For those who are passionate about healthcare, getting a degree in health services might be the way to go. There are many comprehensive study programs available in the field that can help aspiring health services personnel to make a good start to their careers.
In general, the outlook for health services jobs is quite encouraging for the coming years. For instance, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment opportunities for Medical and Health Services Managers to increase by a huge 18% between 2018 and 2028. This means an additional 71,600 vacancies.
Interested in joining this sector? Read this comprehensive piece to learn about the best Health Specialties degrees as well as popular career paths.
What Are Health Specialties?
Health Specialties include the myriad activities involved in the provision of medical facilities and treatment to people. The field relates to the management, administration, and leadership of public health facilities, hospital networks, and the complete healthcare system. Degree programs in health services usually focus on sciences, laboratory work, research, treatment, and preventive healthcare.
What Can You Do With a Health Specialties Degree?
With a Health Specialties degree, you can pursue different roles such as Medical and Health Services Manager, Dentist, General Physician, Healthcare Management Researcher, Surgical Specialist, Nursing Home Administrator, Clinical Manager, Paramedic, Surgical Technologist, Healthcare Compliance Manager, EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), etc.
The compensation data and predicted career outlook for some of these roles has been shared in the next section. All information has been taken from the records of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical and Health Services Managers
Medical and Health Services Managers are responsible for keeping the affairs of a medical center running smoothly. They oversee the operations of a whole hospital, a single department within a hospital, or a clinical area. They usually have different designations such as Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Administrators, Healthcare Managers, etc.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $100,980 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 18% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $115,160 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 36,940 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | District of Columbia | $150,040 |
Dentists, General
Dentists deal with problems related to the teeth, gums, and other portions of the mouth. They advise on oral and dental hygiene, prescribe treatment, and surgically replace/repair a tooth.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $155,600 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 8% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $178,260 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 16,220 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | Rhode Island | $262,900 |
Family Medicine Physicians
They are responsible for diagnosing various kinds of injuries and ailments. They record patients’ medical histories, carry out different diagnostic tests, advise on treatment procedures and preventive healthcare, prescribe medicines and diet plans, etc.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $205,590 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 10% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $213,270 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | Florida | 11,830 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | New Hampshire | $262,620 |
What to Expect from a Health Specialties Degree?
While studying for any Health Specialties degree, you will learn about Health Informatics, Prescribing Medicines, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Medical Laws and Regulations, Anesthetics, Healthcare Delivery Systems, Human Biology, Biostatistics, Ethics in Healthcare, Epidemiology, Health Services Marketing, Medical Terminology, etc.
How to Choose a Health Specialties Degree?
When you are picking a Health Specialties degree to enroll in, there are certain things to consider. First and foremost, you need to check the accreditation status of a particular program. After that, you must also look at the course contents, fee structure, available majors, research opportunities, campus location, ease of commute, residence facilities (for institutions situated out of town/city/state), job outlook, etc.
Health Specialties Degree Admission Requirements
Entrance criteria depend on the type and level of a Health Specialties degree. Many institutions also have their own specific requirements. For instance, if you are looking to pursue a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) program, then you must complete a Bachelor’s program first and then successfully pass the DAT (Dental Admission Test).
On the other hand, a Health and Wellness Coaching Certificate program may only require you to complete a High School Diploma or GED (General Educational Development) Certificate along with taking some prerequisite courses.