If you have an interest in leadership, a passion for helping others, and a love for developing creative solutions, you might consider earning a healthcare innovation masters degree.
As new technologies emerge and patients need change, innovation is vital to the healthcare system’s ability to function. With a master’s in healthcare innovation, your career may involve developing solutions and making improvements that directly contribute to patient outcomes.
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Learning more about the focus of a healthcare innovation program may help you determine whether you’d be well-suited to this area of study and potential career path.
Online Healthcare Innovation Masters Programs
Innovation in healthcare management drives growth and success, particularly with the evolution of technology and greater demand for services like telehealth. Completing an online healthcare innovation master’s program is a strategic way to prepare to meet these ongoing challenges.
If you are currently pursuing your bachelors degree in a subject like community health, health entrepreneurship, health coordination, or a related field, this masters may serve as a natural progression. In some programs, you can complete both degrees in as few as 5 years.
Individuals who have already begun their careers in healthcare but want to gain a broader perspective can also benefit from a healthcare innovation program. A master’s degree may help expand your career opportunities beyond your current position.
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During the course of completing a degree in healthcare innovation, you’ll learn about some of the most pressing issues for managers and administrators in the field. These include dynamic subjects like:
- Managing people
- Finance and economics
- IT
- Innovation theories and methods
- Entrepreneurship
- Public speaking
- Equity and healthcare disparities
- Managing operations
Knowledge in these areas is essential to healthcare professionals in leadership roles. They are often responsible for improving systems, increasing healthcare access, and promoting the wellbeing of patients.
Studying healthcare innovation can prepare you for careers in a wide range of healthcare environments, including long-term care facilities, clinics, and government agencies. Prospective employers value job candidates who understand the complexities of the healthcare system.
After graduating with a master’s in healthcare innovation, some professionals are well-qualified for a position as a medical or health services manager, management analyst, or chief executive. These roles also have opportunities for growth and advancement over time.
Healthcare Innovations Careers & Salaries
A master’s degree in healthcare innovation can help prepare you for a number of lucrative and exciting career paths. Because healthcare is a necessity for all communities, you may also have the opportunity to pursue a large pool of potential employers in a variety of locations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are some of the potential career paths for healthcare innovation professionals.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Chief Executives in Healthcare and Social Assistance | $154,650 |
| Financial Managers | $131,710 |
| Human Resources Managers | $126,230 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $101,340 |
| Administrative Services and Facilities Managers | $99,290 |
| General and Operations Managers | $97,970 |
| Management Analysts | $93,000 |
| Operations Research Analysts | $82,360 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,000 |
| Health Education Specialists | $60,600 |
Graduates of healthcare innovation programs often work in management and administration roles in healthcare facilities like hospitals and clinics. Some hold positions at the highest levels of management, making critical decisions in day-to-day operations.
Your focus in a healthcare innovation position may differ based on your interests and the employer’s needs. There is a need for experts who specialize in subjects like health equity, economics, technology, policy development, and human resources.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects much faster than average growth for many of these areas of employment over the next ten years. For example, medical and health services managers and social and community service managers are expected to see 28% job growth and 12% job growth, respectively.
Master of Health Care Innovation Curriculum & Courses
Your Master of Health Care Innovation degree program will include a variety of core and elective courses. These are examples of some common classes for programs of this kind:
- Advanced Principles and Concepts of Innovation: In this course, you’ll explore the use and development of innovation in complex systems
- Financing for Innovation: This class focuses on health care economics, including budgeting, planning, and management.
- Healthcare Policy and Innovation: In this course, you’ll learn about various aspects of healthcare policy and how to develop and implement innovative policies and practices.
- Innovation and the Individual: In this class, you’ll learn about the role of innovation in the health care environment, particularly taking risks and properly managing workloads.
- IT for Healthcare Innovation: This course centers on information technology trends, specifically with regard to using IT to solve problems in healthcare systems.
- Outcomes Evaluation: You’ll explore outcomes measurement management and evaluation.
- Systems Thinking in a Complex Environment: In this class, you’ll learn about systems thinking theories and methodologies in health care.
- Health Care Operations: This course focuses on operations management and how to overcome challenges in health care, including waste and inflexibility.
- Health Equity: You’ll learn about health disparities and ways to improve health equity and population health.
- Health Economics: In this class, you’ll explore economic principles and how they apply to the production, delivery, and financing of health care.
If you are interested in a particular area of healthcare, you might consider seeking out schools that offer elective courses in that subject. This makes it possible to tailor your education to your ultimate career goals. Many health care innovation programs also include a final capstone project that demonstrates the knowledge and skills you have gained while completing your degree.
Admissions Requirements
To enroll in a health care innovation master’s program, it’s necessary to hold a bachelor’s degree. These are some other common admissions criteria:
- Transcripts. You’ll provide official documentation from your undergraduate programs.
- Recommendations. You may request letters of recommendation from your previous instructors and supervisors.
- CV or Resume. You’ll list all of your accomplishments, employment, and education history.
- Test scores. Some colleges and universities require minimum GRE scores for admission, while others do not require GRE scores at all.
- Personal statement. You can explain your goals and interest in the program.
Most schools also require an application fee along with your completed application.
Accreditation
As you research healthcare innovation masters degrees, one factor to consider is a school’s accreditation. Completing a program at a regionally accredited college or university can be especially beneficial.
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It is often easier to transfer credits from accredited schools, and employers often view an accredited education more favorably. Generally, the level of academic quality at a regionally accredited institution is also higher. This is because a school must undergo a thorough assessment to ensure that they meet the standards of the accrediting body.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
There are a range of options available to help offset the expense of your graduate education. You can file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal aid, and you may be able to find state aid programs as well.
If you are currently working in a related field, your employer may even offer tuition assistance or reimbursement. Scholarship opportunities are also a fruitful option for many students. You can research scholarship programs for your particular area of study. There are also scholarships available based on other criteria, such as high academic achievement.
If you’re unsure where to begin, you might consider contacting the financial aid office at the school where you plan to enroll. Their representatives may be able to offer guidance about available aid programs.
What Is a Healthcare Innovation Masters Degree?
A healthcare innovation masters degree is a multidisciplinary course of study that helps prepare students to become leaders and entrepreneurs in the field. With the increasing use of technology in healthcare, innovation has become integral to success.
Healthcare innovation may involve seemingly simple tasks, such as improving the patient registration process, or major projects, like building a telehealth system. The goal is to improve the patient experience and make healthcare providers’ work processes more efficient.
During a healthcare innovation degree program, you can learn about the theories, systems, and policies that drive creative thinking and problem solving in the field.
What Can You Do with a Masters in Healthcare Innovation?
A masters in healthcare innovation can serve as preparation for a career in management, administration, or analysis.
For example, graduates of these programs may go on to become medical and health services managers, chief executives, health administration consultants, or social and community service managers. Healthcare innovation graduate programs help you develop the decision-making, organization, and problem-solving skills that are necessary to lead a medical or healthcare facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or private practice.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Master of Healthcare Innovation?
Each online master of healthcare innovation program has very specific requirements in terms of courses and projects. The average program requires between 30 and 36 credit hours, which can generally be completed in 1 year with full-time study.
If you have transfer credits from previous study, this can also accelerate your graduation. If the program you choose requires a thesis, or if you can only attend part-time, it may take longer to earn your degree.
Is a Healthcare Innovation Masters Degree Worth It?
Yes, a healthcare innovation masters degree is worth it for many students. Healthcare is an essential service, which, in turn, means that professionals with advanced knowledge of healthcare administration and management are usually in high demand.
This is demonstrated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects that careers related to healthcare innovation will have above-average growth over the next ten years. For instance, medical and health services managers are expected to see 28% job growth.
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Healthcare innovation can also be a fulfilling sector for many. Professionals in this field may help improve the lives of patients, ease the workload for healthcare providers, and make critical systems more efficient.
Universities Offering Online Masters in Healthcare Innovation Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
AdventHealth University offers an MHA with a concentration in Strategy and Innovation. Students can complete the program entirely online. There are pathways for students who hold associate or bachelor’s degrees. Students must complete 39 credit hours along with any necessary bridge credits to graduate. The curriculum consists of courses such as Identity and Mission in Faith-Based Healthcare.
AdventHealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Antioch University offers an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership. The program is available entirely online. Students can potentially complete the program in just 22 months. The MBA requires the completion of 33 credit hours. The curriculum consists of courses like The Healthcare Sector as a Complex System and Healthcare Innovation and Quality.
Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Arizona State University offers a Master of Healthcare Innovation. The program requires the completion of 11 courses for a total of 34 credit hours. All courses are fully online. Each course is 7.5 weeks long. The school also offers a 4+1 program in which students can pursue an MHI along with a bachelor’s degree.
Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Champlain College offers an MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Administration. To graduate, students must complete 36 to 42 credits, including core and specialization credits. The program is offered entirely online, and courses are asynchronous. There are six start dates offered throughout the year, and classes are 8 weeks long. The curriculum consists of courses such as Healthcare System Design and Innovation.
Champlain College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Johns Hopkins University offers an MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Management, Innovation, and Technology. Courses are fully online and can be taken synchronously or asynchronously. Students are required to complete 54 credit hours, including specialization courses. The program can potentially be completed in just 2 years.
Johns Hopkins University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Ohio State University offers a Master of Healthcare Innovation (MHI). The program is offered entirely online. There are synchronous and asynchronous course options. Students are required to complete a capstone project, but no residency is required. The capstone must address a real-world healthcare problem and develop an authentic solution.
Ohio State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Park University offers an MHA with a concentration in Innovation and Quality Management. The program can be completed fully online or in a blended format. To graduate, students must complete 36 credit hours—24 credits in the core curriculum and 12 in their concentration. Students must also complete a capstone project in management and marketing.
Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Arizona offers an MS in Healthcare Management. There are two start dates offered each year. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 7 core courses and 9 elective courses for a total of 30 credit hours. The curriculum consists of courses such as Innovative Strategies in Healthcare Marketing.
The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Pennsylvania offers a Master of Health Care Innovation. The program is fully online and requires the completion of 11 courses, including 6 in the core curriculum and 3 electives. Courses are asynchronous with weekly due dates. The 6 week accelerated course format allows for faster degree completion. The program can typically be completed in 1 to 3 years.
The University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of St. Thomas offers an MS in Health Care Innovation. The program is offered in a blended format and designed to be completed in 1 year. Students work through the program with a mentor in the healthcare industry. Students must commit to meeting on eight Saturdays throughout the program. The program requires the completion of 31.5 credit hours.
The University of St. Thomas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Getting Your Degree in Healthcare Innovation Masters Online
An online masters degree in healthcare innovation offers opportunities to grow as a leader and creative thinker. Completing this graduate program may help you develop knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for positions with a range of employers who are needing innovative healthcare professionals.
You can begin your academic journey toward a healthcare innovation master’s degree by researching accredited colleges and universities online. You can seek out the school with the curriculum and program structure for the online healthcare administration degree that seems right for you.
You may soon be on your way to building or strengthening your skill sets and helping to redefine healthcare as we know it.
