Health Administration MHA Programs in Alabama & Salary Info.

Considering the fact that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Health services managers and administrators in Alabama earned an average annual salary of $93,020, numerous young people have become interested in this field and started researching possible ways of getting into this profession.

It is true that thousands of state residents are enjoying better access to healthcare services and the healthcare sector is in need of hiring more staff, and more administrators to manage all the work, so in the following short guide, we would like to provide you with necessary information related to education, employers and possible salaries of Health Management and Administration professionals in Alabama.

Health Administration Degrees in Alabama

There is a possibility of choosing your level of education which starts from bachelor’s programs designed for those entering the field of health services administration, up to master’s degrees, and specialized MBAs for individuals who wish to advance to executive positions.

Alabama’s state schools and private universities offer education options for all of them.

If your desire is to reach an undergraduate degree in health administration, you will have the opportunity to choose between a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration (BBA).

Both of these programs consist of 120 credit hours, and they take 4 years to be finished.

In the first half of the program, you will need to take general education courses, but in the last two years, you will attend more specialized courses that are specific to the field of healthcare administration.

Those specialized courses will include the following topics:

• Management
• Health sciences
• Business and Economics
• Health information technology
• Human resources
• Health law

Those who wish to advance will need to attend a graduate degree program in the field of healthcare administration.

Master’s degree options available online and through campus locations in Alabama include:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration or Management
• Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA)
• Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

So as to be allowed to enroll in these programs, you will need to meet specific requirements that may vary from school to school.

Generally speaking, the majority of schools require that students meet the standards of graduate school admissions:

• Bachelor’s degree of any kind
• Minimum undergraduate GPA
• Letters of recommendation
• Professional experience in the healthcare field

Even though you do not belong to students who have earned an undergraduate degree in health administration, you will still be considered for admission into a graduate program.

You will then need to meet some additional requirements, such as taking additional prerequisite courses.

It is the case of the majority of colleges that the topics covered in graduate-level courses are:

• Financial management and budgeting in healthcare
• Strategies for healthcare management
• Healthcare informatics
• Community health systems
• Quantitative methods and health economic concepts
• Laws and policies in the healthcare industry

By the end of their studies, students have to complete an applied research project, a capstone project, or a thesis paper to be allowed to graduate.

Graduate programs vary in credit hour requirements and length from school to school, but most programs require 36-60 credits and can be completed in 18-24 months.

Alabama’s graduate students majoring in healthcare administration have the opportunity to choose online degree programs at the following locations:

• Auburn
• Birmingham
• Orange Beach
• Montgomery

The best and most prominent school where you can gain your master’s degree in Health Management and Administration in Alabama is the University Of Alabama At Birmingham, where students can choose between a Master of Science in Health Administration degree on campus or a Master of Science in Health Administration Degree which is a hybrid program.

The estimated cost per academic year is $16,095 for on-campus studies and $29,800 for a hybrid format.

The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges; Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Alabama

In Alabama, numerous kinds of job opportunities are available to those pursuing careers and career advancement in the field of health administration and we are offering some of them:

UAB Healthcare System, Birmingham

• Program Manager – He/she will be responsible for managing university programs, budgeting, public relations, grants, and reports preparation, and training for the healthcare administration department and this position requires a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of work experience.
• Supervisor in Patient Financial Services – His/her duty will be to coordinate and supervise billing, mediate between patients and other departments and insurance providers; the position requires five years of prior related work experience.

St. Vincent’s Health System

• Vice President of Regional Growth – His/her job will be to lead the department in charge of the health system’s strategic business operations, manage scheduling, recruitment, and budget. He/she must possess a bachelor’s degree and 7 years of experience.
• Recruiter – His/her task will be to travel between different St. Vincent’s locations, sources candidates to fill job openings, work alongside the human resources department and he/she should possess a bachelor’s degree.

Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham

• Donor Services Coordinator – Researches and manages donor relations, handles communications with past and potential donors. An applicant must have a bachelor’s degree.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Alabama

Top Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers:

• UAB Health Services in Birmingham
• Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster
• Vincent’s Health System in Birmingham
• Laboratory Corporation of America in Montgomery
• Children’s Health System in Birmingham
• Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham
• Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Golden Living in Montgomery
• HealthSouth Corporation in Birmingham
• Alacare Home Health and Hospice in Mobile
• Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham
• Naphcare in Birmingham
• Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper
• Noland Health Services in Birmingham

Professional Resources:

• Medical Group Management Association of Alabama
• American Association of Health Care Administrative Management
• The Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators
• Alabama Primary Health Care Association
• Alabama Health Information Management Association
• National Association of Healthcare Access Management
• Alabama Medical Group Management Association
• American College of Health Care Administrators
• American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administrators

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Alabama

Healthcare, administrator jobs in Alabama bring in a median annual salary of $ 109111.

According to the statistics, it is expected that job growth in this sector increases by 15.5%, causing more than 300 job openings per year.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Alabama