Category — Health Care

The devastating impact Hurricane Sandy had on the Northeast raised national concern about our country’s infrastructure. According to USA Today, a non-profit organization called the Trust For America’s Health released its annual study evaluating all 50 states and Washington D.C. for their preparedness for public disasters such as massive storms, viral epidemics, civilian acts of violence and bioterrorism. The study’s findings were not good.

How the States Stack Up

North Carolina, Maryland, Vermont, Wisconsin and Mississippi met eight of the ten standards on which the study based its evaluation. Thirty-five other states and the District of Columbia only met six requirements, and Kansas and Montana tied for last place by meeting three.

The study used the following criteria to measure disaster preparedness:

• Funding for public health
• Capability to handle bioterrorist attacks
• Capability to handle catastrophic weather
• Adequate staffing to accommodate the containment of an infectious disease epidemic
• Official recognition by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program
• Comprehensive plans for evacuating children from schools in the event of emergencies like fires or armed intruders
• Availability of influenza vaccination to the poor
• Reciprocity of nursing licenses with other states
• Vaccination of children against whooping cough
• Ability to quickly inform healthcare workers of public health emergencies

Half of all states do not recognize nursing licenses issued in other states, which poses a massive problem when outside help is needed in the form of first responders. Only 15 states have concrete plans for dealing with natural disasters while 37 are prepared for disease outbreaks. Three fifths of all states have plans to deal with gun violence on school grounds, and more than a fifth of states require medicaid patients to pay for the flu shot. Only two states, Hawaii and Nebraska, met the target whooping cough vaccination rate of 90 percent. Unfortunately, Hawaii scored lowest on the criteria of promptness; the Trust study claims that communicating an emergency message to every healthcare center on the islands currently takes more than three hours. The vast majority of states were able to do so in less than an hour.

The Trust aggregated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as other sources. In their analysis, the authors cite budget cuts in the public health sector as the primary culprit of poor emergency preparedness. Federal assistance for state preparedness has plummeted a whopping 38 perfect since 2005. Additionally, about half of the states have decreased public health spending since 2010, and the states that have kept their budgets stagnant are unable to keep up with inflation. As a result, 20 percent of healthcare positions have been eliminated in recent years.

The most recent publication by the Trust is entitled “A Healthier America 2013: Strategies to Move from Sick Care to Health Care in Four Years.” The report outlines suggestions to improve the quality of the American healthcare system and ensure its economic sustainability.

Degrees in healthcare administration have been rising in popularity as of late. The allure is obvious, as the healthcare field offers virtually none of the susceptibility to recession that’s seen in other fields. While earning a healthcare administration degree, students can gain knowledge on the inner workings of the healthcare field as well as what the business side of it is like. There are two types of people that this degree might appeal to: Those who are already in a health-related area and want to gain more knowledge on the administrative aspects of the field, and those who are already in the business world but want to transition to healthcare.

When ranking the top programs for this list, schools were graded on how well their graduates were able to transition into a healthcare career. Every school reviewed has received regional accreditation and is seen by employers as valuable for producing graduates who are prepared to enter the field and hit the ground running. Below, we’ve listed the top ten programs for earning a healthcare administration degree online.

1. University of Minnesota-Crookston: Bachelor of Science in Health Management
Cost – $430.77 per credit hour plus a $45 per credit fee

2. Colorado State University-Global Campus: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Management
Cost – $350 per credit

3. Drexel University: Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration
Cost – $690 per credit

4. Northeastern University: Bachelor of Science in Health Management
Cost – $335 per credit

5. Bellevue University: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
Cost – $370 per credit

6. Liberty University: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Healthcare Management
Cost – $365 per credit

7. New England College: Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
Cost – $31,394 per year

8. Grand Canyon University: Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration
Cost – $465 per credit

9. Hodges University: Bachelor of Science in Health Administration
Cost – $490 per credit

10. Strayer University: Bachelor of Business Administration-Healthcare Administration
Cost – $1,700 per course

Source: Top 10 Best Online Healthcare Administration Degree Programs

While there is no doubt that the field of healthcare entails a variety of career and specialty options, it is also an expanding area that will continue to grow up to 16 percent for several years. This field employs professionals such as healthcare administrators, hospital program directors, and nursing supervisors, and they all possess a natural aptitude for both the sciences and the maintenance of community wellness. Master of Health Administration Degrees are acquired by many of those professionals, and they are offered by an array of schools across the country. Even better, most of those schools include an online program for their Master of Health Administration Degree, which can be completed on students’ own schedules over the course of one or two years.

A college or university that possesses a reputation for excellence stands out both academically and professionally. The top online educational facilities that are mentioned below possess long-standing traditions for providing their students with some of the best degree programs available.

Regional, national, and private accreditation ensures potential students that their secondary schools will provide them with the skills and hands-on experiences that they need for success in their field of study. Each of the online Master of Health Administration Degree programs that is described below possesses regional accreditation and/or credentialing through the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

1. School Name: University of Southern California
Tuition Cost: $54,000 for the entire program
Degree Name: Executive Master’s in Health Administration

2. School Name: Northeastern University
Tuition Cost: $1,345 per credit
Degree Name: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare

3. School Name: University of North Carolina
Tuition Cost: $497.98 per credit for residents of North Carolina; $1,229.48 per credit for non-residents
Degree Name: Executive Master of Healthcare Administration

4. School Name: George Washington University
Tuition Cost: $1,420 per credit
Degree Name: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare

5. School Name: Ohio University
Tuition Cost: $654 per credit for residents of Ohio; $673 per credit for non-residents
Degree Name: Master’s in Health Administration

6. School Name: University of Cincinnati
Tuition Cost: $790 per credit
Degree Name: Master of Health Administration

7. School Name: Quinnipiac University
Tuition Cost: $895 per credit
Degree Name: Master in Business Administration-Healthcare Management

8. School Name: Saint Joseph’s University
Tuition Cost: $752 per credit
Degree Name: Master of Science in Health Administration

9. School Name: Saint Francis University
Tuition Cost: $679 per credit
Degree Name: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

10. School Name: Utica College
Tuition Cost: $625 per credit
Degree Name: Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

Source: Top 10 Best Online Master of Health Administration Degree Programs

Besthealthcaremba.com, the web guide to the top healthcare MBA degrees and programs, has developed a list of the Top 10 Best Online Healthcare MBA Degree Programs. The Best Healthcare MBA Programs site gives information on many aspects of the Master in Business Administration in Healthcare degree, including salaries of graduates, career possibilities and programs available. Healthcare MBAs are well-positioned for leadership positions throughout the healthcare industry, according to the site. The flexibility to complete this degree online enables students to continue to meet career and personal responsibilities while advancing their education.

Healthcare MBA programs chosen for the list allow students to study remotely and provide a good quality educational program. The site provides an overview of each program, tuition information and details on special features of the individual programs.

All of the programs listed are offered by schools that are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or that have regional accreditation.

The Top 10 Best Online Healthcare MBA Degree Programs:

1. Ashford University – Cost: $585 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration – Healthcare.

2. Brenau University – Cost: $540 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

3. Southern New Hampshire University – Cost: $1,881 per 3-credit course.
Degree Name: Degree Name: Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Management; Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Informatics.

4. Capella University – Cost: $699 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

5. Northeastern University – Cost: $1,345 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

6. Drexel University – Cost: $64,000 total program tuition.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

7. Our Lady of the Lake University – Cost: $745 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

8. George Washington University – Cost: $1,420 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare.

9. Virginia College– Cost: $30,296 program tuition, including all textbooks.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare.

10. Herzing University – Cost: $460 per credit hour.
Degree Name: Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.

The U.S. News and World Report is considered one of the best authorities on education, health, politics, and international issues. Its highly regarded, well recognized annual reports on U.S. college and university rankings, graduate schools, and higher education are backed by twenty seven years of experience in selecting the world’s best educational institutions. Additionally, its annual list of America’s Best Hospitals is based in over 22 years of data and comparison of the quality of technology, care, and qualification of staff.

Considering the U.S. News and World Report’s dedication to research, particularly in the most vital sectors of the U.S. economy, when the online magazine published its most recent list of the Best Healthcare Jobs of 2012, much of the world took notice. Those with the aspirations to work within the healthcare system, those pursuing studies in health or medicine, and those who have established careers in healthcare are either preparing to be or already acting as essential members of the largest and fastest growing workforce in a dynamic industry. And these people offer a far range of skill, the application of knowledge learned through formal educational programs, and the compassion required to help those who are ill, injured, or recovering from a variety of health issues by making a difference in the lives of others daily. .

With lucrative earnings, a secure career outlook, and better than average employment prospects, careers as Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, Medical Assistants, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Laboratory Technicians, Paramedics, and Massage Therapists are not only among the best healthcare careers for 2012 but may very well be the best healthcare careers for many years.

For more regarding the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Healthcare Jobs of 2012, go here.

As part of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s healthcare platform, young people up to age 25 could continue to get healthcare coverage on their parent’s health insurance plan. The Associated Press reports that while 17 states have upped the age of availability for insurance, in some cases to 29 and 30 years of age, other states have yet to do so; now, most states provide stipulations for young people up to age 19 for non-students and 23 for non-students. Estimates made by The Commonwealth Fund, a private organization tasked with promoting quality, access and efficiency of health care in the United States, predict 1.4 million people would gain health insurance if companies were mandated to provide coverage to young people thru their parent’s policies up to age 23.

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1. Carol Ann Reyes Dumped From Hospital Into Skid Row

A homeless woman named Carol Ann Reyes was admitted to Kaiser Permanente Bellflower hospital because of a nasty fall she took. She stayed for three days, at which point Kaiser called her a cab, and instructed the cab driver to dump her in the Los Angeles area known as Skid Row. Reyes was wearing only a thin hospital gown, because, as the hospital later admitted, her clothing had been lost. Carol was confused and suffering from dementia, but Kaiser put her on the streety anyway, and was only caught because of a videocamera running outside of a homeless shelter.

Source

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