Grantham University adds new Health Sciences degree programs to its existing portfolio

Grantham University, an online university dedicated to providing educational opportunities to working adults for nearly 60 years, announced today that it is adding four new Health Sciences degree programs to its existing degree offerings: an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Billing, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Health Systems Management and a Master of Healthcare Administration.

"In 2008, the healthcare field added 419,000 jobs, and its employment outlook remains strong," said Dr. Cynthia Akagi, chair of Health Sciences at Grantham University. "These four new programs not only offer more variety to our students, they also fulfill a need for qualified individuals in the rapidly growing healthcare industry."

The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Billing, requiring 64 credit hours, prepares a student to take the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate exam, which enables him/her to earn a widely recognized industry certification. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 18% through 2016, which is faster than the average.

The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Health Systems Management provides a student with the necessary skills to analyze information needs, design solutions, manage information storage, transfer and retrieval, and administer complex IT systems in the hospital setting. With the growth of the Internet and use of mobile technologies and the growing movement to utilize electronic medical records, there is a demand for qualified professionals who have a broad knowledge base in computer information systems as they are used in the healthcare information environment.

Because of rapid growth and change in the healthcare industry, leaders must possess both an appreciation of this industry's unique challenges and best practices, as well as a comprehensive business education. The Master of Healthcare Administration offers the best of both worlds -- an MBA program at its core, supplemented by a special focus on healthcare.