Purdue meets health care needs with new online health care operations and quality improvement certificates

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – To give professionals interested in health care an opportunity to develop valuable skills in business, management and quality improvement in health care delivery, Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences is offering two new online graduate certificates in health care operations management and health care quality improvement.

The new certificates are offered through Purdue’s Department of Public Health, which offers multiple online graduate administration programs, including a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and another graduate certificate in health care leadership. Cody Mullen, clinical associate professor of public health, serves as director of Purdue’s Master of Health Administration degree program, which was recently ranked No. 3 nationally by OnlineMaster'sDegree.org.

“With these new certificate offerings, we’re hoping to give professional students another upskilling opportunity that will increase their business and management acumen,” Mullen said. “And with a graduate certificate, students can learn these valuable skills in less time than a traditional master’s degree.”

The health care operations certificate consists of three online courses that can be completed in nine months. Students will learn marketable skills in health care finance, accounting and operations management.

The health care quality improvement certificate also consists of three online classes that can be completed in nine months. In this certificate program, students will learn to make data-driven decisions to improve the quality and delivery of health care.

“These certificates were built to increase career potential in fields like clinic finance, hospital administration, medical manufacturing, insurance, business operations, health services and quality management,” Mullen said.

As the country’s health care systems grow in reach and complexity, expertise in business and management has become increasingly in demand for health care professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in health care operations could grow by as much as 17% between 2020 and 2030, faster than the average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also indicates health care jobs in quality improvement are expected to grow by 16% through 2030. These new graduate certificates are designed to meet this demand and prepare future professionals for critical roles in hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities.

“This is an exciting and meaningful time to enter the health care field,” Mullen said. “Opportunities are expanding, and there’s also a lot of important work to be done, considering the ways the medical system has been challenged by COVID-19 and other public health crises.”

Credits from the graduate certificates in health care quality improvement, health care operations and health care leadership can also be transferred to the online Master of Health Administration degree.

“The flexibility that these certificates offer is a big advantage to professional students,” Mullen said. “They can take a few classes in an area they’re interested in to earn a valuable credential, and they can easily transfer those credits to the master’s degree if they want to continue their education. The pace is up to them.”

Applicants to the certificate programs must have one to three years of professional experience in a health care-related field. Students can apply for a fall, spring or summer start date. Since all three classes will be held entirely online, students can access lectures and other course materials at any time.

Visit the health care operations graduate certificate and the health care quality improvement graduate certificate program websites for more details about the certificates and how to apply.

Writer: Rachel Barton, 240-818-1189, barton53@purdue.edu

Source: Cody Mullen, cjmullen@purdue.edu