Combining Business And Healthcare: Healthcare Management Degree
Do you have a passion for helping others and want to work in the healthcare industry, but also find yourself drawn to the business side of things? Maybe you are already a part of the healthcare industry, but would like to take on more managerial responsibilities. Whichever the case might be, earning a degree in healthcare management can put you on the right track for this career type. With this type of degree you can enhance your expertise and knowledge in the field of healthcare in order to become an effective leader as well as skilled decision maker. The healthcare industry is not only expanding rapidly, but also provides you with the unique opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of others, which makes it an extremely rewarding career path.
Healthcare Management Degree Information
Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
A bachelor’s degree is the most common degree to obtain amongst students aspiring to work in the healthcare management industry. The core curriculum of a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management includes courses that cover communication, life and physical sciences, language, philosophy and culture, and more. Core courses typically include introduction to healthcare management, economics of health, healthcare accounting, healthcare regulatory environment and introduction to healthcare information systems. This type of degree is ideal if you want to work in an administrative capacity in the healthcare industry. Completing the Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management degree typically takes about four years.
Master in Healthcare Management
The Master in Healthcare Management degree is ideal for students who have completed their bachelor’s degree in the field or people who are already experienced at working in managerial positions in the industry. With a master’s degree they can learn the skills needed to become more effective at their jobs. The curriculum for this type of degree usually includes topics that cover executive function, finance, public health and system improvement. This means courses such as operations management, organizational behavior, corporate strategy, physician leadership, marketing health services and managing information. The Master in Healthcare Management degree typically also requires you to complete a capstone project.
Healthcare Management Degree FAQ
Is it Possible To Complete A Healthcare Management Degree Online?
While healthcare management degrees are typically completed at brick and mortar institutions, it is also possible to obtain this degree with a 100% online curriculum. This means that there is no need to attend any classes on campus and students can study when and where it is convenient for them. Most online programs also offer support in the form of faculty and staff that are also available to assist when you need them. An online master’s degree in this field is particularly useful for professionals who are already employed in the industry as it enables them to complete their studies in their free time. Usually the only requirements to participate in online courses is access to a broadband internet connection, desktop or laptop computer, and in some cases a webcam along with a headset and microphone.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study For This Degree?
Healthcare management might lean more towards the business side of things, but it is still a great industry for people who have an honest desire for helping others. If you are caring and sympathetic, it can be a very rewarding career path. However, working in healthcare management still require business skills as well, so it is important that you have good decision-making abilities, the ability to effectively collaborate with other people and have good leadership skills. Analytical skills are just as important, as is planning and information gathering. Of course, your communication skills should be excellent and you must also possess strong general management skills.
What Type of Career Paths Are Available With A Healthcare Management Degree?
There are a variety of career paths available to those who complete a degree in healthcare management. These include clinic management, health insurance, hospital administration, home health services, healthcare policy, healthcare information technology and more. Upon obtaining a degree in this field many people go on to work as hospital executives, group practice executives, healthcare consultants, home healthcare administrators, public health planners and emergency medical services administrators.
What Type Of Duties Might I Have When Working In Healthcare Management?
There are different career paths in the field of healthcare management, so your duties will depend on the type of job you have. For example, when working as a hospital or practice administrator it will be your responsibility to oversee all the departments of the facility. At smaller facilities this might mean more personal contact with staff and patients while at larger facilities, such as hospitals, it typically involves working within a team. What it usually boils down to is making sure that everything from the finances to patient care and staff concerns are balanced and addressed in an efficient manner.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn When Working In This Industry?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for medical and health services managers during 2019 was about $100,980. As far as the job outlook for this career path is concerned, they indicate that employment is projected to grow about 17 percent until 2024, which his much faster than the average compared to all other occupations. States with the highest employment in this career field are California, New York and Texas. Unsurprisingly, these states also offer the highest annual mean wage according to BLS statistics.
What Are The Other Advantages To Studying Healthcare Management?
Healthcare is not only a very rewarding industry to work in because you are making a big impact on the lives of others, but also one of the few industries that expands even in a slow economy. Thanks to a larger aging population, the need for healthcare services is larger than ever. It also means that not only are hospitals becoming bigger, but also that other organizations, such as long-term care centers, hospices and health management organizations are becoming more prevalent. This translates to more opportunities being available if you have the right training and skills while also being employed in a field where there is stability as well as potential for growth.
