Are you interested in a career in healthcare but direct patient care is not for you? The AS degree in Health Services Management is designed for students who hope to work in in the administrative areas of the health care field. Positions can be found in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms, and doctor’s offices. Health Services Management professionals have little or no direct patient contact, but provide service “behind the scenes.” The curriculum is intended to prepare students to enter the upper-division courses in a Health Services Administration program.

Health Service Managers may manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Medical and health services managers must adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology.

DUTIES

Medical and health services managers typically do the following:

• Improve efficiency and quality in delivering healthcare services
• Develop departmental goals and objectives
• Ensure that the facility in which they work is up-to-date on and compliant with laws and regulations
• Recruit, train, and supervise staff members
• Manage the finances of the facility, such as patient fees and billing
• Create work schedules
• Prepare and monitor budgets and spending to ensure departments operate within funding limits
• Represent the facility at meetings or on governing boards
• Keep and organize records of the facility’s services
• Communicate with members of the staff and department heads

The program covers a broad spectrum of medical, administrative, financial, and managerial knowledge to provide you with a diverse education that will prepare you for work in the healthcare management field.

With your degree, you could become qualified to work in any number of healthcare-related settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and public health organizations. Or, you could find employment working for the healthcare department of a local, state, or federal government agency.

International Students

International students have a limited number of online and blended courses they can take per-semester and should fully understand the requirements before registering. It is recommended that international students review with their assigned advisor the Health Services Management program as well as their individual educational plan as several courses are only offered online and only offered during specific semesters. Failure to take courses in the appropriate order can impede an international student’s ability to complete. Online courses in the program include HIM 2512, HIM 2012, HIM 1260 and HSC 1531.

Recommendation for Health Services Management Practicum Internship

Prior to taking HSA 2810L, Practicum in Health Facility Administration in the last term, it is required that students participate in seeking out their own internships. Students should begin to identify potentials preceptors three to six months prior to the start of the practicum. A letter from the planned externship facility needs to be approved by the Health Services Management Associate Dean or (HSA2810L) faculty before making the internship commitment. The letter must contain all associated activities of the internship. Students should begin to identify potentials preceptors three to six months prior to the start of the practicum. The Health Services Management Practicum Fact Sheet is in link below. For further information, please contact the Health Services Management Department Administrative Assistant at 954-201-6448.

Students are required to complete a background check and drug screening prior to taking the practicum in a healthcare facility. The cost of the background check and screenings is borne by the student (through complio, American Data Bank 1800-200-0853. The complio package can be ordered at www.browardcollegescreening.com starting March 2, 2020. Some healthcare facilities may require additional screening prior to starting the internship. Any additionals fees will be the responsibility of the student.