Helping Health Care Professionals Help Patients

COVID-19, the departure of countless health care professionals from the industry, and an ever-evolving global landscape are changing the ways the medical profession functions. Many health care workers are suddenly finding themselves with new and more diverse duties. For these professionals, the new certificate in health administration introduced at Valparaiso University in fall 2021 may be the resource they need to find their footing and help ensure patients continue to receive safe, reliable care.

“Current issues in health care demand that we have more leaders who are prepared to address them,” says Karen Allen, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. “The certificate in health administration at Valparaiso University is a high quality, exciting learning experience taught by current experts in the field who have their finger on the pulse of what is happening in the industry.”

S. Kim Genovese, Ph.D., RN-BC, CNE, health administration program director, associate professor of nursing and health professions, and a driving force behind the new program, says that the certificate of health administration can help health care workers meet the new demands of their industry.

“Because of shortages, people who may have been very good clinically are being moved into management roles more quickly than ever before. The certificate in health administration could provide the additional education they need to help support them in their new management and leadership roles. If they have some education behind that, it can help support their new position,” Professor Genovese says.

While a typical patient does not have direct interaction with health care administrators during a visit, the decisions these professionals make have an immense impact on a patient’s experience and quality care and care within the organization. One of the required classes for everyone in the program is Health Administration 501 (HADM 501), a course that discusses many of the fundamental aspects of health care organization, including a hospital visit, that patients experience every time they walk into a facility. Factors from mask requirements, thermometer checkpoints, and clean environments within the building, to whom are the health professionals and equipment necessary for the best client care, all represent decisions that a person in a position of health administration has had to make.

“They’re things we take for granted when we walk into a health care facility, but how do people decide those things? Those are quality and environmental factors of care,” Professor Genovese says.

Other courses available for students to earn their certification include essential background operations of an organization, such as legal and ethical issues, financial management and effective human resources management.

“When administration is working with health care professionals on staffing numbers to maximize efficient and effective health care delivery, patients will experience the results,” Scott Harrison, director of human resources, says. “Likewise, when administration develops mechanisms to anticipate and minimize cases of employee burnout, they are simultaneously improving patient safety and the experience patients will have with their health care providers.”
The Certificate of Health Administration is designed to work with the busy schedule of a health care professional. Classes are in the evenings from 6–9 p.m. and can be attended remotely. Some are asynchronous, meaning that students can go through the material at their own convenience.

“We envision most students as being people who have a bachelor’s degree and are in a management role in a health care organization, or someone that’s moving into that role, but doesn’t have a good, strong background in health care yet,” Professor Genovese says. “These four classes give them an introduction to health care. It gives them information that is critical right now, especially with the changing times in the field.”

Jeffrey Coto, DNP, MS-CNS, RN, CCRN, an operations director heart and vascular institute and surgical service line for Riverside Medical Group who shares his experience as a lecturer in the program, offered insight into how the kind of certification being offered at Valpo has made a difference for health care professionals in his field.

“Being an operations director of a heart and vascular institute and surgical service line, I have about 140 full-time employees in my group including five site supervisors and managers,” Professor Coto says. “Not all site supervisors or managers have a business degree nor a nursing degree, but they all do have some sort of health care leadership training and many find that this type of certification path is cost effective and helps them get an edge on the competition.”

The 12-credit course is divided into four classes. Prospective students have the opportunity to take standard 14-week classes in the fall and spring semesters, with a seven-week course available in the summer.
The certificate in health administration is also open to new graduates, international students, and any professional considering a career change. For more information on the program, contact kim.genovese@valpo.edu