Archive for ‘Health’

March 29th, 2012

What to Expect from a Master of Public Health Program

Learn more about the advantage of a master of public health program versus other healthcare-related degrees, as well as key program information.

When considering different graduate degree programs in the healthcare field, bear in mind that there are some advantages to deciding on a master of public health programs rather than other types of programs.  With an MPH, students get to explore all the aspects of public health, including some specialized areas such as environmental health.  In other programs where they touch other topics, you may learn about public health, but you will not delve deeply into the sub-topics in this field.

A good MPH program involves classes on the 10 public health core areas.  These core areas include health services administration, epidemiology, biostatistics, health education, behavioral science, public health nutrition, public health administration/policy, environmental health, and maternal and child health.  Other programs may cover some of these areas, but not all of these.

MPH programs focus solely on public health, rather than topics that may not be relevant to your job or might not interest you.  For instance, an MHA program usually spends most time on accounting and finance topics – something that may not be relevant to a public health career.  With the MPH degree, you cannot shift as easily to other career fields within the health care industry, but for someone with a passion in public health, this may not be an issue.

With such a focused education, you will be a more desirable candidate to many employers.  Someone pursuing an MPA or MSN program, for instance, will possibly not have that much focused education on public health.  Hence, you are the better candidate for a job position in public health.

The master of public health program help students understand the challenges of health promotion while containing the costs in the healthcare system.  They can also learn skills in grant writing, program planning and evaluation, and epidemiology.  Once they complete the program, they will be able to use their wider perspective of the healthcare system well in their practice.

Students attending a master of public health program come from different academic backgrounds with diverse public health experiences.  Also, the applicable public health–related undergraduate degrees are varied.  These undergraduate degrees may include economics, statistics, biological sciences, environmental science, international studies, food science and nutrition, psychology, nursing, political science, anthropology, social work, etc.

Another requirement to enter the MPH program is a public health experience.  Experience in public health is greatly valued.  It may include working in public health departments, social service agencies, volunteer organizations and healthcare organizations.

Students in the master of public health program may range from dual degree students to part-time adult learners.  This diversity can greatly enhance the students’ learning, in and out of the classroom.  Depending on the school, the program can be taken either full-time or part-time.

Students should always consider the MPH program’s accreditation.  Many schools are regionally accredited and later, seek accreditation from the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).  The Council on Education for Public Health is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Health for accrediting public health programs and schools of public health.

As for the funding options, students earning a master of public health program are often funded through student loan.  Sometimes, research assistantships, project assistantships and teaching assistantships may be available, but these opportunities are quite limited.  As such, students looking for this financial aid options should start searching early.

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March 23rd, 2012

Importance of a Masters in Social Work Degree

Appreciate the value of a Masters in Social Work by knowing what a social worker does and what the job really entails.

Being a social worker is a very noble job for many reasons. But despite this, many people fail to see the importance of a social worker’s job, and the advantages of taking a masters in social work degree. It is of great importance to know just how valuable a masters of social work degree is due to the worsening social issues of recent times.

A masters in social work degree essentially provides career advancement for undergraduate social workers. The additional years of study can help people attain a better understanding of the principles and theories governing the field of social work. Overall, a masters of social work degree can provide expertise for students who pursue it.

In context to the statement above, a masters in social work degree can give you better credentials when you apply for work. Employers prefer applicants who have higher educational attainment over those with lesser qualifications. A masters of social work degree is therefore a great way to have an edge over your competitors.

Many employers also look for candidates who have a masters degree in social work, especially for executive level job positions. An undergraduate social worker is eligible for entry-level jobs. But a masters degree holder can advance to better career opportunities and a higher-paying job position.

Some states also require a masters in social work degree in order for someone to be qualified as a social worker. Thus, this can be of great advantage for you to receive full certification in your state. The masters degree can also serve as your continuing education requirements for maintenance of your license as a social worker.

Another importance of a masters of social work degree is it can give you stability in many facets in your life. In terms of career, you will be able to have better and more stable career positions. You can also expect financial stability due to the high pay that a masters degree holder can receive.

Social workers are not to be underestimated. They are a vital part of our society, especially with the worsening occurrences of oppression, abuse, neglect and violence. Social workers are then there to empower people and be advocates for human rights.

Social workers help the less fortunate by giving them the power to use their rights as humans and as citizens of states. They give financial aid, free counseling and other civic services to the vulnerable groups in the society, especially the poor, women, children and the elderly. They exist to give hope to those who are commonly oppressed and defenseless.

Furthermore, social workers protect human rights and push through many activities to let people know more and be aware of their rights. They give education pertaining to the services they can avail of:  the rights that people essentially have but are not known. Social workers are then considered heroes for the less fortunate.

In conclusion, a masters in social work degree can open up many. The important thing to consider is the personal fulfillment you get from being a social worker. A social worker, in essence, has one of the noblest jobs in society.

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March 13th, 2012

Healthcare MBA: What Is It?

Define the job of a healthcare administrator, a healthcare MBA program, and healthcare administration as an industry.

Healthcare administration is the overall management of a hospital, healthcare facilities, medical centers, clinics, rehabilitation centers, community centers, and other facilities that provide patient care and/or rehabilitation. Healthcare administrators or managers are healthcare professionals in charge of the leadership, maintenance and marketing of these facilities. The best training for a healthcare professional to become an administrator is from a Healthcare MBA program.

An MBA Healthcare Management degree is offered by business schools, not medical centers or institutions, although schools and hospitals work hand in hand as affiliates and training partners. It is a 2-year graduate degree course that is more focused on the training in management than in health care. Would-be hospital managers need the best training in leadership and management since the tasks at hand are huge.

In the United States, the minimum requirement to becoming a healthcare administrator is a post-university degree in healthcare administration. It may be from an MBA Healthcare or the more common Master’s of Science in Healthcare.  The former is more focused on management, while the latter on health care, but either is fine.

There are other equivalent programs that qualify individuals to become hospital managers. As recognized and accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) on behalf of the United States Department of Education, the other applicable degree programs are Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA), Master of Public Health (MPH), MBA Hospital Management (MBA-HM), Master of Health Administration (MHA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA).  Most of these are offered online.

Graduates from any of these programs may apply for key leadership positions in health care centers across the country. People with scholastic experience and training in an MBA program are the most qualified individuals in running a busy and very dynamic organization such as a hospital. Recently, the country has seen a steady rise in the hospital industry, which means potentially more job opportunities for healthcare professionals.

While the first semesters and courses in MBA are dedicated to business and leadership-related courses, the rest of the time are for healthcare education. The most common management courses are economics, marketing, leadership, statistical analysis, accounting, human resources, assessment, operations management, and information systems management. Meanwhile, the leading graduate-level courses in health care are healthcare economics, healthcare policies, organizational behavior, healthcare marketing and communications, and ethics.

Other coursework involves subject areas in nursing, psychology, nutrition, and public well-being. While healthcare administrators are not doctors or physicians, it is necessary that they have at least the most basic understanding of how healthcare is provide. This is why included in the program are courses in medicine, nursing and behavioral science.

Not all students in MBA healthcare may decide to work as healthcare managers. The program is also offered to doctors and nurses who wish to become senior physicians or supervising nurses. Other graduates may choose from different job positions such as primary care giver, nutritionist, head pharmacist, psychologist and others.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people in key leadership positions in hospitals and healthcare centers are well-paid and highly satisfied. Hospital managers, senior physicians and nursing supervisors receive about double of what other hospital personnel are earning. The two years and tuition costs spent on an MBA program are definitely worth it.

Healthcare administrators are among the busiest professionals in the country. They manage facilities that take care of people and where lives are on the balance. To properly and efficiently handle critical cases involving lives and people’s welfare, it is much helpful to have been trained in a Healthcare MBA program.

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