Health Care Management Education Reform

According to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the $2.5 trillion spent on health care in the United States equals about "17 percent of annual economic output, nearly double the average for developed countries, while producing the worst health outcomes in the industrialized world." As a result, colleges are seeking innovative entrepreneurs to enroll in their health care management programs.

America's top universities view health care management as both a challenge and an opportunity to help improve America's health system. They're teaching their students to find solutions to increase the effectiveness of America's current health care systems.

According to Richard Hamermesh, a professor of management practice at Harvard, "We train them to start innovative companies, design new delivery systems and become entrepreneurs who can think of new ways to impact the system." Finding new solutions to increase the effectiveness of health care systems will not only translate into billions of dollars in savings, but most importantly, a higher quality of health care for all Americans.

As a result of health care reform, business schools are anticipating a demand for health care management professionals with specific skills. For example, one feature of health care reform emphasizes the importance of health care related information technology (IT) and the need for electronic health records.

"A $30 billion investment will be made in information technology," says Kevin Schulman a director of the health care management program at a well-known university. "This investment will have a huge impact in the consulting and IT field. The massive acceleration of investment in health IT is causing people to ask whether they have the necessary skills to assume leadership roles."

As a result, business schools are responding by creating specialized health care management programs with concentrations in areas like information technology to prepare students for emerging career opportunities that will require qualified candidates.

Health service executives, health care administrators and health service managers play a crucial role managing the business side of the health care industry. Even though health care management professionals work largely behind the scenes, they are devoted to making health services obtainable and accessible to the people they serve.

_{Source: New York Times}