RMU Launches Master’s Degree in Health Services Administration

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa., Aug. 1 -- Robert Morris University issued the following news:

This fall Robert Morris University is launching the Master of Science in Health Service Administration (HSA), which will be offered completely online. Taught by experienced faculty and working professionals, this degree teaches students the infrastructure to become health service organization leaders and managers while educating them on how to adapt to the ever-changing healthcare system.

The program will focus on the triple aim initiative, an ongoing approach developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to better understand new models that can improve individual patient experience - better patient care at the bedside, better population health, and a more cost effective care industry.

"Healthcare is moving away from volume care and more toward value care, and that's what we're teaching our students," says Joseph Angelelli, director of Health Services Administration at RMU. "Instead of doing a lot more services, the way it was traditionally done, the incentive is based on high value care for each patient."

Teaching alongside Angelelli is the School of Nursing and Health Science's newest full-time assistant professor, Holly Hampe. Having worked in a hospital setting for more than 30 years, Hampe brings a vast knowledge of the healthcare industry into the classroom. Prior to teaching at Robert Morris, Hampe spent four years as vice president and chief quality officer at St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon where she oversaw quality, patient safety, risk management, infection prevention, clinical documentation, care management and guest relations. Additionally, she worked as a registered nurse, home health supervisor, insurance nurse consultant, director of nursing, and quality control manager.

"I believe that to be a good teacher you need to have good work experience," says Hampe. "So I'm excited to be able to mentor and give back to the profession and help develop the future healthcare leaders of the our area and our country."

Because this degree is taught fully online, students can continue to work full-time and complete coursework at their own pace. Classes are tailored to enable students to immediately incorporate their class work into their job. The online format also allows students the opportunity to learn from classmates from across the country with varying perspectives, backgrounds, and disciplines. Professors are using Google Hangouts to interact face-to-face with their students and also bring in local, regional, and national leaders to be guest speakers.

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