Healthcare management could be the ideal choice when you’re exploring career options in health services that provide a chance to practice leadership. Healthcare management allows you to oversee or direct health and medical services. The responsibilities of this kind of career mean having the proper training and education is essential. Keep the following information about healthcare management in mind to help you determine if it might be a career path to pursue.
What Is Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management, also known as healthcare administration, refers to careers that offer opportunities to improve healthcare organizations or communities. Healthcare managers are responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing healthcare and medical services in an organization or facility. Some manage a healthcare or medical facility, while others manage a department within a facility, such as human resources. Other healthcare managers or administrators manage medical practices or other medical organizations.
While healthcare managers do not directly provide patient care, they’re in a position to help ensure patients receive quality care. From managing electronic records to the finances of an organization or facility, these managers play an essential role in health services. Their decisions and responsibilities are critical for helping healthcare organizations, facilities, or departments run smoothly.
What Does a Healthcare Manager Do?
A healthcare manager’s job duties and responsibilities can vary, depending on their job title and the type of facility they work in. For example, healthcare administrators who manage a human resources department typically have different responsibilities than those who focus on financial or information management. Healthcare managers are responsible for improving a facility or organization’s quality and efficiency. They’re also expected to develop their facility's or department's objectives and goals.
Healthcare managers might also be responsible for ensuring that their organization or facility complies with laws and regulations. Sometimes, these managers oversee the hiring process, including recruiting for positions and training new employees. Other responsibilities healthcare managers might have include handling work schedules, preparing budgets, representing the organization or facility at board or investor meetings, and maintaining records for the facility or organization.
What Can You Do with a Healthcare Management Degree?
When you have a healthcare management degree, you can explore different leadership positions in the healthcare field. Some healthcare managers’ roles include clinical manager for a specific department, such as physical therapy or nursing, nursing home administrator, and healthcare coordinator. You can also look into becoming a health information manager, which involves maintaining patient records and keeping them secure. These managers are also responsible for securing other healthcare data. Depending on your interests, you might consider becoming a public health educator, which involves finding ways to improve community wellness, such as providing information on communicable diseases, nutrition, or other health concerns.
Healthcare managers are found in a wide range of medical settings. Some work in private or state hospitals, while others work in medical clinics or nursing homes. Some healthcare administrators manage a particular department in a hospital. Healthcare managers work in other healthcare settings, including private medical practices, colleges and universities, and public health centers. Some work for insurance companies, while others work for pharmaceutical companies.
How to Become a Healthcare Manager
Becoming a healthcare manager typically involves having a college degree, such as an associate or bachelor’s degree. These degree programs help you learn the skills you’ll need for healthcare administration, including leadership skills. Earning an associate degree can take around two years or less, while earning a bachelor’s degree can take about four years. Depending on your career goals, you might also need to earn an advanced degree, such as a master’s, to take on higher leadership positions. For example, you might need a master’s degree for a top executive position in a healthcare organization or facility.
Healthcare Management Degrees Online
Earning a healthcare management degree from the comfort of your home is possible with online degree programs. These programs allow you to access lectures, complete assignments, and take tests and exams online. The length of time these programs last can vary, although some are shorter than traditional in-person healthcare management degree programs. During these degree programs, you’ll be able to gain the knowledge needed for a healthcare management career. You’ll also be able to develop the required skills for this kind of work. The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) offers the following online healthcare management degree programs.
Associate Degree in Healthcare Management
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Care Management Program helps you learn the skills needed to improve healthcare efficiency. This program, which lasts 80 weeks, teaches you skills in personnel leadership, strategic planning and implementation, organizational change management, project management, managerial communication abilities, and healthcare data validation. You’ll also learn the basic foundations of economics, business, and sociology and gain knowledge in healthcare statistics, financing, and risk management.
In this degree program, you’ll take courses in electronic health records management, interpersonal and communication skills, medical terminology, medical office procedures, business communications, and more. Whether you want to be a healthcare office manager, medical office manager, or health insurance manager, this degree prepares you for this career.
Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management
The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management Degree Program helps you develop the right skills and gain the education needed for a healthcare administration or management career. This program, which lasts 96 weeks, covers different aspects of healthcare leadership, including communication, project management, healthcare data, healthcare financing, strategic planning, and risk management. Throughout this program, you’ll have opportunities to learn and develop leadership and technical skills for this career.
During this degree program, you’ll take courses in healthcare statistics, organizational change management, accounting principles, management and leadership, healthcare delivery systems, and more. Whether you’re planning to become an executive medical managerial assistant, medical record manager, program director, or population health manager, this program can help you achieve your goals.
For more information on our Associate of Applied Science in Health Care Management or our Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management programs, don’t hesitate to contact CHCP. We can help you find the right degree program for healthcare management based on your educational needs and career goals.
