By Diana Allen Newhouse
According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare administration services is expected to grow by 22% from 2010 to 2020 and at a rate faster than the average for all other occupations. Tracey McKethan, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Health Information Technologies Department at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) in Springfield, MA states "I believe the employment horizon is much brighter for healthcare students. I am finding that employers see the importance of a college education during the hiring process. Many also have interest in students who have entry level billing and coding credentials, such as Certified Coding Associate from AHIMA or Certified Professional Coder Apprentice from AAPC. Students who have performed strongly in their academic programs are finding good, meaningful jobs."
Erin Kalagher, a soon to be graduate of STCC landed an entry level billing position through the school's externship program. Ms. Kalagher states, "I was looking for a change in employment and I found a career in billing and coding...I knew going to school would lead to a career, I just wasn't sure what that would be until I started classes...I was drawn to the medical field and working with numbers in medical coding is very appealing to me. Learning to translate words into CPT codes is fascinating...Bringing the skills I learned in the classroom into the field allows me to be a better employee."
Education is the resounding theme expressed by numerous employers when asked what they look for in hiring healthcare administration positions. Elvia Vergara, a student at Bay Path College in Longmeadow, MA sees a healthcare administration degree as the gateway to success in her career path. "I know several students currently employed at healthcare facilities who returned to school to further their education after they lost opportunities or promotions due to lacking degrees," says Ms. Vergara.
Dale Schwartz, a student at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, NY returned to school to finish her bachelor's degree in order to retain her employment. "I am a 57-year-old wife, mom, and grandmother, and I was not considering going back to school until I was told I had to for my current job. The experience so far has been rewarding but very stressful. I work full time, babysit for my 15-month-old granddaughter after work, and then attend to my school work," says Mrs. Schwartz.
Ms. Vergara agrees, "It's challenging to manage school around family and work obligations, especially around my children. It takes organization, prioritization, and dedication. You have to be disciplined to manage all the workload required to succeed." Ms. Vergara says she has a great support system at home which helps. She has concern over the current state of the economy but feels her education will be a catalyst to move ahead.