| Health Studies for a college and career option is | | | | digitally exchanged so that doctors and hospitals |
| dramatically increasing in popularity for several | | | | can get patient information at the right time and |
| reasons, including the fact that more of the | | | | at the right place. Better information means |
| nation's resources are being directed toward the | | | | better care, more professional coordination and a |
| health promotion and health care sectors. | | | | healthier patient. However, employers will be |
| Students majoring in Health Studies are attracted | | | | looking for more than just computer |
| to the solid background they receive in a wide | | | | programmers or technicians to design the tools it |
| range of health topics, preparing them for a | | | | will take to coordinate all this data. They will be |
| number of career options in private business, | | | | looking for individuals who can bridge the gap |
| government or non-profit organization settings. | | | | between the technical side and the health care |
| For example, the health insurance industry, which | | | | side -- people who understand the needs of the |
| employs hundreds of thousands of people will | | | | health care community and can translate those |
| continue whether it's operated by the | | | | needs into technical products and services that |
| government or by private companies. Insurance | | | | address specific problems. Again, a background in |
| companies will recruit future administrators and | | | | Health Studies, combined with a graduate or |
| managers who have both business and health | | | | advanced degree in digital technology, will give |
| backgrounds in a continuous effort to have a | | | | anyone a leg up who is looking to pursue that |
| work force that is balanced in its outlook and | | | | career option. |
| experience. That being the case, an ideal | | | | Again, the whole idea of Health Studies is to give |
| educational track for someone interested in | | | | the student a general background of the health |
| pursuing those opportunities would be to obtain an | | | | issues and trends that are shaping the country |
| Associate's Degree in Health Studies and a | | | | and world. Have a firm grasp of those trends will |
| Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or | | | | provide a tremendous advantage to anyone |
| Accounting. | | | | interested in using that education a foundation to |
| Let's say you are a health insurance company | | | | more career specific courses they have the |
| interested in hiring a program manager or account | | | | opportunity to take in the future. |
| executive. Would you hire a candidate who had a | | | | Opportunities will increase as more money is being |
| Bachelor's Degree in Business? Or would you hire | | | | directed by all sectors to promote health and |
| the candidate who had an Associate's Degree in | | | | wellness programs. It's less expensive to keep |
| Health Studies and a Bachelor's Degree in | | | | someone healthy than it is to treat them when |
| Business? Both candidates spent the same | | | | they are sick. Health Studies provides a |
| amount of time in school, but one candidate has | | | | comprehensive background for anyone interested |
| two degrees, and each degree has a direct | | | | in working for health care organizations, insurance |
| relevancy to the job. | | | | companies, human resources, corporate training, |
| Another field that will be booming in the next 10 | | | | occupational health and safety, public and |
| years will be the Health Information Technology | | | | community health, nutrition and wellness |
| (IT) field. Billions of dollars will be invested to | | | | programming, and exercise and fitness |
| create electronic health records (EHR) that can be | | | | management. |