Rob C ⋅ Trenton, NJ Na ⋅ 1 years experience

As a healthcare lender in the NJ/NY/PA markets, I can tell you with full sincerity to put your MBA down and get into a healthcare position immediately. Healthcare is booming with activity but it is also consolidating at a rapid pace. Consolidation is bad for NEW administrators due to obvious overlap of merged companies. That said, my advice would be to take an entry level billing gig and try to find pain points of providers. Correct your clients mistakes and forge relationships with other administrators. Get active in the trade shows (and there are many!). Leverage websites like beckersasc.com and modernhealthcare.com to see national trends (increasing reimbursement sectors of healthcare) and then pull out your magnifying glass for this next step:

Find the people in the positions you want, find out what groups or trade associations they frequent, where do they get their continuing education from, and mimic them. You don't need to be a hired administrator to sit in their classes but this will give you a head start on what challenges they are facing and not to mention, put you in a room with those whom you aspire to become.

Bob Abrams ⋅ Buffalo Grove, IL Hewlett Packard ⋅ 20 years experience

Interesting situation because my daughter just graduated with a BS in Health Science and minor in Bus. Admin. A month before she graduated she interviewed with three well known companies in the Chicago area, and landed a job with a medical supply company nearby. She was hired on a rotation basis, which means that she will be assigned to different positions within the company over several months until she fits the ideal job. Although she has BA courses completed, the company felt that she had stronger skills elsewhere. I would not suggest immediately enrolling in MBA or advanced training because as I discovered my daughter's new company will be paying up to 80% for continuing education after she has been with the company for more than 6 months.

Lori Greiving ⋅ Lexington, KY Xerox Services - Healthcare ⋅ 20 years experience

I concur with many of the posters. I would focus on gaining some business experience via volunteer or actual employment in the industry you are interested in. If it is healthcare, remember that industry is a lot broader than one might imagine. There are hundreds of companies in the healthcare business that are not hospitals. Kind of like the automotive industry. For every Ford or Chevy factory there are dozens of third party companies making parts and supplying materials to the factory. I work at one of those companies. We're not technically a healthcare company but I've been supporting healthcare clients for more than a dozen years. You could even explore your interest in IT within the healthcare industry setting. Every year brings increased use of technology and innovation to drive down cost and improve access to healthcare like telemedicine or wearable devices to track medication adherence. It’s an interesting field and you don't need an MBA to get your feet wet.

Matt Paschal ⋅ Rochester, MN IBM ⋅ 23 years experience

Hi Cody,
Educating yourself is never a bad idea. You have a good foundation with your BS degree. I think getting work experience before getting an MBA is a good choice. In my career, I worked for 2 years at the US Army Electronic Proving Ground in Ft. Huachuca, Az for two years before returning to school to get my MS in Elec. Eng. Working for a couple years helped me understand the area to focus on in my MSEE studies. Today I work with several people who got their MBA after working for several years first. Work experience may also help you get accepted into your MBA program of choice.

Pursuing an MBA vs a tech degree depends on your interests and passion. Do you want to solve complex technical problems as an engineer does? Or maybe you are more interested in business development where an MBA would be helpful. If you follow your interest and passion rather than figure out what some employers want today, you will be much more successful in the long run.

Paul Holzschuher ⋅ Lebanon, OH Ohmart/Vega ⋅ 40 years experience

Hi Cody
I agree with the other mentors, an MBA is not needed now.
Evaluate your strength and weaknesses, using a SWOT analysis like
http://scoreworks.org/briefs/SCORE%204.59.89.pdf

Note: most every hospitals needs volunteers.
I volunteer at a local hospital in HR and they are always hiring.

Thanks,
Paul Holzschuher

John Green ⋅ Cary, NC Information Technology ⋅ 40 years experience

Probably not. The volunteer Fire Department (for example) has no need for volunteers? There are no organizations in your geography that could use someone ? Did you apply here ?

http://www.agnesian.com/careers/volunteer-opportunities

Why Volunteer? Most volunteers donate their time because they want to help others and they enjoy the work. But a variety of other experiences await you:

New friendships
Active retirement years
New skills
Make a meaningful contribution to your community
Achieve a sense of accomplishment and the will to help
Explore the healthcare industry

Volunteering at Agnesian HealthCare
At Agnesian HealthCare, men, women, college students, retirees and teenagers (minimum age of 15 years) from all walks of life give approximately two to four hours a week in volunteer service.
Currently, there are more than 700 active adult volunteers and 70 teen summer volunteers who work in many different areas. As a volunteer you will have the chance to choose from a variety of positions.
For information on volunteering, please call the volunteer coordinator at your desired location.
Hospice Fond du Lac/Grief Relief: (920) 924-4662
Hospice Green Lake: (920) 294-6220
Ripon Medical Center: (920) 745-3670
St. Agnes Hospital: (920) 926-4966
St. Francis Home: (920) 923-7980
Villa Loretto/Villa Rosa: (920) 753-3211
Waupun Memorial Hospital: (920) 324-6559