Do you have excellent communication, problem-solving and analytical skills? Do you communicate well with others? A career in healthcare management and administration might be for you. Healthcare managers and administrators coordinate medical services in:
- hospitals
- ambulatory care facilities
- nursing homes
They make sure that all services performed in the facility or department are as high-quality and efficient as possible. Healthcare management is among the top 10 highest paying degrees in business. Graduates of healthcare management and administration programs find work as:
- healthcare managers
- hospital administrators
- healthcare administrator
- health care consultants
They earn salaries up to $80,240 annually. Earning a college degree is the first step to entering this fast-growing career.
A Healthcare Manager’s Education
A college degree is a requirement for attaining a position in healthcare management or administration. You must have at least a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management or healthcare administration. Some facilities may look for candidates with a graduate degree, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports.
In addition to healthcare administration and healthcare management degree programs, popular subjects of study among aspiring healthcare managers include:
- health services
- public health
- public administration
- long-term care administration
- business administration
Often, healthcare management programs are part of a college or university’s school of business.
The healthcare management or administration degree program is designed to prepare you for high-level leadership positions in the healthcare industry. You’ll study subjects like:
- health care economics
- health care policy
- healthcare law
- health care informatics
- health care risk management
- health information systems
- hospital organization and management
- global health care issues
You also develop a solid business background through coursework in:
- accounting
- human resources administration
- law and ethics
- budgeting
- strategic planning
- leadership
At some colleges, healthcare administration students have the opportunity to specialize in preparation for work in a:
- nursing home
- hospital
- mental health facility
- another type of facility.
The Path to a Healthcare Management Role
Healthcare managers are high-level professionals. Graduates of healthcare administration programs don’t attain these positions fresh out of college. Instead, they need to meet relevant state requirements and work their way up from a lower-level position. Some healthcare administrators, like those that work in nursing care facilities, must attain a license in every state, while other healthcare managers need not be licensed.
To improve their credentials and job opportunities, aspiring healthcare managers can also seek certification from organizations like the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management. Often, aspiring healthcare managers begin their careers in entry-level positions such as administrative assistants. Through the course of their careers, they may work as assistant department heads or assistant administrators before securing healthcare management jobs.
In addition to the high earning potential, healthcare managers and administrators enjoy a very positive job outlook. Healthcare is a rapidly growing field. Over a 10-year period, the BLS expects job opportunities for healthcare managers and administrators to increase by 23 percent.
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