Health Careers
Health and Human Services Administrator
Professional Activities
Health and human services delivery systems are extremely complex. Management of these systems requires an in-depth understanding of financing, health care delivery systems, and traditional management functions, as well as well-developed skills in community interaction and policy development. These skills are necessary for involving the community in the development of appropriate solutions to community health care problems. Health services administrators coordinate and supervise highly motivated and highly trained health professionals.
Health and human service administrators work in urban and rural settings that range from small single-purpose agencies to large services delivery systems with multiple components. Possible organizations include hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, mental health facilities, Alaska Native regional health corporations, government agencies, insurance and consulting firms, and non-profit planning research and educational organizations.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school with coursework in math and communication skills.
- Completion of a four-year college degree program in almost any subject, including health, business, or liberal arts.
- Several years of work in health care or other related businesses with a focus on management responsibility.
- Graduate school or an administrative certification program.
The more traditionally prepared administrators have a Master of Hospital Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Public Administration (MPA), or Master of Business Administration (MBA). Increasingly, there are now administrative certification programs and two- and four-year degrees in health services management. There are also additional continuing education requirements for health services administrators beyond the Master’s degree. The most popular of these is the certification from the American College of Health Care Executives.
Academic Programs
The University of Alaska has a Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice program that is offered through distance delivery. Since January 2003, all courses are offered via internet-based instruction, allowing early and mid career professionals to advance their knowledge and skills while continuing to work in their home communities. Preference for admission is given to Alaska residents with strong academic records and commitment to improving the health of communities and individuals in the state. It is possible (but not required) to do an emphasis in Public Health Administration and Planning in the MPH degree program; this emphasis requires some coursework in Anchorage.
For more information visit the MPH web site: http://health.uaa.alaska.edu/mph/
Or contact:
Rhonda Johnson, DrPH, CFNP
Associate Professor and MPH Program Coordinator
Department of Health Sciences
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Dr., Diplomacy Bldg. #405
Anchorage AK 99508
Phone: (907) 786-6545
Email:
The University of Alaska also offers a Masters in Public Administration that has a healthcare administration track that allows students to learn more about management of health programs and facilities. Courses are offered at UAA and UAS. For more information, contact:
Greg Protasel, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Public Administration
College of Business and Public Policy
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Drive, RH318C
Anchorage, AK 99508
Phone: (907) 786-1786
Email:
Web site: http://www.scob.alaska.edu/
Alaska Pacific University (APU) offers a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Services Administration. APU also offers a distance degree completion program in Health Services Administration as a Bachelor of Arts major. For more information on these programs, contact:
Carl Hild
Program Director
Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: (907) 564-8227
Email:
Website: http://www.alaskapacific.edu/degs/mbahsa/
Contacts
State Contact:
Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association
426 Main Street
Juneau, AK 99801
Phone: (907) 586-1790
Fax: (907) 463-3573
Web site: http://www.ashnha.com/
National Contact:
American College of Healthcare Executives
One North Franklin, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 424-2800
Fax: (312) 424-0023
Web site: http://www.ache.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on June 13, 2008
