Are you passionate about healthcare but uninterested in practicing medicine? Not every career in healthcare requires a medical school degree! In part due to an aging population, careers opportunities in the healthcare field are growing at an astounding rate. Along with an increased demand for doctors, physicians and nurses (among other roles), there is also a pressing need for professionals in healthcare management and administration to keep the whole operation in order.
Generally speaking, healthcare management and administration is an umbrella term for many different professions that share similar functions. However, there are tons of exciting specialties in healthcare management that you can choose from, each dependent on your different interests and strengths. Do you want to work in the healthcare field in a broader sense or do you want to narrow in on a specific realm? Do you want to work in a hospital or a smaller practice? Would you rather focus on patients or is finance more your forte? There are countless role variations that differ slightly between facilities – there really is the perfect job out there for everyone!
Different specialties require alternative education levels, but most professions ask for either an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Some healthcare professionals choose to further their studies by obtaining an MBA (Master’s of Business Administration). Naturally, those with higher education will be able to choose from a wider range of options, and their degrees will grant them more authority in a healthcare setting.
Are you trying to decide which healthcare management specialty is the right one for you? We have compiled a list of some of the most popular healthcare management streams!
Financial Healthcare Management
There is no question that the healthcare industry is privy to some complicated financial situations. From purchasing equipment, to working with insurance companies, handling patient bills and everything in between – this specialty will likely require additional schooling, primarily in economics and accounting. Financial Healthcare Management is a great option for people who enjoy working with numbers and are fantastic at budgeting. Healthcare finances can be fun yet challenging to handle.
Hospital Healthcare Management
Probably one of the first specialties that comes to mind when you think of ‘healthcare management’ is hospital management. Are you an expert at multitasking and organizing large volumes of information from a million different sources? The intricacies of a hospital are difficult to replicate in any other sector of healthcare management and are ideal for people who love to be challenged. The responsibilities of a hospital manager can include establishing protocols, identifying areas of improvement, planning projects, and coordinating with stakeholders. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Patient Advocate
This specialty is a great choice for those who are naturally empathetic and comfortable talking on behalf of others. Essentially, patient advocates are the voices for individuals who are not able to effectively represent themselves in the healthcare system. Patient advocates confer with patients, their loved ones, the healthcare system, insurance companies and other people involved in the situation. They assist with explaining insurance policies, patient rights and anything else that may be unclear to someone who is unfamiliar with the healthcare system. The responsibilities of a patient advocate are extremely important as they have a direct impact on someone’s life.
Practice Manager
Are you turned off by the bustling nature of a large hospital? Luckily, smaller practices need management too! As the need for healthcare professionals expands, more spaces are required to treat patients. No longer limited to a few physicians and a handful of patients, smaller practices have begun to expand in order to accommodate the increase in patient needs. These practices, usually in smaller towns, become like tiny hospitals in their own right. As such, they warrant just as much need for someone to oversee their daily operations.
Administrative Manager
Like the administrative assistant or manager in any profession, a healthcare administrative manager is the ‘go-to’ person for various requirements. Administrative managers oversee day-to-day operations and all of the little things that make the workplace run smoothly. They have duties such as managing employee schedules, implementing procedures and taking on new hires – and all of the extra administrative tasks in between. Without administrative managers, healthcare facilities would be subject to major disarray. If you’re calm, confident and won’t crack under pressure, then this is the perfect role for you!
Program Director
Described as a ‘specialized position that requires a lot of generalized knowledge’, a program director ensures that one or more specific programs within a healthcare system (like therapy or pediatric programs) go off without a hitch. On a regular day, Program Directors will be responsible for ‘reviewing safety regulations, providing administrative supervision, coordinating patient services, managing personnel, creating a budget plan, regulating department protocols, reducing spending costs…’ and the list goes on! This is a specialty for someone who loves an ever-changing environment and is confident in their decision-making abilities!
Looking for a job in one of these healthcare management specialties? We have lots of openings just waiting to be filled! Find out more at radiusstaffingsolutions.com/job-listings/.
