UA to launch B.S. in Allied Health Care Administration this fall

As the health care industry continues to grow, Northeast Ohio and the rest of the country will desperately seek degreed workers to fill the current in-demand openings. Allied health careers today make up 60% of the total U.S. health care workforce — and that number is growing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this field will increase 20% from 2016 to 2026 — much faster than the average for all occupations.

To help fill the health care workforce gaps and assist many professionals in meeting their personal and professional goals, The University of Akron will offer a new Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Care Administration in fall 2019. This new online degree program allows new students, as well as those who already have an Associate of Applied Science degree, to earn a bachelor's degree — often a requirement to move into supervisory or management roles in the health care industry.

“Allied health care administration managers work closely with both clinical and administrative staff, therefore our program is designed to ensure that students gain the knowledge and experience in both the clinical and administrative sides of health care, to give them an edge in  administrative positions,” said Dr. Kristine Kraft, associate professor and interim director of the School of Allied Health. “This comprehensive degree trains students to be valued members of a health care team by exposing them to study in the areas of human resources management, health records, health research, coding, law and revenue management, among other disciplines.”

In addition to focused classroom and clinical learning, the UA program also prepares students for two valuable certifications: the American Academy of Professional Coders’ (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) national certification exam, and the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist — Physician-based (CCS-P®) national certification exam.

The degree also puts students on a path toward master’s and doctoral-level work, including a doctorate in health care administration.

“This degree is not only a great place for any student to start, but it can also be a good alternative for students who enter other health care related programs and decide they prefer to work in administrative operations rather than in direct care,” said Kraft.

In addition to the degree in Allied Health Care Administration, the School of Allied Health Technology also offers a baccalaureate degree in Respiratory Therapy. For more information on either program, please contact Dr. Kristine Kraft at knk@uakron.edu or visit the School of Allied Health Technology online.

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd @uakron.edu.