The hospital is a place of healing, but it’s also a business. If you’re passionate about patient care and administrative paperwork, you can learn about getting a degree in healthcare management with an online search right now.
A degree in healthcare management can prepare you to enter a growing and rewarding career. Interested in managing operations in hospitals or private practices? Explore the benefits of getting a degree in healthcare management.
What is Healthcare Management?
Healthcare facilities require doctors, nurses and other medical providers, but these facilities also require healthcare management professionals to support administrative and management needs.1 Healthcare management professionals oversee the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities and manage patient care, budgets, community needs, employees and other administrative responsibilities.
Job Outlook and Stability
Medical needs such as ageing and active baby boomers and widespread diseases and conditions create demand on the healthcare system. Medical technology is also quickly advancing and requires healthcare management professionals to release and implement new technology and services such as electronic health records and informatics systems.
This means facilities will have greater needs for physicians, healthcare workers, medical procedures and facilities, which likewise implies a greater need for healthcare management. As such, job outlook projections suggest healthcare management jobs will continue to grow over the next decade.2
Employment and Workplace Variety
Healthcare management employees are broadly responsible for day-to-day operations but can work in a variety of roles and perform a wide range of tasks. Some oversee entire facilities such as hospitals or surgery centres. Others manage specific hospital departments, such as nursing or human resources.
Some healthcare management job titles include:
- Healthcare manager
- Healthcare administrator
- Healthcare supervisor
- Director
- Human resources coordinator
- Insurance specialist
- Medical records supervisor
Community Impact and Emotional Reward
Healthcare management roles can make a positive impact on the entire healthcare community, which includes patients, medical professionals and the medical facility. Many healthcare managers work with public health initiatives or collaborate on the development of a new hospital or clinic. They work directly with staff to improve work environments and support patients with health administrative needs such as billing and insurance.
Career Transition
Healthcare management workers come from a variety of backgrounds, making it a great option for individuals looking for a career transition. Additional experience may be necessary, but most jobs in healthcare management only require a bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree can result in better job and salary opportunities.