Abstract
The Problem. As a consequence of high health-care costs, acute-care hospitals are faced with revolutionary change. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the graduate programs offered in Hospital and Health Services Administration (HHSA) are keeping abreast of the changes and are meeting the educational needs of future hospital administrators. The study and attendant research were endorsed, but not sponsored by, the California Hospital Association (CHA) in cooperation with the Southern California Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). The problem was addressed by conducting a survey of the active Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of California's acute-care hospitals. Research Methodology. A descriptive method of research was used for this study. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sampling of California's acute-care hospital administrators. Data were collected with the survey instrument, using a Lickert-type scale, to measure their perceived degree of course importance. The data were used to develop a "model" Master's degree program in Hospital and Health Services Administration. A comparison was made between the model and a representative program accredited by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). The model was compared also to a nonaccredited program. The collected data were processed and analyzed using (1) average degree of course importance, and (2) frequency distribution of the percentage of degree of course importance. Findings. (1) Residency (field work) was rated well above all other courses listed in the survey instrument, with Financial Management ranking second and Strategic Planning a close third. (2) Medical Staff Relationship, Organization, and Management were considered the most important among courses not listed in the survey.