Reviewed by: Lisa Battles
The changing business of health care + more Rocket City business news
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Understanding the business side of health care
While the subject of our country’s health care system comes up often around election time, something we can all say in agreement is that health care is big business. And in fact, the need for stellar business acumen in the industry has become as important as the medical practice itself.
A multi-billion-dollar industry, health care providers are in need of administrators to handle the business side of medicine.
We spoke with Dr. Sankeerth Rampa, Associate Professor of Health Administration at the University of North Alabama Sanders College of Business & Technology, to look at what the business needs have become for health care providers, and what the future of the health care business will bring.
Rampa said several aspects of the health care business make it unique from other businesses. For instance, unlike traditional businesses, healthcare organizations must balance financial sustainability with patient outcomes, regulatory requirements and ethical considerations.
“Administrators make decisions that directly influence quality of care, patient safety and population health—not just revenue or operational efficiency. This dual responsibility makes the field uniquely complex, mission-driven and deeply impactful.
Dr. Sankeerth Rampa, Associate Professor of Health Administration at the University of North Alabama Sanders College of Business & Technology
Rampa said several challenges face the health care industry right now, with workforce shortages among the top obstacles. Additionally, the industry faces significant challenges with rising costs, increasing technology demands and shifting reimbursement models tied to value-based care.
Business students who are looking to get into the health care industry will find that health care providers are certainly hiring for administrative roles.
“Healthcare administrators need strong skills in finance, strategic planning, data analytics and leadership to navigate an industry that is highly regulated, rapidly evolving and increasingly driven by performance metrics.
UNA’s MHA program builds these competencies through courses such as Healthcare Finance, Healthcare Analytics, Health Informatics and Strategic Planning for Healthcare, ensuring students are prepared for real-world decision-making.
Dr. Sankeerth Rampa, Associate Professor of Health Administration at the University of North Alabama Sanders College of Business & Technology
Rampa added that UNA prepares students to meet the current industry challenges by emphasizing analytics, quality improvement, health policy and informatics—key areas that equip future leaders to drive innovation and manage change effectively.
Bank Independent honors recipients of the Mauldin Endowed Scholarship
Six University of North Alabama students were recognized in November as the 2024 recipients of the Edward Fennel Mauldin Endowed Scholarship. Representatives from Bank Independent and the University of North Alabama announced the awards.
Undergraduate students receiving scholarships were:
- Henry Ajualip Huarcas, Freshman, Computer Science
- Ashton D. Bright, Sophomore, Criminal Justice
- Kadi A. Norato, Junior, Nursing
- Devin Wesley Riggs, Senior, Psychology
- Colton C. Marquart, MBA
- Anya A. Smith, Elementary Education
“We want the scholarship recipients to know they’re not alone in this journey. You have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to pay forward the support you’re receiving from the University of North Alabama and Bank Independent.
When you have the chance to help someone else, take it and know that our entire team of 700 team members is here to support you on your journey.”
Macke Mauldin, Preisent, Bank Independent
Mauldin congratulated the students on their achievements, explaining that his father, the late Edward F. Mauldin, never graduated from college, but it did not limit him from achieving success. Mauldin added that his father believed that “any exposure to college was better than no exposure at all.”
A look at the local real estate market
In October, Huntsville, Athens, Madison and Decatur each experienced increases in median sales price, but some of those communities also saw decreases in the numbers of homes sold and new listings.
Only Madison saw increases in October in median sales prices, new listings and homes sold. All cities saw increases in average days on the market.
Here’s a look at October real estate stats in the Huntsville metro:
| City | Median Home Price in October (% change from September) | New Listings in October (% change from September) | Homes Sold in October (% change from September) | Average Days on the Market (% change from September) |
| Huntsville | $309,457 (+0.6%) | 356 (+22.8%) | 245 (-8.6%) | 112 (+1.8%) |
| Athens | $317,680 (+5.9%) | 182 (-7.6%) | 120 (-11.8%) | 129 (+3.2%) |
| Madison | $395,692 (+5.5%) | 221 (+12.2%) | 148 (+6.5%) | 139 (+0.7) |
| Decatur | $256,778 (+6.1%) | 81 (-19.8%) | 99 (+19.3%) | 115 (+7.8%) |
Source: Valley MLS
Look for our monthly North Alabama business news roundup this time next month, brought to you by the University of North Alabama Sanders College of Business & Technology.
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