Evolving health services administration education: keeping pace with change.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) celebrated its golden anniversary in 1999. It was an occasion for faculty and alumni to renew memories of their experiences together and marvel at the dramatic changes they have seen in the health care industry. This qualitative study was undertaken to reflect on the department's immediate future course, and to learn how to reposition the education program and curricula to respond to evolving industry needs and demands. Results and conclusions are based on interviews conducted with several stake-holder groups, including VCU alumni, who are executives in the health sector; human resources recruitment officers; and selected program directors from leading health administration (HA) education programs in the U.S. Trends are identified in the health care industry environment, and strategies are proposed for the HA education programs to strategically adapt for the future.