As is the case with most healthcare careers, the job outlook for careers in healthcare management is very good. With the emphasis now on providing quality and affordable health care for everyone, healthcare workers are in demand. Since a department is usually only as good as its management, the need for quality healthcare management is very high. Medical and health services managers are valuable assets in any type of healthcare facility. With the right training and work experience, healthcare managers have an excellent job outlook.
Related resource: Top 20 Master’s in Healthcare Management Online/Online MBA Healthcare Management
What is a Healthcare Manager
Healthcare managers, also called medical and health services managers or healthcare administrators, are the professionals who oversee a hospital, clinic or similar medical facility. They direct, plan and coordinate health and medical services. Healthcare managers may manage one department or the entire facility. They must be knowledgeable of all new medical technology, regulations and healthcare laws.
Their duties include developing department goals; improving the quality and efficiency of the facility; hiring, training and supervising employees; creating work schedules; organizing records of the facility’s services; developing and monitoring budgets; managing finances; communicating with other department heads and representing the facility to the public and governing boards.
How to Become a Healthcare Manager
Becoming a healthcare manager generally requires having at least a bachelor’s degree, although, many employers prefer their medical and health services managers have master’s degrees. The degrees for healthcare managers are usually in health administration, public health administration, health management, business administration or even nursing. It can differ from one facility to the next. Programs for aspiring healthcare managers generally include coursework as well as internships at the end of the program.
The coursework may include courses in strategic planning; health services management; law and ethics; accounting and budgeting; health economics; health information systems and human resources administration. The supervised internships, which can last up to a year, are to provide the student with hands-on training in performing administrative duties in a hospital or healthcare facility. Many employers also prefer to hire healthcare managers who have some work experience in this field or at least in the healthcare industry.
What Jobs are Available in Healthcare Management?
Graduates of healthcare management programs are qualified for several careers or jobs besides just that of healthcare management. Depending on if the candidate completed a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, the individual may find opportunities in the following areas.
• Health and social services manager
• Clinical director
• Hospital chief executive officer
• Hospital administrator
• Director of Nursing
• Hospital Chief Financial Officer
• Medical records manager
Career Outlook for Healthcare Management
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the decade of 2016-2026 should bring a job growth of 18 percent for health care occupations in general. Medical and health service managers are expected to see a growth of 20 percent during that time. The bureau reports that medical and health service managers earned wages that ranged from $58,350 to $176,130 as of May 2017. Their average hourly wage was $53.69.
Many people love the idea of working in healthcare where they can help others but aren’t interested in day-to-day contact with patients. This is where medical administrative positions can be an excellent choice. This is particularly the case with healthcare management, which limits patient contact yet has a great job outlook for lucrative and rewarding careers.