Health Administration MHA Programs in Montana & Salary Info.

Healthcare administrators can be found working in hospital systems, managed care organizations, hospices, physician practices, and home health agencies.

If these are places where you can see yourself working in the future, you should just meet the educational requirements for these professionals and start looking for a job.

Entry and mid-level health administration jobs generally require a bachelor’s degree, which can be achieved in four years’ time.

On the other hand, senior-level positions for those who wish to work in large organizations require a master’s degree in health administration or a related field.

Health Administration Degrees in Montana

Students can select from accredited online programs offered, being that there are no campus locations that offer CAHME-accredited healthcare administration programs in this state.

Bachelor’s degrees in health administration are designed so as to provide individuals with the post-secondary education needed to achieve jobs in healthcare administration, or to prepare individuals to pursue graduate education in the same field.

Bachelor’s degrees in health administration are often structured as:

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in Health Administration
• Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)

The second 60 credits can be earned through the core coursework which includes studying:

• Healthcare finance
• The healthcare system
• Healthcare law
• Management in healthcare
• Public and community health
• Healthcare for the elderly

Master’s Degrees in Health Administration are taken as the standard degree requirement for the director and executive jobs in health administration.

Its curriculum is designed to prepare future leaders in healthcare administration with the strategic and analytic capabilities necessary to oversee healthcare staff and develop policy in a wide variety of settings.

The structure and title of healthcare administration master’s degrees vary depending on the school/college where they are provided, such as a business school, public health policy school, public administration school, health administration school and you may enroll in the following programs:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Health Administration
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Master of Science (MS) in Health Administration
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a concentration in Health Administration
• Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Administration

Some institutions also offer a master’s degree in health administration as part of a dual graduate program:

• JD/MHA
• MD/MHA
• MBA/MPH
• MHA/MBA

Colleges and universities offer various types of master’s degrees in healthcare administration, such as:

• residential, on-campus programs designed for traditional students
• executive programs for mid-level professionals with healthcare experience, which includes online learning and/or part-time or evening courses to accommodate working professionals.

Institutions offering executive master’s degree programs in health administration require candidates to possess experience in the field and those who want to enter these studies should possess undergraduate degrees with a major in such areas as finance, accounting, business management, marketing, and human resources.

It is worth mentioning that many students come from medical backgrounds and therefore possess degrees in healthcare-related disciplines.

In the majority of institutions, admission requirements for master’s degree programs in health administration include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university as well as the following:

• Minimum undergraduate GPA
• The completion of specific undergraduate courses
• Minimum GRE scores
• Admissions essay
• Letters of reference

Health administration core requirements at the graduate level include the study of:

• Medical care organizations
• Analysis of healthcare markets
• Healthcare policy, quality, and ethics
• Healthcare informatics for managers
• Healthcare law
• Integrative business strategies for healthcare administrators

Master’s degrees in health administration take about 18 to 24 months to be finished, but there are some accelerated programs that allow students to complete their course of study in less time.

Capstone projects or masters theses by the end of the coursework of these programs is obligatory.

Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in Montana

Graduates of health administration degree programs are prepared to pursue jobs in consulting, policy analysis, health planning, and long-term care administration, among others, and these are some job postings that allow you to see what kind of knowledge and experience is necessary for certain positions.

Nursing Home Administrator, Bozeman – This employee will plan, organize,  direct, and coordinate the facility so this position requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Hospital Director of Human Resources, Missoula – This position requires a skilled human resources director so a bachelor’s degree is obligatory while those with a master’s degree will be given preference.

Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator, Helena – He/she will interpret and implement the corporate vision, purpose, mission, and value statements and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is necessary for this position.

Operations Director, Great Falls – He/she will be in charge of the development and coordination of all clinical aspects of the assigned provider practices within the medical group so a master’s degree in a healthcare-related or business field and five to seven years of experience in healthcare management are required.

Administrator, Community Hospital/Medical Center, Glendive – He/she will report directly to the CEO and board of directors of a critical access hospital; a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field is required.

Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in Montana

Once you become a graduate of health administration degree program in Montana, you can begin your job search at some of the state’s largest hospital and healthcare systems, which include:

• Billings Clinic, Billings
• Vincent Healthcare, Billings
• Benefis Healthcare, Great Falls
• Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Kalispell
• Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Missoula
• Community Medical Center, Missoula
• Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman
• Peters Hospital, Helena

Professional associations are an excellent option for both new and already experienced professionals as it offers opportunities for healthcare administrators in Montana:

• Montana Hospital Association
• Montana Health Care Association
• Montana Medical Association
• Montana Osteopathic Medical Association
• Montana Society of Healthcare Human Resource Administrators

Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Montana-based healthcare administrators is $105559.

There are professionals with higher education and greater experience that can expect to make $119051 a year.

What is more important, the state Department of Labor and Industry predicts a 20.8 percent increase in the number of healthcare administration jobs in the years to come, causing up to 140 openings per year in this field.

Regional Salary in Montana