Pima Medical Institute has recently expanded its online Healthcare Administration (HCA) associate degree program, allowing students without prior higher education to enroll and begin their medical career.
“We realized that many students want to move into the healthcare field, but they may not have had the required credits to enroll in the degree-completion program,” said Pima Medical Online Education Director, Deborah Ayers. “The new Healthcare Administration program removes this obstacle, making the program available to anyone with a high school diploma or GED. This gives more people the opportunity to move into this developing field that helps manage the growing administrative side of healthcare.”
The new Healthcare Administration program still includes courses in anatomy and physiology, healthcare management and medical law and ethics, while several of the new course offerings introduce content in health information technology (HIT), including electronic health records, coding and insurance.
“Learning skills in health information technology can help make a graduate more marketable as more healthcare providers seek ways to use HIT to improve healthcare quality and efficiency,” Ayers said.
The HCA program is also a great pathway for those who have graduated from several of Pima Medical’s certificate programs and want to further their educations. Graduates from the Dental Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing or Sterile Processing Technician programs may be eligible to transfer up to 28 credits for an accelerated start. Students who have attended programs at other schools may also be eligible to transfer credits for an accelerated start.
The program, normally 18 months for those with no transferred credits, may be shortened to up to 12 months, depending on the number of transferred credits accepted.
Here are some pathways students may take to further their careers through the HCA online associate degree.
Stephan Pangkee followed the pathway, earning his associate degree in Healthcare Administration from Pima Medical. Read first-hand how his experience was in school and where it took him.
I’ve wanted to become a pharmacist since I was in middle school. My grandma had an unfortunate incident where she was given too much heart medication, which caused a heart attack. That day I decided I wanted to make sure that never happened to anyone else’s family.
I chose Pima Medical Institute because I felt its pharmacy technician program would create a stepping stone and give me the experience I needed to prepare to one day becoming a pharmacist. My experience as a student was excellent; I learned a lot from each instructor and enjoyed every second. All three of my instructors helped me not only become a professional, but become a better person.
My goal was always to work in a hospital setting, so I was fortunate to be able to do my externship at Desert Springs Hospital. I completed my PTCB certification and was hired at Desert Springs after my externship. I have continued to pursue my education. I have completed my associate’s degree in Healthcare Administration and my bachelor’s degree, also in Healthcare Administration. I still have my sights set on becoming a pharmacist. I’ve really appreciated Pima Medical, the knowledge I’ve gained and all the instructors I’ve learned from. I would definitely recommend Pima Medical Institute to others!
Stephan Pangkee
- Pharmacy Technician – Las Vegas Campus – 2013
- Healthcare Administration Online – 2014
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration Online – 2017
