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Degree program designed for professionals  The College of Health Professions’ Master in Health Administration program has a new curriculum format—one that’s designed to suit working people.  They’re calling it the Executive Master in Health Administration. “We want our employees to know that this program exists, and it’s available to them,” said Karen Wager, DBA, director of the executive MHA program. It’s broad-based to attract people with a patient care background, such as nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory professionals, rehabilitation therapists, physicians—“...anyone wanting a better knowledge of health care management or pursuing personal development.” Wager described the worker-friendly program as largely Internet-based with each course requiring a four-day (Thursday through Sunday) on-campus, face-to-face meeting with class members once each semester.  The fully accredited combination on-campus and Internet-based instruction parallels the Residential Master in Health Administration offered by the College of Health Professions, but follows a schedule more suitable to the working health care professional, Wager said. The complexity of managing today's health care organizations makes health administration instruction a practical necessity. Managers must deal nearly daily with issues of increased regulations, changing demographics, and providing quality care in a cost-effective manner. Wager said that the Master in Health Administration program enables students to develop an area of emphasis in leadership, health information systems and financial management. Health administrators are involved in planning, organizing, directing and controlling their organization’s human financial and information resources. They may find employment as department managers, assistant administrators or administrators in hospitals and health systems, ambulatory care facilities, physician-based practices, long-term care facilities, community health agencies and managed care organizations. “We're currently accepting applications,” Wager said. “They should be in by Feb. 1.” Classes begin in May for the Summer 2002 semester.  Further information may be obtained from the Department of Health Administration Policy, MUSC College of Health Professions, 792-2118, or by e-mail at dhapinfo@musc.edu.  The program’s Web site is <http://www.musc.edu/dhap>.