Healthcare is more than just the professionals who provide direct care to patients. It’s also filled with professionals who perform administrative tasks that are essential to keeping medical facilities running smoothly. Find out more about the business side of healthcare and learn how to train for your new career.
Healthcare Management Job Titles and Responsibilities
Healthcare management refers to supervising all of the business and administrative work that keeps a healthcare facility operational. This can include everything from managing staff and daily functions to the planning and coordinating of care for patients while working in cooperation with insurance companies and other caregivers. There are several potential career paths you can explore in healthcare management, including:
- Hospital Administrator
- Health Information Manager
- Physician Practice Manager
- Healthcare Consultant
- Health Services Manager
- Quality and Improvement Manager
- Medical Records Manager
- Nurse Manager
As a healthcare management professional, you may run a health clinic, a hospital, or a specific department. You could work at a medical facility, a nursing home, a college, a research laboratory, or even certain government agencies.
The main job of healthcare management is ensuring that the facility operates with the greatest efficiency while delivering exceptional patient care. The real-world applications can include improving patient care, managing the facility’s budget and spending, managing staff and ensuring proper communication between all departments, and ensuring the facility and staff remain in compliance with all regulations for the health and safety of everyone. You may also be responsible for developing goals for your organization and putting strategies into place to see them to fruition.
How to Start a Healthcare Management Career
If you want to pursue a career in healthcare management, you should possess certain skills and qualifications. Some basic requirements include excellent communication, organization, and analytical skills. Leadership and management are important in this field, as you will need to directly interact with and motivate various staff members to ensure they do their jobs efficiently. Financial skills are essential for anyone planning to work on the business end of running a healthcare facility, such as skills in creating and managing budgets, allocating resources, and financial planning. Finally, you should have up-to-date knowledge of healthcare policy and law. While complex, it’s necessary to understand the regulations and procedures to stay in compliance and maintain safe operations.
Most careers in healthcare management require some form of post-secondary education. Healthcare Career College (HCC) offers a Healthcare Management Associate Degree program, which can allow you to enter this field in as little as 11 months. Enroll today and take the first step towards a career where you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your work helps keep our healthcare system working.