You don’t need a fairy godmother to find your perfect career. A degree in healthcare management could be your ticket to the career path of which you’ve always dreamed. But what can you do with a healthcare management degree? Plenty! A healthcare management degree is your gateway into the rewarding field of medical and health services management.
What do healthcare managers do?
Healthcare managers are at the heart of the business behind the healthcare field as they’re in charge of budgeting, scheduling and seeking out ways to improve patient care. This profession will leverage your stellar organization and communication skills while allowing you to make a difference in the lives of others.
Healthcare management workers spend their days managing and coordinating health services in clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. It’s a job that’s rewarding both philanthropically and financially.
The median annual salary for a health services manager was nearly $93,000 in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).* The job outlook is also favorable, with expected growth at a faster-than-average rate of 22 percent through 2022, also reported by the DOL.
Now that we have your attention, let’s take a closer look at how a healthcare management degree can help you transition into the career you’ve been seeking.
What to expect from a healthcare management degree program
Sometimes a degree looks great on paper, but you have no idea what to expect when it comes to coursework. This rundown will give you the full picture of a healthcare management degree so there are no surprises later.
Common classes
Every student wants to know which classes are required for their respective degree. Here are a few of the classes you’ll likely encounter while working toward your bachelor’s degree in healthcare management:
- Introduction to Healthcare Administration
- Healthcare Planning
- Managing a Diverse Workforce
- Laws and Ethics in Healthcare
- Quality Improvement in Healthcare
- Foundations of Managed Care
You can learn more about these and other healthcare management courses that will help you develop the skills employers are seeking.
Degree program
Those classes don’t sound too bad, but how long is this degree program really going to take?
Most healthcare management positions only require a bachelor’s degree. Luckily for you, the days of needing four years to complete a bachelor’s degree are long gone. You could be the proud recipient of a healthcare management degree in as few as 18 months.**
You’ll find a variety of modality options when researching healthcare management programs. Whether you prefer to learn in the classroom, online or a blend of both, there’s a program out there to comply with your busy life.
Want to go the extra mile? Some healthcare managers boost their careers by achieving a master’s degree, though it’s not necessary. You might want to look into a graduate program in long-term care administration or public health, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Certification options
Certification isn’t required unless you’re a nursing care facility administrator, states the BLS. Even so, obtaining certification can show employers that you’re serious about your career and are willing to go the extra mile to bring excellent patient care to your facility.
Certification is available by taking an exam through the American College of Health Care Administrators or the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management.
What to expect from a career in healthcare management
Healthcare management sounds like a fantastic job opportunity, but how can you be sure if it’s the best fit for you? This breakdown of the skills and job titles in healthcare management will help you determine if this is the right field for you.
In-demand healthcare management skills
Your ideal career will put all of your natural skills talents to good use. You might assume you need a lot of technical skills to succeed in the healthcare industry, but the right healthcare manager will have plenty of soft skills, too.
Not only will this career will place you in charge of a team of healthcare workers, you’ll also be working closely with physicians and representing your healthcare facility at meetings. This large range of responsibilities requires a unique blend of skills.
We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 333,000 healthcare management job postings from the past 12 months.*** This data helped us identify the exact skills employers are seeking in healthcare management candidates.
Here’s what we found:
| Technical skills needed: | Transferable skills needed: |
| Nurse management | Collaboration |
| Process improvement | Decision making |
| Staff development | Mentoring |
| Accounting | Public speaking |
| Legal compliance | Persuasion |
Healthcare management career path
What kinds of job titles can you expect once you have experience with these in-demand skills? This sampling of healthcare management job titles from the U.S. Department of Labor will give you a preview of what could be your future career:
- Clinical director
- Health & social service Manager
- Medical records manager
- Office manager
- Practice administrator
The good news about launching a career in healthcare management is that you don’t have to remain in the same position forever. This field offers ample opportunities for job advancement.
Depending on the size of the facility, most healthcare managers have plenty of chances to prove their worth and move into “more responsible and higher paying positions,” according to the BLS. Earning your master’s degree down the road will also open up even more doors in this rewarding career field.
Are you ready to make your dreams own come true?
If you’re ready for your career’s happily ever after, it’s time to take action. The next time someone asks you “What can you do with a healthcare management degree?” you’ll have more than enough knowledge to provide a detailed answer.
If you’re ready to acquire the knowledge and training needed to succeed in this field, learn more about how you can earn your degree YOUR way with our Flex Choice healthcare management degree option.
*Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
**Time to complete is dependent on accepted transfer credits and courses completed each quarter.
***Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 333,061 healthcare management job postings, Oct. 01, 2014 – Sep. 30, 2015)
For information on our graduation rates, median graduate debt levels and other student investment disclosure information, visit rasmussen.edu/SID.
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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/health-care/can-healthcare-management-degree-business-behind-medicine.html
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