in healthcare management, you should take time to decide on your present and future career goals and then look at the advantages and drawbacks of obtaining the degree in light of your goals. Many people advance in the healthcare sector without an MBA, but the degree can enhance your employment potential. Many healthcare organizations favor candidates with an MBA for current and emerging high-level positions.

Online MBA in Healthcare Management Curriculum

An MBA in healthcare management online gives professionals a broader, deeper perspective on how companies operate and the various factors that influence revenue and growth. The degree helps students cultivate business and soft skills to lead progress throughout a medical facility and the healthcare industry at large. An MBA in healthcare management provides tools to teach you about communication within and among departments in an office or organization.

An accredited MBA program in healthcare management online combines business subjects such as management, marketing, finance, and operations with the business aspect of health care. It’s designed to cultivate a new generation of healthcare leadership equipped to recognize and handle challenges and lead industry progress.

Most online MBA healthcare management programs cover these topics:

Management information systems
Integrated business operations
Marketing strategy and planning
The regulation of healthcare delivery
Budgeting for healthcare managers
The medical supply chain
Managing people in healthcare organizations
Healthcare law and ethics

Looking deeper at the standard courses reveals the kind of expertise a healthcare management MBA program helps develop:

Management Information Systems: Students discover the importance of healthcare information systems that facilitate productivity, transaction processing and informed decision-making in regard to patient records, data security, financial planning, and human resources.
Integrated Business Operations: This course covers how corporate strategy, operations, and information and data management contribute to decision-making.
Marketing Strategy and Planning: Students review marketing strategies designed to enhance overall growth and performance.
The Regulation of Healthcare Delivery: Students study topics in healthcare compliance, risk management, internal audits, legislation, Medicare reimbursement, and environmental safety.
Budgeting for Healthcare Managers: Students learn in-depth about financial planning, decision-making, and implementing operating budgets based on costs, pricing, and key processes.
The Medical Supply Chain: Students study a supply chain of a medical facility with the goal of reducing expenses and satisfying customers.
Managing People in Healthcare Organizations: Students learn evidence-backed tools and best practices in the healthcare sector.
Healthcare Law and Ethics: Students study healthcare delivery ethics, professional liability, death and dying, abuse and fraud, complying with legislative regulations, and reporting practices.

What Unique Career Paths Can I Pursue an Online MBA Specializing in Healthcare Management?

Graduating from an MBA program with a healthcare management specialization can create opportunities for careers in a wide range of health-related industries. Skilled healthcare management professionals are needed wherever patients receive medical care.

Some of the most popular jobs for healthcare management MBA graduates include:

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers typically oversee a specific department in a medical facility, but they may be in charge of more than one or even all departments. These workers deal with scheduling, budgeting, and informing their team of changes. While many works directly with physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, and other medical staff, others deal with patients and insurance agents. Industries that hire medical and health services managers include hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare services. Other job titles include healthcare executives and healthcare administrators.

Tasks include:

Developing departmental goals and objectives
Recruiting, training, and supervising staff
Scheduling workers
Preparing and monitoring budgets
Storing and organizing records of services
Ensuring compliance with regulations and laws
Representing the facility at board and investor meetings
Maintaining communication with staff and department leaders

Payscale.com reports that the average annual salary for medical and health services managers is $64,789¹, but those with MBAs tend to earn much more. The top locations for this position are California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that medical and health services managers’ employment will grow at 20%², reflecting the anticipated greater need for healthcare services among the aging population.

Health Information Manager

Medical facilities maintain large databases of patient data to ensure legal compliance, cost-effectiveness, and patient privacy. Healthcare information managers oversee the complex documentation system and verify that the data is up to date, accurate, and compliant with professional standards and regulations. Often, they manage a staff of information technicians who create and execute strategies for information collection. Demand for this position is growing in hospitals and healthcare-related industries.

Tasks include:

Managing functions and activities of the healthcare department
Coordinating and supervising coding, transcription, and clerical functions
Providing educational sessions on topics related to supervised functions
Recruiting, screening, hiring, and coaching healthcare staff
Serving as a member of the Medical Records Committee
Staying informed of new developments in the healthcare field and conveying changes to staff as needed
Setting the tone of service orientation and responsiveness to customers
Ensuring efficiency and compliance with regulations

According to Payscale.com, the average salary for healthcare information managers is $56,343³. The top locations for employment include Illinois, Georgia, Texas, and New York. Job growth is expected to reflect that of other medical and health services managers at 20% in response to the exploding demand for healthcare services.

Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home administrators manage the development and implementation of a long-term care facility’s management system. They oversee the quality assurance processes for resident care, food service, and recreational programs. These professionals serve as liaisons for residents, families, medical staff, and the public. Nursing home administrators also discuss their facility’s budget, expenditures, and operations at board meetings.

Tasks include:

Managing insurance billing
Developing work schedules
Maintaining patient records
Supervising admissions
Recruiting, interviewing, and hiring medical professionals
Procuring medical equipment
Directing 24/7 care

Payscale.com reports that the average salary for nursing home administrators is $88,834⁴. The top locations for this position are New York, California, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and Colorado. While the US Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t have specific job outlook data, growth in opportunities will likely mirror that of medical and health services managers at 20% with the growing need for long-term care facilities.

Hospital Administrator

Hospitals and hospital administrators work in medical facilities such as doctors’ offices, physical rehabilitation centers, and substance abuse centers. These professionals recruit, screen, and hire new physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. Other duties include overseeing compliance with state and federal laws, implementing policies, and creating budgets.

Tasks include:

Managing staff and daily operations
Determining goals and costs for service
Overseeing fundraising and fees for special cases
Meeting with regulators, the media, the general public, and researchers
Delegating and coordinating among departments to create specific outcomes and meet organizational goals

Payscale.com states that the average salary for hospital administrators is $87,873⁵. Top locations for this position include California, Illinois, Maryland, and Texas. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide job outlook data for this position specifically. Still, demand is likely to be as robust as that for medical and health services managers at 20%.

Healthcare Risk Manager

Directors of risk management or risk control are responsible for overseeing risk-related aspects of their organization. They manage liability issues, collect risk data, and minimize risks wherever possible. These professionals also relay senior management ideas and issues and set up risk programs and policies throughout their company. Most work in medical facilities, while others find jobs in governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Other titles for this position include vice president risk management, chief risk officer, and risk management director.

Tasks include:

Managing business planning, budget development, and staff operations
Leading staff in efficient utilization of quality processes
Examining risk data to determine potential losses
Developing and implementing the risk management program

Payscale.com reports that the average healthcare risk manager earns $114,177 annually⁶. The top locations for this job are New York, Illinois, Washington DC, Texas, and Massachusetts. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t currently provide job outlook data for this career. Nonetheless, its future will likely be bright as healthcare enterprises face rising industry risks such as data breaches, medical malpractice claims, workers’ compensation injuries, and other financial losses.

Medical Facility Chief Financial Officer

An MBA in healthcare management and accounting and finance expertise may help you find employment as a chief financial officer in a medical facility. A CFO oversees the budget of a healthcare facility and maintains its financial records. This position also requires you to meet with senior-level management to keep them abreast of the organization’s financial status.

Tasks include:

Designing internal guidelines, control policies, and procedures for accounting, budgeting, and cash and credit management
Preparing or overseeing the preparation of financial and business reports, budgets, forecasts, and regulatory reports
Providing and coordinating leadership in the business planning, administrative, budgeting, and accounting functions of the organization

According to Payscale.com, the average salary for chief financial officers is $130,872⁷. Many job opportunities are in California, Texas, and New York. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand for these professionals across all industries will increase by at least 8%⁸, and it is likely that jobs for CFOs in healthcare will be greater as employment in the sector is expected to grow by 18%⁹.

Should I Get an Online MBA in Healthcare Management?

As you contemplate pursuing an advanced degree, determine if you’re a self-driven learner who can manage time and focus well on your studies. Consider if you can learn mostly on your own without any in-person interactions with faculty or fellow students. You also need to determine if this degree will help you meet your career goals. Of course, you also need to decide if you can commit the time and money necessary to pursue the degree.

Online MBA in Healthcare Management vs. Master’s in Healthcare Information Management

An MBA program in healthcare management and a master’s program in healthcare information management cover similar subjects with the same goal of developing leaders in the healthcare industry, but the healthcare management MBA focuses more on business topics. If you already have a strong business background, an HIM master’s degree may be a suitable path for you. Typical courses in an HIM master’s degree program would include:

Healthcare Financial Management
Healthcare Statistics
Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information
Organizational Development and Management for Health Information
Project Management of Health Information Systems

Is an online MBA in healthcare management worth the time and financial investment?

As mentioned earlier, the multi-trillion dollar healthcare industry is continuously growing, with expectations of increasing opportunities for skilled leadership. The market is more than willing to pay handsomely for qualified professionals with MBA credentials. If you find an affordable MBA program and complete it within a few years, you have a high possibility of finding work that will pay off your investment in a short time.

Do I need experience in healthcare before pursuing an MBA in healthcare management?

Healthcare workers are intelligent, hard-working individuals who typically respond to superiors who understand the industry’s ins and outs. Without experience or a strong personality, you may have difficulty garnering respect. The most influential people in healthcare all have an extensive clinical background. Healthcare managers can succeed without experience, though.

Are online healthcare management MBAs always at accredited institutions?

At DiscoverBusiness.us, you will find online MBA programs with national accreditations from AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE and a CHEA-recognized entity. Every online healthcare management MBA program is different, but the ones we list are fully accredited.

How long does it take to get an MBA in healthcare management?

Many online MBA programs are designed to be completed within two years. You can find accelerated MBA programs that last six to eight weeks, but they require a substantial time commitment. Either way, online MBA courses are more flexible than traditional classes, and much depends on how much time you can devote to studies. You will need at least 10-15 hours of focused study time per week. Pursuing an MBA in healthcare management calls for a high level of self-discipline, time management, and persistence. Yet, professional and academic achievement can prove to be well worth any effort or sacrifice.

Other Popular Online MBA Program Pages

References:
¹ https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_and_Health_Services_Manager/Salary
²https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-2
³ https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Information_Management_(HIM)_Manager/Salary
⁴https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Nursing_Home_Administrator/Salary
⁵https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Hospital_Administrator/Salary
⁶https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Director%2C_Risk_Management_%2F_Risk_Control/Salary
⁷https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Chief_Financial_Officer_(CFO)/Salary
⁸https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm
⁹https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm