Comprehensive Healthcare Management Degree Guide
Management is one of the pillars of the healthcare industry. That’s why it requires qualified individuals to strategize and execute strategies that keep hospitals and other medical facilities standing. So, what exactly is a healthcare management degree?
Is it a worthy degree/career to chase? Besides, what can you potentially get after chasing this business management degree? This guide will lead you through all that you need to know, including the programs you can find and what you can expect to learn.
What is Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management is the field of overseeing the basics and necessities of healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc. Instead of dealing with healthcare directly, healthcare management professionals ensure that health institutions run efficiently.
Usually, healthcare management focuses on a few critical areas of hospitals and medical institutions, such as:
- Managing staff, including doctors, nurses, etc.;
- Handling finances and accounts;
- Regulating compliance and human resources;
- And improve services, policies, etc.
So, the focus of healthcare management is on running a hospital as an organization seamlessly. Thus allowing doctors and nurses to practice their profession in an environment that ensures proper facilities.
What Do You Study in a Healthcare Management Degree Program?
Healthcare management degrees focus on critical areas of management, just like any other business management degree. The specializations might focus on specific areas, but a general bachelor’s or master’s degree will focus on:
- Healthcare Operations
- Financial Management
- Healthcare Policy and Law
- Human Resources Management
- Quality Improvement
This management program will teach the same basics of human resources, accounts, and administration— with the addition of courses in healthcare operations/policy and law. Some of the healthcare management degree courses under these categories include:
| Degree | Course Title | Description |
| Certificates | Healthcare Information Literacy & Data Analytics | A branch of data analytics focused on healthcare. |
| Advancing Health Equity: A Guide for Reducing Bias | Focuses on promoting diversity and avoiding bias in health-related professions. Falls under Human Resources and healthcare policies. | |
| Bachelor’s | Principles of Healthcare | Fundamental concepts of healthcare, including essential healthcare practices. |
| Healthcare Ethics and Values | Ethical considerations and general morals of healthcare as a profession. | |
| Healthcare Management Information Systems | Focuses on management systems, computers, programs, etc., necessary to ensure the smooth running of healthcare operations. | |
| Patient Safety Management | Focuses on patient safety and quality of healthcare. | |
| Healthcare Policy & System | General healthcare policies for the state, country, and hospitals. | |
| Master’s | Health Systems Management | Same as healthcare management information systems, but at an advanced level. Additional management elements to lead healthcare management system teams. |
| Financial Management and Accounting | Managing finances and accounts of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare institutions. | |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare | Focuses on entrepreneurial practices in healthcare and innovation to provide a higher degree of medical care. | |
| Healthcare Policy, Politics, and Law | Higher/advanced level of Healthcare Policy & System, with the addition of management leadership. | |
| Leadership and Change Management | Developing leadership to lead various management departments in the healthcare profession. |
Who Should Study Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management is ideal for those who wish to work in healthcare, albeit in an administration role. Those who are passionate about providing health, but are more akin to business or management roles, will find healthcare management just right for their ambitions.
Usually, people with healthcare management degrees work in hospital administration. So, you should study it if you wish to supervise things like:
- Managing staff like doctors, nurses, etc.;
- Regulating compliance among employees;
- Managing accounts and finances;
- And manage administrative elements.
Now, what happens if you’re at a certain point in your career? You might pursue a master’s degree in healthcare management if you’re already a business graduate. Otherwise, you might look for entry-level healthcare management jobs with a certificate or diploma.
Here’s who should study healthcare management:
| Career/Qualification Point | Why? |
| Healthcare Professionals | If you’re working as a nurse or medical assistant, you’d know what a hospital or clinic needs better than anyone. Becoming qualified to manage those elements will elevate your career. |
| Business Graduates | If you have a business background, then a healthcare management master’s degree will land you in higher positions in any clinic, hospital or medical facility. |
| Recent Graduates | If you’re a recent graduate and wish to change your field or elevate your status, earning a healthcare management degree will open multiple doors for you. |
| Mid-Career Professionals | Mid-career professionals who wish to change or switch to management in healthcare. This is a common scenario for those with an inclination toward healthcare or the medical field in general. |
| Policymakers and Administrators | Policymakers or administrators who are already working as professionals in healthcare. This will allow them to understand their field on a more intimate level. |
Requirements for Enrolling in a Healthcare Management Program
There are various degree types in management for the medical field. For instance, the healthcare management degree requirements will be focused mainly on the business aspect. But a particular specialization might have its specific admission necessities.
One such example would be hospital management degree requirements, which require a GPA of 3.5 or above.
| Title | Level | Requirement |
| BS/BSBA in Healthcare Management | Bachelor’s | High school diploma/GED, official transcripts, personal statement, SAT/ACT scores, and application fee. Usually requires 120 credits and includes a capstone project. |
| Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | Master’s | Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 36-54 credits, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and GRE/GMAT scores, depending on the university/school. |
| Master of Public Health (MPH) | Master’s | Bachelor’s degree, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and possibly GRE scores. Focuses on public health aspects within healthcare management. |
| Certified Healthcare Manager (CHM) | Certification | Must have a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of healthcare management experience. |
| Certified Medical Manager (CMM) | Certification | Requires a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of management experience in healthcare. Like CHM, you are required to pass an exam. |
| Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management | Certification | Typically requires a bachelor’s degree and focuses on specialized topics within healthcare management. |
| Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) | Doctoral | Master’s degree in a related field, professional experience, letters of recommendation, and a dissertation or capstone project. |
Types of Healthcare Management Programs
You can find plenty of options when exploring a healthcare management degree online or on campus. However, you should be clear on the type of degree or certification you pursue. Some of the top healthcare management programs on various levels include the following:
Online Healthcare Management Certificate
If you’re already a graduate or someone who wishes to add healthcare management to their arsenal, then healthcare administration classes online might be for you. For that, you can pursue management certifications online, such as:
| School | Certificate | Description |
| Liberty University Online | Graduate Healthcare Management Certificate Online | A graduate certificate with a focus on healthcare administration, human resource management, and talent acquisition. |
| Cornell University (eCornell) | Healthcare | Focuses on organization finances, people management, as well as healthcare investment and marketing. |
| Ashworth College | Undergraduate Certificate | Certificate for undergrad students who wish to focus on management of medical offices, health records management, etc. |
| Seton Hill University | Healthcare Management Certificate | The certificate focuses on legal complexities, financial elements, and human resources for healthcare facilities. |
| Vanderbilt University | Healthcare Management Certificate | An online certificate that focuses on the US healthcare system and financial elements and develops management leading skills. |
Some of these programs are for eligible undergraduate students, but others are for master’s or bachelor’s only. So, make sure you check the requirements before picking a certification.
Healthcare Management Associates Degree
An associate’s degree program might not open the doors to a bachelor’s healthcare management degree salary. However, it will still help you score entry-level positions, and then you can work your way up from there. Here are some of the popular associate degrees in healthcare management:
| School | Certificate | Description |
| St. Louis College of Health Careers | AAS in Healthcare Administration | Associate of applied science program, focusing on computer applications, management, and administration in healthcare facilities. |
| Florida Institute of Technology | AA Healthcare Management | The associate of arts program focuses on management, organizational structure, and medical ethics. |
| Waldorf University | AA in Health Care Management | This associate of arts degree focuses on healthcare law, financial management, and general management. |
| Penn Foster College | Associate in Health Care Management | The online associate program emphasizes management, communication, department management, and human resources. |
| University of Cincinnati Online | AA In Healthcare Management Technology | The program teaches everyday operations in medical facilities. Focuses on elements for healthcare administrators and medical assistants. |
Accredited Bachelor Degree
A bachelor’s program is a surefire way to break into medium positions in the healthcare industry. However, it has to come from an accredited and recognized university. Here are some of the accredited bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management today:
| University | Degree Title | Acceptance Rate | Average Cost (University) |
| Texas Tech University | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | 67% | $20,000 |
| Maryville University | Bachelor’s In | 88% | $27,000 |
| Georgia Military College | BAS in Healthcare Management | 95-100% | $14,000 |
| Columbia College | Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management | 4% | $66,000 |
| The University of Alabama At Birmingham | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management | 87% | $17,000 |
Hospital or Healthcare Management Master’s Degree
A healthcare management master’s degree is ideal for graduates who are looking to break into this industry or simply wish to elevate their skills. So, here are some of the choicest and top healthcare management graduate degrees available today:
| University | Degree Title | Acceptance Rate | Average Cost |
| Bay Path University | Online MS in | 76% | $39,000 |
| University of Maryland | School of Public Health | Master of Public Health: Health Care Management | 45% | $17,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Carey Business School | Master of Science in Health Care Management | 7% | $29,000 |
| UA – Eller College of Management | Master of Healthcare Management | 87% | $30,000 |
| Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health | Master of Health Administration | 4% | $23,000 |
Why Work in Healthcare Management?
Working in healthcare management isn’t just about salaries or job outlooks but also about the impact. Most of those who pursue careers in medical fields do so out of love for helping people and making an impact/difference.
The same goes for the management of healthcare, even if you don’t directly deal with patients–because it’s a career that combines compassion with leadership and strategy. It also helps you ensure that you play a pivotal role in medical institutions and hospitals by running them smoothly and efficiently.
Therefore, if you have a knack for management and want to help people, management in healthcare might be your career calling.
Healthcare Management Degrees: Jobs, Salary, Opportunities
Healthcare management degree jobs might look the same as any that require a degree in business administration. This includes human resources management, facilities management, accounting, etc.
However, there are some industry-specific jobs that require you to have a healthcare management degree—or a specialization in one. Here are some of the job titles, salaries, and job opportunities/outlook for work in this field:
| Job Title(s) | Median Salary | Job Outlook |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $115,00 | 32% |
| Human Resources Managers | $136,000 | 6% |
| Medical Records and Health Information Specialists | $48,000 | 9% |
| Nursing Home Administrators | $35-$97,000 | – |
| Health Services Managers | $110,000 | 29% |
| Facilities Managers | $104,000 | 6% |
While this is the data available on BLS for specific job positions, there are also other job titles. Usually, the other job titles fall under the same category as the six mentioned above. Some of them include:
- Hospital Administrator
- Clinic Manager
- Health Services Manager
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Healthcare Operations Manager
- Medical Practice Manager
- Health Information Manager
- Chief Medical Officer (CMO)
- Healthcare Project Manager
- Managed Care Executive
Therefore, it’s a field with many opportunities, job titles, and hefty salaries. It’s also in an industry that’ll never run out of need, so job security isn’t an issue either.
Conclusion
Healthcare management is a lucrative field, and one that presents many opportunities. With a promise of hefty salaries and an ever-increasing job outlook, this is one of the leading gambles that high school students make after graduating.
Aside from the potential of earning a high health services management degree salary, it also ensures you’ll land a job somewhere. On top of that, this applies to any sort of program, including associate degrees, as well as certification.
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