What are my options to further my career as a 68W?

2015-09-20T23:45:00-04:00

Okay battles,

First a little bit about me. I've been in 5 years (joined a little late in life) since then I have finished my B.S and my MBA. I am having a very difficult time deciding what to do at this point. My passion is healthcare administration and currently I am working as the practice manager for my clinic and love it. I also love to teach and train. As a 68W , what are some options for my career going forward? I considered getting out . But the truth is , I love the Army. I would seek advice from some of the NCOs I work with now but honestly they are at a different spot in life and have no advice for me so I am reaching out to see what options I may have out there and if my degrees and expertise mean anything at all on the enlisted side ?

Thank you in advance

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 11:48 PM

2015-09-20T23:48:26-04:00

Well just going off what you said why not look into being a recruiter down at ol' 232 in Sam.

Response by SSG Paul Forel made Sep 21 at 2015 12:08 AM

2015-09-21T00:08:33-04:00

SGT Jones,

I am in the executive search business and one of my specialties is recruiting for hospitals since I have a medical background as a former 91B3F.

You need to know that as far as hospital administration goes, you are going to run into a lot of competition since hospitals -for various reasons- are closing and, there is a lot of consolidation among the hospital systems. This has left the market heavy with hospital administrators, looking for new jobs, heading up a hospital.

You don't indicate the scope of your 'practice manager' duties nor the dollar volume of the clinic so I can't comment as to whether you would easily transition to hospitals without picking up a Masters in Hospital Administration.

Also, if you don't indicate whether or not you are trained in Lean Methods/Continuous Improvement. If so, then you can fairly easily get jobs as a Performance Improvement Leader for different medical groups and hospitals. These jobs pay from about $110K to about $140K.

If you are not trained in the TPS, then you will be left behind or get bumped in favor of someone who is.

Paul

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 1:08 AM

2015-09-21T01:08:04-04:00

As a 68W you aren't going to find any job in the Army that focuses in either administration or teaching. Promotion models encourage diversity and being well rounded. While you can get a gig as an instructor, that will only be for a few years. It's excellent for promotion, but afterward you will return to the field. You will also end up working in both hospitals and at units. As you gain rank, you are less likely to be augmented to a clinic, especially for clerical work, where civilians often perform admin.
As a 68W, the MOS is so broad that you could be on a line, or you could be sent on a tasking to teach medical skills in another country, or you could be a program administrator for training in your unit. There are Healthcare Admin Officer MOS's but those are only Reserve MOS's. Also, there are no Warrant jobs that would fall into that area.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-09-21T12:35:08-04:00

Sounds like we have similar career considerations, although I'm active duty. Your degree and expertise means a lot, but I think it will not be properly exploited at your current rank. We need good Chief Warrant Officers and Officers. Just my opinion.

Response by SGT(P) Crystal Marie France made Sep 21 at 2015 7:27 PM

2015-09-21T19:27:30-04:00

Dude! Go PA or Nursing! Look into the AMEDD Program! You are set!

Response by SFC Patrick M. made Sep 22 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-09-22T12:44:12-04:00

I would suggest you look at becoming a direct commission MSC officer and ask for medical records assignment. Then try to get a position as a clinic or hospital admin officer. Finish your 20 and go into medical admin. With your experience you will go far. I wish I had gotten a degree years ago.

Response by SFC Jason Holder made Sep 22 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-09-22T13:04:29-04:00

Truth is that you will never be utilized to your maximum capacity as an NCO with your credentials. I would highly recommend exploring direct commission to MS if that program is still around. Based upon your education you would be an ideal candidate.

Contact an AMEDD heathcare recruiter to find out your options.

Once commissioned you work as a 70B until you complete command and then you can select the 70A, healthcare administration MOS and request to attend the Heathcare admin MBA program at FSH that is run by the Army through Baylor.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 1:08 PM

2015-09-22T13:08:35-04:00

Take a Nursing bridge program to bridge your BS into a Nursing degree. With your MBA and experience you can then go into Hospital Management as a civilian. Most civilian hospital managers are nurses with advanced degrees in healthcare management/ nursing management etc. With those advanced degrees you won't find anything to advance your military career aside from going officer. And even then you might be better off just going civilian anyway.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 7:12 AM

2015-09-23T07:12:38-04:00

I would say get out. We had an NCO that ETS'ed from MEDDAC in Japan, and got a job there soon after as a civilian, and it looks like a sweet gig. Your degrees essentially mean you are overqualified for your position. Get out and make great money doing this job as a DA Civilian.

Why not go PA or Nurse? PA could work well with an MBA; you would hire the physicians who underwrite your practice.

As a last note, the Reserve has spots for Healthcare Administrator, but it's an officer AoC, which you should be.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 5:10 PM

2015-09-23T17:10:38-04:00

Yes it does mean alot to the enlisted side because of your knowledge. Im pursuing the same degree right now. It will help you as a ncoic in a med clinic. With that said there are ncos doing that same job without that degree with no problem. Thats because experience also teaches the same thing. So this can go two ways:
1.Commision in healthcare administration or do baylor program for your mha.
2. This degree will help you later in your career for senior ranks.

If you dont want to commission and dont want to deal with normal nco taskings then your best bet will be to get out and pursue healthcare administration in the civilain world.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2015 5:46 PM

2015-09-23T17:46:51-04:00

I have to agree with majority here. You should commission. There are very limited opportunities as an enlisted member to use their degree. Although it will help you as a NCO, you will never reach your full potential. This is from a SFC (P), MBA. HCM.PM

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2015 11:24 PM

2015-09-27T23:24:30-04:00

Hpsp.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2015 8:28 AM

2015-11-10T08:28:08-05:00

If you don't mind going to OC you're a shoe in to be a medical service officer. they command and are platoon leaders in the medical company in the army. You are able to make major without alot od difficulty. the beauty of this is that you will be with medical professionals and with medics. You also have the ability to branch into med ops, med logistics, and will be a key member of a bn or BDE staff.