Due to the increasing number of elderly people as well as a huge number of newly opened West Virginia’s hospitals, healthcare systems, managed care organizations, and consulting firms, the demand for healthcare administrators will be constant in the years to come.
These organizations require leaders with advanced education and earning a degree is an ideal way to either get an entry-level job or advance to executive leadership positions.
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Health Administration Degrees in West Virginia
Interested students can select from accredited online programs offered as there are no campus locations that offer CAHME-accredited healthcare administration programs in this state.
Bachelor’s degrees in health administration available both online and on-campus to students in West Virginia are structured as:
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a focus in Health Administration or Management
- Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA)
By attending a bachelor’s degree program, you will be provided with a solid foundation of knowledge in health administration, as these programs are designed to prepare you to start a career in the field.
The whole education consists of four years of full-time study and 120-semester credits, that are divided into general education and core curriculum of study in topics such as:
- Quality assessment for patient care improvement
- Healthcare information systems management
- Human resource management
- Economics for healthcare
- Organizational change
- Strategic healthcare management and planning
When it comes to general education requirements, most programs will accept an associate’s transfer degree to cover general them.
A bachelor’s degree in health administration is not required for admission into a master’s degree program in the field.
Master’s degrees in health administration are offering more complex education as they prepare students to become next-generation leaders in healthcare.
Graduates of these programs can get mid- and senior-level positions in hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, managed care organizations, and government policy organizations and can be in charge of more responsible tasks.
Master’s degrees in health administration require students to possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including finance, business management, accounting, and healthcare, among others.
Some schools will require some kind of experience in a healthcare discipline such as nursing, which is typical of schools offering executive master’s degrees in health administration.
Furthermore, there are programs, designed as executive programs for mid-level professionals already working in the field, that can require specific work experience and professional references as their admission criteria.
General admission requirements for master’s programs typically include:
- Minimum undergraduate GPA
- Minimum GRE scores
- Admission essays
- Letters of recommendation
The program content of a master’s degree in health administration often varies according to the school or college that you choose to attend.
It is commonplace to find these programs structured as:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Health Administration
- Master of Health Administration (MHA)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a focus in Health Administration
- Master of Public Health Administration
Furthermore, these graduate degrees are part of a dual degree, such as:
- MBA/MPH
- MHA/MBA
- JD/MHA
- MD/MHA
The core curriculum of the graduate degree programs includes the study of:
- Management of information systems
- Organization behavior
- Healthcare marketing
- Current issues in healthcare administration
- Healthcare law and ethics
Prior to graduation, a capstone project or residency experience is obligatory, with the aim to provide students with the opportunity to focus on a healthcare topic of interest and show what they have learned during their studies.
Job Postings in Healthcare Administration in West Virginia
The following job descriptions provide recent graduates of health administration master’s degrees with an idea of the type of job opportunities available in West Virginia and what kind of education and experience is necessary to be considered an eligible candidate for specific positions.
In the majority of cases, candidates with a master’s degree and years of experience are given preference.
Patient Experience Coordinator, Hospital, Huntington – This person will collaborate with system leaders and their teams to support the organization’s mission so a bachelor’s degree is required, while those applicants with a master’s degree will be given preference.
Executive Director, Senior Home Care, Clarksburg – He/she will provide leadership and administration, be in charge of human resources development, business development, and fiscal oversight; a bachelor’s degree and three-plus years of experience in managing systems, processes, and people are required.
Quality Management Director, Hospital, Giles – He/she will need to make sure that the clinical effectiveness corporate functions are carried out on a local level so a bachelor’s degree is required, while a master’s degree is preferred to be considered eligible for this position.
Possible Employers and Professional Resources for Health Administrators in West Virginia
West Virginia’s largest hospitals and healthcare systems as well as employers of health administrators and managers:
- West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown
- Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston
- Beckley ARH Hospital, Beckley
- Beckley Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Beckley
- Berkeley Medical Center, Martinsburg
Professional associations in West Virginia:
- West Virginia Health Care Association
- West Virginia Rural Health Association
- West Virginia Hospital Association
- West Virginia Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association
Health Administration Salaries and Job Growth in West Virginia
West Virginia is one of the oldest states in the nation, being that its senior population is expected to make up about 23% of the state’s total population in the next decade.
This means that there will be a huge need for healthcare administrators who can create and maintain the state’s efficient, accessible, and affordable hospital and healthcare systems.
The great job outlook is one of the reasons that you should think about becoming a health administrator,
We are glad to mention that the number of healthcare administrators in West Virginia is expected to increase in the coming years and you should not worry about finding the right job.
The second reason to get involved in education related to health administration is the salary which is satisfactory and stable.
The median salary for healthcare administrators in West Virginia is $103172, but there are professionals who take executive and leading positions that earn up to $116359.
In the table below, you can see that the average salary varies from city to city, so you should have that in mind as well when looking for a job.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Healthcare Administrators in West Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $106,072 |
| Huntington | $102,846 |
| Parkersburg | $103,405 |
| Wheeling | $114,002 |
| Morgantown | $114,002 |
| Weirton | $113,592 |
| Fairmont | $114,002 |
| Beckley | $105,140 |
| Clarksburg | $102,473 |
| Martinsburg | $128,290 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 130 | $105,730 | $50.83 | $150,490 | $55,280 |
| Charleston, WV | 330 | $128,520 | $61.79 | $205,390 | $71,610 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 500 | $108,080 | $51.96 | $161,980 | $49,440 |
| Morgantown, WV | 260 | $132,640 | $63.77 | $206,920 | $76,170 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 70 | $111,550 | $53.63 | $156,800 | $52,710 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 110 | $101,520 | $48.81 | $141,390 | $60,010 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 200 | $101,410 | $48.75 | $160,370 | $50,060 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
