According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who are trained in healthcare management have something to look forward to. Between 2021 and 2031, there will be more than 56,000 job openings for healthcare managers every year, a growth rate of about 28%.
This is much faster than most occupations, and taking into account how much these professionals are paid, it is an excellent career to pursue for anyone who already has a degree and wants to move up the career ladder into management.
Getting an MBA in healthcare management is the quickest way to become a healthcare manager. What you cover in the course may vary depending on where you study, but the fundamentals are the same. The one offered at Walsh University, for example, covers topics like ethics in medicine, industry, and standard practice in patient care, finance for healthcare institutions, and team leadership.
By the time you complete the course, you will be able to lead a hospital, clinic, and any other healthcare facility. You will have the necessary skills to measure performance in employees, formulate policy, develop both long and short-term strategies, and formulate policies aimed at improving healthcare.
It is a good idea to enroll in an online course because they are designed to be shorter than in-person courses and they tend to be cheaper. If you enroll in a renowned institution, you will get plenty of support from the faculty, including your faculty advisor, and you will also put in clinical hours to bolster what you have learned in class.
While the job prospects are good and the pay excellent, you may be wondering what other advantages there are to choosing a career in healthcare management.
Why choose healthcare management?
For many, the choice to go into management is because they have hit a ceiling in their current positions. With the skills that they have gained in the course of their career, they feel they are in a position to make good leaders.
In healthcare, there are several reasons why you should seriously consider gaining the requisite skills to scale into management.
It opens up doors that are otherwise closed to you
Training in healthcare management gives you a great opportunity to apply for jobs that you wouldn’t otherwise qualify for.
Many people who train in this field are already mid-career and feel that they have reached the peak at their current jobs.
They are disengaged and uninspired and are seeking change, a new lease that will give them cause to work hard and apply themselves.
Healthcare management is a great way to go because you have diverse options. If you don’t like the idea of working in a hospital, there are many other places you can look for employment.
You can work for state or federal institutions writing up policies, you can become an advisor, or you can choose the private sector, where you can expect to be paid quite well.
The career offers a variety of employment opportunities
When you finish your MBA, you will be highly employable, and many employers will be interested to see what you have to offer.
You can choose to work as a manager in a hospital or clinic, an administrator, a supervisor, a clinical director, or a public health educator. Other jobs that are open to you include health coordinator and even clinical director.
Don’t limit yourself to these. Keep your eyes open for new opportunities for professionals with your qualifications.
You can influence policy at the highest levels
If you are passionate about policy, then healthcare management is a perfect career for you. Many who choose this career are not happy with the way their communities have been served in the past when it comes to healthcare and have ideas about how they can make things better.
With your skills, you are in a perfect place to identify healthcare issues within communities, suggest solutions, and push to make sure that they are implemented.
Many MBA holders in healthcare work for the state or the federal government because it places them exactly where they want to be so that they can better serve their communities.
It opens up opportunities to work outside the United States
If you have always wanted to travel for work, an MBA in healthcare management is a good way to go. International healthcare institutions regularly employ those who are highly trained in this field and post them overseas to represent their interests.
After you complete your training, you can focus on applying for jobs that send you abroad for work.
Expatriates are paid quite well and have the added advantage of exploring other countries and cultures. It is a perfect way to relaunch your life and you’ll have much to look forward to.
It is an emotionally rewarding profession
Healthcare management workers report that they are happy with their jobs because they know that they are making a difference where it matters.
They may not come into contact with the sick every day, but they do whatever is needed to make sure that those who need care and treatment get the best care possible.
If they are working within a hospital, for example, they are in the position to improve the financial position of different departments so they can buy whatever equipment is needed to provide high levels of personalized care.
If they choose to work in government, they can work on making sure that healthcare institutions in their community have enough funds to serve the sick.
You have a secure future
Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in America, but, unfortunately, the country isn’t training enough professionals to meet employment demands. Many facilities across America report a shortage of trained professionals at almost every level.
Not only does this make it easier for you to get a job, but it also means that when you get one, you are likely to keep it for a long time. The country needs you, and it will do whatever is necessary to keep you.
You can improve your chances of keeping your job by getting even more training after you get your MBA.
You have the ear of those who matter
Change is brought about by talking to the right people, and once you get into a management position, you will have access to those who can bring about the transformation you have in mind.
Be they politicians, senior medics, or policy makers, you can bring them around to your way of thinking by doing research and showing them why there is a need to do things differently to improve healthcare in your community.
The networks that you form as you do your MBA in healthcare are important because these professionals will, like you, go into senior positions and can be helpful to you in their various capacities.
Keep them close and make sure to attend industry events so that you remain visible. When you approach them for help, they will be happy to listen to whatever policy suggestions you have to offer.
Make the change
It is never too late to transition into a career in healthcare management. So long as you haven’t reached retirement age, you can make the change by enrolling in an MBA with this particular specialty. The training and skills you receive will place you in the right place to influence healthcare decisions at the highest levels.