History
The concept of HealthCare Business Education, Inc. grew out of what
was originally a purely academic research project designed to look
at the business education needs of audiologists. The study found that
audiologists were exposed to very little, if any, business education
at the time of their clinical training; nonetheless, the perceived
value of business knowledge and skills was great. The study identified
the greatest need in the areas of human resources and marketing.
Additional research revealed that other healthcare professions, in
addition to audiology, were also underserved in opportunities to obtain
business skills. Thus, with support from academia and the audiology
profession, the decision was made to create a formal educational program
for healthcare professionals with initial focus on the specific business
needs of the audiologist. The enterprise was launched February 2006.
Mission Statement
To allow audiologists to be as professional and skilled in their business
practices as they are in their clinical practices.
Principals
Steve Henson, Ph.D. Director of Academic Affairs
Health Care Business Education
Associate Professor of Marketing
Western Carolina University
"My first experiences with education
for health care professionals was over twenty years ago. As Executive
Director of Sales and Marketing Administration at Ciba Vision Care,
I was involved in a program designed to help optometrists adjust to
changing conditions in the contact lens market. Our approach was primitive,
as were all other similar programs at the time. We printed out books,
mailed them to optometrists and asked them to read and take simple
quizzes. I’m not sure we accomplished anything other than to
generate some modest good will. I do know I saw good friends and colleagues
struggle to manage their businesses and while some prospered, many
did not. I look at HCBE as a rare chance in life for a "do-over".
We now have the tools to provide high-quality business education to
health care professionals and that is exactly what we intend to do."
Susan Williamson, Au.D. Director of Professional Relations
Health Care Business Education
"Coming from a background in private
practice audiology, I know first hand the challenges resulting from
a lack of business education. In the nearly 20 years I owned the practice,
my primary business learning experience was trial and error. The world
was a very different place back then and the slow, predictable pace
allowed me to succeed in spite of myself. However, in today's rapidly
changing marketplace, success depends on a firm grasp of business
knowledge in order to stay ahead of the curve. I'm passionate about
helping offer serious business education for today’s healthcare
professional. We can't predict the future or be certain about exactly
how the audiology profession will change; we just know that it will.
In the face of uncertainty, education is a "best bet" in
helping avoid unnecessary pitfalls, promote new thinking and capture
opportunity. I'm enthused about the possibilities HealthCare Business
Education offers audiologists for growing their business knowledge
and skills in order to take better care of their patients, careers,
families and futures."
Leroy Kaufman, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Business
Western Carolina University
"Health Care Business Education
for Audiologists is an exciting new program developed through collaboration
between faculty from Western Carolina University and the University
of New Orleans. When we first identified the need for a program like
this, we realized that the strengths of the faculty in these two schools
matched very well with what we want to do. At Western, our strengths
are in small business management and entrepreneurship. UNO has a strong,
well-established Masters in Health Care Management and UNO faculty
have had to develop online education programs as a result of the destruction
of much of New Orleans' infrastructure by Hurricane Katrina. Combined,
we have all of the elements we need to create a high-quality, highly-innovative
educational program."
