CHLM Offers Partner Discounts for ASU Master’s and Doctoral Degrees

ASU Degrees Offer Online Learning and Rolling Admissions

December 13, 2018

By Eileen Denne, CAE, APR

With healthcare in a constant state of change, busy PAs may be looking for convenient ways to further their education at high-quality learning institutions. The Center for Healthcare Leadership and Management (CHLM) has partnered with top-notch universities to offer partner discounts for master’s and doctoral degree programs.

At Arizona State University (ASU), students can choose between an MS in Science of Health Care Delivery or an MAS in Health Informatics in 2-year programs of online courses. Each program is 30 credits, or 10 courses, with a CHLM partner discount allowing for tuition of approximately $25,000. To achieve a Doctor of Behavioral Health, students need 84 credits with a partner discount allowing for tuition of $59,238.

In order to qualify for a partner discount, PAs will complete eight CHLM prerequisite courses; two are required and six are electives. They can then matriculate to an eligible graduate program with ASU. Eligible students receive a tuition discount on the cost of the graduate program.

“Our master’s and doctoral programs are designed to give healthcare providers, non-clinicians and clinicians extra skills and tool sets to create systems-level change in their organizations and within healthcare in general,” says Kristen Will, MHPE, PA-C, director of executive education and clinical assistant professor at the ASU College of Health Solutions.

Online convenience, reasonable cost, and rolling admissions
The advantage of ASU’s degree programs, according to Will, are convenience and cost. “The thing I really like are our online platforms; we’re actually number one in the country for innovation and our online team is internationally known. They really pride themselves on the online experience; it’s very interactive and user-friendly.”

“All of our grad degrees are built so that you can log on anywhere, anytime and complete the work. You can also access courses from a computer, tablet, or iPhone depending on where you are. Basically, you can get the work done as long as you have internet access. That makes it extremely user-friendly for very busy healthcare professionals.”

The curriculum is designed for adult learners, Will says, in short segments and bite-size pieces so people can log on, get the information they need and do the work assignments.

“All of our faculty are extremely accessible and available for questions and video conferencing. Faculty is both on-ground and online so you’re getting world-class thought leaders. ASU also prides itself on inclusion versus exclusion, so you’ll see that the price point of our tuition is actually rather reasonable,” Will says.

The other advantage of ASU programs, which are quarter-based, is its rolling admissions. All programs have five starts per year which means that any time PAs want to apply, their start date will be between four to six weeks later.

Focus on Quadruple Aim
“All of our programs align with the ‘Quadruple Aim’ which includes provider wellness. That is at the forefront of the college and how we design programs,” says Will.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s “Triple Aim” entails three principles: improving the health of the population, improving the patient experience, and lowering healthcare costs. “Because our healthcare workforce is burning out, and we lack the workforce to achieve the Triple Aim, we really need a fourth aim that encompasses the provider and provider wellness,” Will says.

She adds, “The quadruple aim is the ‘it’ thing and, for anyone who does work globally or in population health, it’s basically what we all strive for. I think PAs are the Triple Aim and probably the Quadruple Aim because we know that when PAs are on teams all the providers are happier and have a better sense of well-being and know that we have good quality outcomes at a lower cost.”

Degrees can lead to advanced careers
What positions might the ASU degrees lead to? Will suggests a variety of pathways. Physicians with the MS In Science of Health Care Delivery degree have found themselves being promoted to chief medical, chief experience or quality officer, or directors of telehealth programs, which translates well for the PA role. The degree is also applicable for moving into a leadership role in population health with an affordable care organization or healthcare system.

Physicians with the MAS in Health Informatics degree go into positions such as chief technology officer or chief information officer for their organization. Those who pursue the Doctor of Behavioral Health take on leadership roles in healthcare systems where they have integrated behavioral health as primary care. This degree offers finance, management, and leadership courses that are applicable across the healthcare system, not just within the behavioral health area.

Contact Kristen Will for more information about ASU Degree Pathways.

More Resources
The Center for Healthcare Leadership and Management (CHLM)
ASU degrees: MS in Science of Health Care Delivery, MAS in Health Informatics, or Doctor of Behavioral Health
CHLM partner discounts for master’s and doctoral degree programs

Eileen Denne is director of AAPA’s corporate communications department. Contact her at [email protected].