Those who want to positively impact their communities through the healthcare industry often inquire about the career path to become a health policy analyst. The healthcare industry, which is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation, includes clinical professionals, allied health specialists,healthcare administrators, and public health policy makers . Although clinical and allied health professionals get more face time with the public, healthcare administration and policy making professionals are responsible for conducting the research and analysis needed to establish the nation’s healthcare policies. Here is an overview of the academic and professional steps typically taken to become a health policy analyst as well as the expectations for the job.
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Academic Degree Programs for Health Policy Analysts
A health policy analyst usually conducts cost benefit analyses on healthcare proposals. Although they mainly focus on the quantitative aspects of the job, they are aware of the qualitative concerns of healthcare and use their knowledge to propose recommendations and modifications to current policies. While an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration gives students a good foundation in the business operations of hospitals and other healthcare organizations, it is primarily those with graduate level degrees in public health or public policy that move into health policy analyst positions. A graduate degree in health administration also provides prospective health policy analysts with a rigorous curriculum that encourages critical thinking and analytically based problem solving skills needed for success within the health policy analyst career field. A few prospective health policy analysts earn master’s degrees in business administration and public administration to prepare for this important position.
Besides courses about healthcare organizational management which are taught at the undergraduate level, a master of public health curriculum usually includes health economics, statistical analysis and health policy courses. This type of curriculum presents students with advance topics about healthcare governance issues, factors that impact the healthcare environment and healthcare strategy formulation. Depending on the academic program chosen and the career goals of the student, the scope of the curriculum topics focus on the national or international healthcare environments.
Professional Background and Work Experience
With national healthcare reforms in full swing, employment opportunities for healthcare policy analysts have not looked brighter. Besides a solid academic background in health administration, prospective health policy analysts usually have varied professional backgrounds. For instance, experienced financial analysts, accountants and even social workers can apply their knowledge to the health policy career field. Additionally, top rated graduate degree programs in public health and public policy often have faculty supervised residency requirements that give health policy analysts the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge to real world settings.
Work Environment and Job Prospects
Health policy analysts usually work in public health hospitals or medical research facilities. These healthcare professionals interact with a variety of stakeholders that include hospital administrators, chief clinical staff members and even government law makers. During the course of their work, health policy analysts utilize health related statistical data to verify the efficacy of healthcare policies and to create justifications for policy improvements.
Conclusion
Healthcare policy analysts are often the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. Their behind the scenes work helps to establish policies that make sure patients have access to quality healthcare that is also affordable. In fact, it is not uncommon for a medical professional with clinical experience to switch careers and become a health policy analyst.