Have you ever wondered what you could do with your management degree in the healthcare sector? Healthcare management has long been an exciting, fast-paced industry because every day presents new challenges and opportunities to help patients, staff and facilities.
This field touches almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet most people don’t know much about it or its management opportunities.
A healthcare career can encompass many jobs and occupations, so gaining as much knowledge as possible is important before deciding which jobs to pursue.
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Understanding healthcare management
Healthcare management refers to managing people, processes and resources within a healthcare organization. It involves motivating staff, improving operational efficiency, reducing waste and satisfying customer needs.
Healthcare managers must always keep an eye on the bottom line and medical standards of care. If you want to work in this field, you need at least a bachelor’s degree with coursework in health administration or related fields.
The more education you have, the better off your career will be. With an MBA in healthcare management and leadership, you can become a hospital administrator or oversee supply chain operations for a healthcare company.
Walsh University designed its program to infuse a curriculum that translates real-world challenges into cutting-edge solutions. With this program, you’ll be able to integrate real-world experiences with classroom theory and advanced learning strategies, enabling you to grow your skillset.
12 management opportunities in healthcare to take your career to the next level
With the aging population of the developed world, healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the job market. Although the industry is constantly changing, healthcare has always needed managers and leaders to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.
For you, this means that there are excellent management positions with tremendous room to grow your career and impact people’s lives. Below are 12 of the most exciting healthcare management opportunities to take your job to the next level.
Administrative services manager
An administrative services manager ensures the efficient operation of an organization by managing day-to-day office operations, such as recordkeeping and budgeting. They make sure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
For example, they may coordinate schedules for employees and manage office equipment maintenance. Administrative services managers are responsible for ensuring that records are complete and organized so doctors can easily access information about patient treatments.
Clinical nurse manager
As a clinical nurse manager, you’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day operations of a clinical area. For instance, you may be responsible for managing patient care, supervising nurses and other healthcare staff, and ensuring the efficiency and safety of operations within your unit.
You may also be required to lead medical rounds, train new employees, or work with leadership on strategic initiatives. Additionally, you may play an active role in building partnerships between departments and personnel at different levels of the organization.
Chief nursing director
The chief nursing director oversees all nursing functions, including patient care and staffing. They also manage medical staff, nurses and other nursing personnel.
During board meetings, the chief nursing director may act as a spokesperson for the nursing department, which is their primary role. They should be able to answer questions about their department’s performance and give recommendations on creating a new policy or procedure.
These professionals need to have an advanced understanding of medical terminology and be familiar with the latest changes in healthcare regulations. They require strong leadership skills and excellent communication skills so that they can adequately convey complex messages.
Practice manager
A practice manager is a healthcare professional who oversees the day-to-day operations of a healthcare organization. They’re responsible for scheduling staff, training, managing disputes and ensuring patients’ satisfaction with their care.
Practice managers also oversee the activities of a physician’s office, including recordkeeping and payroll management. Sometimes, they interact with various sales representatives and companies to negotiate contracts and receive product discounts.
They also provide guidance to physicians on how to increase profitability by adjusting staffing levels and adding procedures.
Nursing home administrator
The field of nursing homes is snowballing due to an increasing elderly population and a shortage of nurses. Nursing home administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of a nursing home and ensure that it provides quality care for its residents.
They handle administrative tasks such as overseeing payroll and human resources, developing budgets and conducting staff evaluations.
An administrator can be responsible for the entire facility or just one unit, such as skilled nursing or long-term care. Administrators can also specialize in one area, such as clinical services or financial management.
Hospital’s chief executive officer
The chief executive officer (CEO) is typically accountable for overseeing all aspects of a hospital. This includes managing staff, overseeing budgets and dealing with regulatory agencies.
The CEO also takes care of external communications and public relations. They oversee day-to-day operations and are responsible for determining the strategic direction of their facility. Some CEOs work alongside doctors, whereas others work independently from them.
What makes a great CEO? They must have excellent managerial skills as well as leadership abilities. They must build strong relationships with their team members, board members, physicians, vendors, government officials, and other stakeholders outside the organization.
Medical records supervisor
A medical records supervisor oversees the management of patient medical records. These professionals must ensure that all files are labeled appropriately, organized and regularly updated.
They also manage the retention period for files, identify gaps or overlaps in filing where needed, and communicate with patients or their families about file availability. This role can be very demanding – therefore, you will require strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Clinical research manager
A clinical research manager is responsible for managing clinical trials, ensuring that they abide by the research protocol and government regulations. As a clinical research manager, you would be responsible for quality assurance and overseeing budgets and timelines.
You must also minimize potential drug use or medical device risks and keep them below acceptable levels. For example, suppose that a patient has an adverse reaction to the drug you are testing during a clinical trial. It is up to you as clinical research manager to evaluate whether this could have been avoided and make changes if necessary.
You must maintain complete confidentiality and abide by federal laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Chief of staff
Every hospital needs a chief of staff to coordinate its day-to-day operations and lead its medical team. As head of staff, you’ll manage your institution’s resources, oversee clinical departments, and advise the administration on strategic issues.
You’ll also serve as a mentor and advisor to junior physicians and other staff members. Mentorship activities ensure that new clinicians have help navigating their careers and provide insights from someone who has been there.
A vital responsibility of the chief of staff is selecting new doctors for positions, ensuring that they fit with existing teams and have adequate training.
Human resources manager
The role of the human resources manager is integral within a healthcare organization. A human resources manager manages all aspects of the employee experience. These aspects include recruitment and hiring, benefits, payroll administration, employee relations, training and giving experience certificates to employees.
They also oversee the company’s compliance with labor laws, handle terminations, and maintain employment records. Developing strong relationships with employees and other key stakeholders is essential for success in this position.
Director of social services
A director of social services typically manages various social service programs. Duties may include overseeing budgets and operations, developing policies and procedures for staff, monitoring program performance and evaluating outcomes.
A director of social services must have excellent interpersonal skills and outstanding leadership qualities.
These skills are essential because a director’s job includes supervising others, managing complex projects and addressing policy-related issues. You will also need experience working with people from different backgrounds or cultures.
Healthcare manager
As a healthcare manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of a medical facility. You’ll need to oversee medical staff, including nurses, doctors and other support staff. You might also manage billing and staffing if you’re managing an outpatient facility such as a doctor’s office or clinic.
Additionally, you may get involved with marketing your facility and its services on social media or through brochures. Remember that there are many different healthcare facilities, and each has its management requirements.
For example, if you want to work at a hospital as a nurse practitioner, the responsibilities would look very different from those at a family practice physician’s office. Managing people is essential to being a healthcare manager, regardless of where you work.
Wrapping up
Healthcare is a growing field with many opportunities for management and leadership positions. No matter what your level of experience is, there are several ways that you can advance your career by considering a management role.
With some knowledge about the industry, an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and a willingness to invest time into developing new skills, you’ll be well on your way. Don’t hesitate to take on any opportunity for growth or advancement.
