What Is a Healthcare Management Course?
Healthcare is not just about providing patients with care. Some people who work in healthcare manage the business and the management aspects of the organizations they work in, such as hospitals, private practices, or other facilities. They may manage and oversee clinics as a whole or a specific department within a larger system, such as the nursing department.
This type of educational path often requires different types of education to prepare a person to work in the field. This may include business courses that help teach management skills, financial management, and investment and marketing aspects related to managing the business. Often, students could also learn about healthcare economics, budgeting and cost management, improving performance and care quality in healthcare, and management of regulatory concerns.
Those who work in healthcare management may need to have some level of education to help them to complete these tasks. Those who completed a bachelor’s degree in healthcare of any type may wish to take master’s degree courses in healthcare management. It may also be possible for students who have a business degree to take a healthcare management course to allow them to work in a hospital setting.
Is It Worth Completing a Health Management Course?
There are many reasons to consider a healthcare management course. Whether you are thinking about just a few courses or a degree in healthcare management, carefully consider what you hope this type of educational path may bring to you personally. Here are a few reasons to consider this path.
1: Choose an in-demand field
Working as a medical and health service manager may benefit those who want to work in an in-demand field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that between 2020 and 2030, there is expected to be a need for 139,600 additional people to work in this field. That is a job outlook growth percentage of about 32 percent, which is much faster than average. As of their data, there are 429,800 people working in this field now across the country.
State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
---|---|---|
California | 34,140 | $113,790 |
New York | 25,850 | $119,350 |
Texas | 23,740 | $96,830 |
Ohio | 15,330 | $90,830 |
Pennsylvania | 14,540 | $86,830 |
There is a demand for people who have these skills. That may mean that after completing this type of educational program, it may be possible to find available positions in many areas of the U.S. A health management course may enable you to qualify for these positions, depending on what you learn and the requirements of the job.
2: Choose a field that offers good pay
Pay rates differ significantly from one type of job in this field to another. They also differ from one area of the country to another. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the 2020 median pay across the U.S. for a person working as a medical and health services manager was $104,280 per year. That is $50.13 per hour.
Metro Area | Annual Mean Salary | Employment |
---|---|---|
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $146,190 | 2,110 |
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $145,440 | 520 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $125,500 | 5,150 |
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $124,130 | 2,300 |
Stockton-Lodi, CA | $122,130 | 400 |
To qualify for this pay, many employers require a person to have a bachelor’s degree or higher in the field. They may also require specific skillsets and the completion of various healthcare management courses. That is also the median annual pay. That means some people may be paid less and some more. Core skills and experience on the job may play a role in the type of pay a person in the field receives.
3: Choose from a range of job settings
Many locations that employ healthcare workers of any type often need professionals to oversee the business aspects of the service. For those who want to work in a variety of locations or want the ability to choose from numerous types of healthcare settings to work in, this career path may offer that type of flexibility. Health care managers work in administrative positions through a number of positions. That may include working as a healthcare manager or administrator. It may also include working as a healthcare supervisor, a clinical director, or a nursing home facilitator. Some that work in this field work as a director of a large organization or a health coordinator for a private organization or nonprofit.
Though each of these positions may warrant a specific type of education or the completion of a specific healthcare management course, they may be an option for those interested in any of these fields.
It may be a good idea to think about where you wish to work and the type of environment you wish to work in when considering this degree path. One of the potential benefits of this degree is having the ability to choose from a range of job settings. This may include, for example, working in a hospital or in a specific department in a hospital. For those with experience in a specific field, such as in cardiology, nursing, or lab work, that may offer an area of interest. Other locations need health care managers as well. That includes many clinics, nursing homes, private practices, and public health centers.
Some people work outside of the immediate healthcare setting but are still in a related field. For example, they may work in insurance companies or in colleges and universities. They may also work in pharmaceutical companies or private sector positions where there is a need for healthcare specific management.
4: Community impact is valuable
For some people, these factors could be important, but it may also be important to simply work in a field where they are making a difference in the community. For example, healthcare managers may help individual patients to manage medical costs or provide access to support programs. They may help to ensure there is enough help in a nursing home to meet patient needs. Sometimes they also may work to promote public health initiatives and influence budgets and planning for services provided. For those who are looking for a way to work in an industry that may be very supportive to the community, this could be the perfect path for your needs.
5: May not need a master’s degree
In some situations, individuals who wish to work as healthcare managers may just need a bachelor’s degree to get started in the field. This differs between employers. Many allow employees to work for them with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management. However, you may wish to further your education by completing a master’s degree. Doing so may provide you with better access to other jobs or more skills in the field. In some situations, it could also prove to be valuable for those who may already be working in a healthcare industry who want to transition into the business management side of the process.
What Is the Career Scope of a Healthcare Management Course?
Learn What Your Options Are
It is well worth exploring the opportunities available here for those interested in a healthcare management course. You may find a range of information to help you determine if this is the path you wish to take.