Healthcare is a challenging and rewarding field that many people are drawn to; however, not all of them want to be healthcare practitioners. One way those people can participate in the industry — and impact both patients and workers — is through healthcare management.  

Individuals interested in ensuring effective administration and management of healthcare facilities and departments, or even specific healthcare functions within an organization, should consider a healthcare management career path. These roles generally require an advanced degree, such as a master’s in healthcare management, and relevant experience. 

What Is Healthcare Management?

Healthcare management is the oversight of a medical facility, department or function. Professionals in this field may ensure efficient operations, manage the budget, align policy with goals, maintain compliance and more. Depending on the organization’s size, they may focus on broader oversight, such as long-term organizational health, or day-to-day activities, like ensuring medical supplies are in stock and tracking the number of emergency room beds in use. 

Healthcare management professionals regularly work with physicians, nurses and other healthcare personnel. They may be responsible for hiring and training staff or may delegate that role to a healthcare administrator. They may also help organize and schedule work shifts for employees. Sometimes, they deal with insurance companies to ensure payments. These individuals may serve as the face of their facilities or departments and represent them in meetings with stakeholders and the media. 

Healthcare Management Career Examples

Healthcare management is a broad umbrella term, and healthcare management career paths can vary greatly. Examples of careers include: 

• Nursing home administrator 

• Healthcare quality improvement manager 

• Ambulatory care manager 

• Clinical manager 

• Health information manager 

• Medical records manager 

• Assisted living administrator 

• Social services director 

How To Get Into Healthcare Management: Career Path

The career path for becoming a healthcare management professional may vary depending on the duties of the specific role. However, the high-level nature of most management positions often necessitates an advanced degree and established experience. Additionally, those interested in a healthcare management career should develop key skills to help them excel. 

Complete an Education Program

Generally, at minimum, healthcare management positions require a bachelor’s degree, often in fields such as public health, health administration or business administration. Many positions require an advanced degree, such as a master’s in healthcare management, health information management or health administration. Healthcare facilities may favor or require applicants with an advanced degree, as it indicates a stronger background in critical areas of administration and patient safety. 

A master’s in healthcare management program often includes courses on health administration policy, healthcare economics, medical practice management and healthcare budgeting. Additionally, some advanced degree programs offer internships, which can help future graduates gain essential experience in the field. 

Gain Experience

Healthcare management professionals often need experience working in a healthcare facility — in administrative or clinical roles, for example — before managing one. Starting in an entry-level position, such as medical secretary or patient service representative, or getting an internship through a degree program may fill this need.  

Ideally, applicants should get experience in the areas they’d like to pursue as a career. For example, those who want to become nursing home administrators should seek roles within a nursing home, such as nursing assistant or receptionist. 

Develop Key Skills

Healthcare management careers often require a diverse skill set, including soft skills such as interpersonal communication and hard skills such as budget management. Below are some of the skill areas necessary to succeed in a healthcare management role: 

• Communication 

• Leadership 

• Technology, such as how to use electronic health records 

• Budgeting 

• Administration 

• Organization 

• Data analysis 

• Coding 

• Medical terminology 

Healthcare Management Salary and Job Outlook Information

Choosing a healthcare management career can often lead to a rewarding salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $110,680 as of May 2023. This salary is significantly higher than the median annual salary for all careers ($48,060). Individual salaries can vary based on job title, location, experience and other factors. 

Job growth in the healthcare management field is expected to be strong over the next decade. The BLS projects 29 percent growth for medical and health services managers between 2023 and 2033, substantially higher than the 4 percent average growth projection for all careers. The nation’s aging population is a key factor driving this growth. 

Advance Your Career in Healthcare Management

With strong job growth on the horizon and the ability to positively impact both patients and healthcare workers, it’s a good time to consider a healthcare management career path.  

The Master of Science in Healthcare Management degree program from SEMO Online can help prepare students for these roles. The flexible online program offers courses covering critical areas of healthcare management, including health administration policy, healthcare economics and human resource management. It allows students to customize their education, focusing on areas like administration, informatics or quality and patient safety, and it offers a credited internship, which provides access to hands-on work experience. 

SEMO Online also offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Healthcare Administration concentration option and a Master of Business Administration with a Health Administration focus option for those at different stages in their career paths. Southeast Missouri State University also has on-campus programs, primarily at its main campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

Discover the next step on your healthcare management career path with SEMO Online.