Insight Into Health Care Administration
The heart and focus of the Health Care Administration emphasis in the MBA program at SAU is best illustrated by the recurring scripture students use in their work: “Do not merely look out for your interests, but also the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, AMP). Students in the health care admin emphasis are sincerely interested in improving the quality of health care and in helping their communities with innovative health care programs.
Our courses are designed to allow students to apply theory to practice.
For example, in the Managing Quality in Health Care course, students develop a quality improvement proposal that could be implemented within their workplace. In the proposal development, students work with the professor to design a project based on Lean Process Management principles and the Six Sigma Improvement Model.
Students have an opportunity to develop their fund of knowledge in the management and administration of health care and build strong competencies as a leader in the business of health care. Upon graduation, students will have completed assignments that are resume ready in the areas of finance, program development and quality improvement.
The mix of students in the health care administration emphasis includes those working in frontline clinical work, individuals in administration and management and those who hope to advance into management positions in health care. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, opportunities for a career in health care administration and management is expected to grow by 20 percent over the next six years.
The median entry-level salary is $99,730 per year at the bachelor’s level.
In the state of Michigan, the annual mean salary is $110, 490. Ann Arbor has the highest concentration of health care administration jobs in the state. Obtaining this MBA provides strategic management knowledge and skills for individuals currently working in the field of health care to move into executive positions within their organizations.
I enjoy my work as an adjunct instructor at SAU because of the high-quality students. I have been impressed with students who take the vision of making a difference in the lives of others seriously. Obtaining an MBA with an emphasis in health care administration is an opportunity to improve health care. As I read my students’ work and development of Christians ethics, I think about Jesus’ words to his disciples: “This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.” (John 15:17 AMP).
I am an Associate Professor and Program Director for Health Care Management at another Christian university. My goal is to educate and influence leaders for quality in the delivery of health care. My previous work in the field of health care includes being a frontline person during the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s. My task was to develop community programs, patient education initiatives, and train health care staff about the prevention of HIV transmission and how to care for those who were already affected by the virus. I have published research on addiction and psychiatric disorders and the organizational factors that influence the delivery of substance use treatment outcomes.
I continue teaching in the SAU MBA Health Care Administration program because working with students who have a great desire to bring excellence to health care is inspiring!
By: Dr. Kelly Riesenmy
Kelly Riesenmy, Ph.D.
Dr. Kelly Riesenmy is Associate Professor and Program Director of Healthcare Management at Mid-America Christian University and part-time faculty in the Gainey School of Business, Healthcare Management at Spring Arbor University. She received her Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Regent University and a master’s in psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her published research focuses on organizational factors that influence healthcare delivery.
As an independent consultant, she has worked with hospital systems on adoption of electronic health records and quality improvement efforts. She has more than 10 years of clinical experience in behavioral health for which she has been recognized with the “Heart of Gold” award by the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Kansas City. Her leadership in a regional training initiative for patient education on HIV/AIDS prevention was recognized by the Veterans Affairs Central Office in Washington, DC.
Dr. Riesenmy accepted Christ as her Savior at 6 years-old but made Him Lord of her life at 32 years-old. She is active in intercessory prayer ministry and believes that nothing is impossible with God. He is central to her work in the academy and she relies on Him to guide her life. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32: 8).
