WGU Missouri Launches New Value-Based Healthcare Degree
University’s new Bachelor of Science in Health Services Coordination will prepare graduates for careers in patient-centered care coordination
ST. LOUIS – To address an urgent shortage of healthcare professionals needed to navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system, WGU Missouri has announced it is now offering a first-of-its-kind Bachelor of Science – Health Services Coordination (BSHSC) degree program. The program, which began accepting applications Sept. 1, will prepare graduates to coordinate among healthcare providers, patients, caregivers and services to improve the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of an evolving healthcare system.
In addition to medical coordination skills, students will develop competencies in leadership skills, cultural awareness, patient-centered care coordination, and the ability to identify and intervene with high-risk patients through WGU’s proprietary Professional Leadership and Communication course.
“There’s been a growing need for skilled health professions workers across Missouri, and this new degree program will help fulfill that need by offering individuals a pathway to a career in the ever-changing healthcare field,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “WGU Missouri’s goal is to align curriculum with current workforce needs, and this new degree program will equip those interested in a fast-growing health profession with specific skills that will enable them to advance their careers.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in health services coordination will increase 20% by 2026. The new BSHSC degree program will benefit students new to health professions, while also creating a bachelor's degree pathway for experienced pre- and paraprofessionals, medical assistants, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, EMTs, paramedics, and military medics seeking job security or promotion. BSHSC graduates will be prepared to navigate emerging value-based care systems, promote patient-centered holistic care, and provide integrated care management.
The BSHSC, like all WGU Missouri degree programs, is competency-based, allowing students to study and learn on their own schedules and advance as soon as they demonstrate mastery of course materials. WGU’s affordable tuition of approximately $7,000 per year and flexible learning model make it possible for busy students to earn an accredited degree on a tight schedule.
Details of the program are available at www.wgu.edu/BShealthservices.
