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Wirtz Hall 235, DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: (815) 753-1384
Fax: (815) 753-5406
phhe@niu.edu
Public Health (B.S.) in Health Administration
Operating on the business side of health care, health administrators work a dynamic and constantly changing environment with a strong human care dimension. They plan and coordinate departmental activities, develop policies and procedures, assure the quality of care, oversee patient services, and train and recruit employees. They may also participate in public relations activities such as fund-raising and community health planning and many other activities essential to the facility they serve.
To be successful, health administrators must have excellent interpersonal and strong analytical skills, coupled with a solid understanding of both business and healthcare practices. As healthcare continues to evolve, health administrators must be prepared to deal with an increasingly complex regulatory environment as well as an increased focus on preventive care. The curriculum for Health Administration pairs the Public Health curriculum with a business administration focus area.
Job Settings
- Hospitals and clinics
- Managed care organizations
- Insurance companies
- International agencies
- Pharmaceutical and hospital supply firms
- Professional organizations (e.g., American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Federal, state and local government agencies
- Industry and business
- Consulting firms
Sample Job Titles
- Manager, Materials Management Information Systems, community hospital
- Planning Associate, Planning & Business Development, community hospital
- Practice Manager, medical group
- Physician Recruiter, large metropolitan hospital
- Human Resources Specialist, mid-size hospital
- Managed Care Coordinator, HMO
- Admissions Coordinator, home health care agency
- Claims Representative, health insurance company
- Financial Representative, large metropolitan hospital
Key Issues
- Controlling costs of care
- Access to care for under and uninsured populations
- Outcomes related to clinical care and behavioral interventions
- Non-traditional health service delivery systems
- Increased emphasis on prevention and wellness programs in newly emerging health service delivery systems
Job Trends
- Health care is the largest industry in the U.S. and will continue to grow.
- Employment opportunities in nontraditional settings such as HMOs and out-patient surgery clinics, home health and other alternative delivery systems will outpace demand in traditional settings.
- Greater emphasis will be placed on cost-containment requiring innovative leaders in finance and economics.
- The demand for marketing expertise will increase with competition.
- Exportation of public health technologies to developing nations will expand well into the future.
- The demand for qualified managers and administrators trained in community health technologies will grow as the industry expands.
Affiliated Sites
The Public Health Program is affiliated with over 120 health care agencies in the Northern Illinois Region which offer Internships to students. These same sites also frequently employ our alums.