Evidence-based healthcare management competency evaluation: alumni perceptions.

An ongoing concern of healthcare educators is how well students are prepared for practice after they are graduated. Curriculum design and pedagogical methods are central components for developing healthcare management and leadership competencies. Various stakeholders have identified competency domains and typologies that outline the requisite skills and expertise to manage and lead healthcare organizations. This study analyzes survey data over a ten-year period from alumni one-year post graduation to compare self-reported assessment of competency development. Trends across two graduate professional programs tailored to different students of healthcare administration are compared. A total of 302 alumni responded to the survey. A factor analysis is performed to evaluate how the skills, knowledge, and abilities of graduates fit into identified competency domains. Fourteen competencies on the survey load into four factor domains: leadership, communication, business skills, and technology.