Economists who have studied the state of the healthcare industry, both before and after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, have determined that some states have benefited from the Act far more than others. By their analysis, Vermont is the third highest on the list of states that has benefited the most from the ACA. This act has caused there to be far more access to healthcare, more state funding, and lower monthly premiums overall.
Because more of Vermont’s citizens have access to healthcare coverage, more people are actually able to get the medical treatments and medications that they need. This could be a contributing factor to why the healthcare field is experiencing such a healthy growth spurt.
According to the State of Vermont Department of Labor, medical and health service management occupations are expected to experience a 11.6 percent growth rate throughout 2018-2028. Those currently working in this career field earn average annual salaries of $110,640 (U.S. Department of Labor Statistics 2020).
Earning a Healthcare Administration Degree in Vermont
To find employment in the healthcare administration field, it has become almost essential to have a degree specific to the healthcare industry. A degree in healthcare administration or management provides students with the right skills and qualifications they need in order to succeed in the healthcare career field.
Undergraduate Degrees in Healthcare Administration
There are a number of different degree programs available to Vermont students hoping to enter the healthcare administration field:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration or Management (BS)
- Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
Undergraduate degree programs are usually comprised of 120 credit hours. This allows most fulltime students to complete the undergraduate program in 4 years. The first two years typically consist of a required general education core. In the final two years of the undergrad program, students are able to take major-specific courses that deal with the following healthcare administration topics:
- Medical terminology
- Introduction to healthcare administration
- The American healthcare system
- Healthcare law
- Finance
- Public health
- Business administration
Graduate Degrees in Healthcare Administration
In this exciting, changing, and competitive field of healthcare management and administration, having a graduate degree can make all the difference when applying for a job. There are many different graduate degree programs available to students in Vermont:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration
- Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
- Master of Science (MS) in Health Policy and Management
- Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (MSHA)
- MHA/MBA dual degree programs
Graduate Program Admission Criteria
Specific requirements may vary from school to school, but most graduate schools typically use the following list as criteria for admission into their programs:
- Letters of recommendation
- Official undergraduate transcripts
- A minimum GPA requirement
- Prior or current work experience in the healthcare field
- Personal statement or essay
Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in a healthcare-related field may still be considered for admission into these graduate programs; however, they may be required to take additional prerequisite courses before the graduate program begins.
Program Content
Graduate programs in healthcare administration typically consist of 36-60 credit hours, and students usually are able to complete them within two years. After the designated amount of coursework, many programs require students to complete a capstone project or a thesis paper as a final cumulative assignment.
Topics covered in graduate programs often include the following:
- Strategic leadership and decision making
- Financial management and budgeting
- Management
- Policy and compliancy
- Economics of the healthcare system
- Public and community health
- Performance optimization
There are numerous online programs available for students seeking a more flexible format. For those who wish to enroll in an on-campus program, there are healthcare administration degree programs being offered in Bennington.
Healthcare Administration Jobs in Vermont
The following job descriptions have been compiled from various job boards across Vermont, and they can be helpful in showing what employers are looking for when they receive job inquiries and applications as far as prior job experience and educational background.
This list of job descriptions has been provided for illustration purposes only, and should not be interpreted as assurance of employment or as job offers.
Data Innovations, LLC – South Burlington
- Senior Contracts Manager
- Prepares and manages licensing and contracts for clinical supplies, handles negotiations and orders between the company and customers; bachelor’s degree in business or healthcare administration is required, ten years of contract management experience is preferred.
Northwestern Medical Center – St. Albans
- Shift Administrator
- Responsible for the management of the hospital and its employees, scheduling and supervising the staff’s shifts; a bachelor’s degree in nursing or health administration is required as well as a minimum of two years of supervisory experience.
Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region – Rutland
- Practice Manager
- Leads the health center staff team in day to day operations, handles hiring and training of employees, implements and assesses strategies for the highest level of clinic efficiency; ideal candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in the healthcare field as well as three years of experience.
The University of Vermont Medical Center – Burlington
- Director of Primary Care Internal Medicine and Family Medicine
- The director is responsible for overseeing all operations and strategy for the university’s medical center; Ideal applicants would hold a master’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field.
Top Employers and Professional Resources for Healthcare Administrators in Vermont
Healthcare Administrators and Managers in Vermont will find that there are numerous resources available for their benefit.
Vermont’s Largest Employers of Healthcare Administrators and Managers
- Rutland Regional Medical Center, Rutland
- Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro
- Central Vermont Medical Center, Berlin
- Copley Hospital, Morrisville
- Gifford Medical Center, Randolph
- Grace Cottage Hospital, Townshend
- Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, Windsor
- North Country Hospital and Health Center, Newport
- Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Saint Johnsbury
Professional Resources
- Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
- American Association of Health Care Administrative Management
- American Medical Directors Association
- American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration
- Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Health Care Administrators Association
- Health Facilities Management Association
2020 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Medical and Health Services Managers.
Job growth projections sourced from the Vermont Department of Labor and published in the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Long Term Occupational Projections (2018-2028) database – https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm.
Salary figures and job market projections represent state data, not school-specific information.
Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2021.