A Career in Care: Jobs in Health Care Management
Learn everything you'll need to know to have a successful career in health care management.
Find Health Care Administration Programs
By Sarah Stevenson
The field of health care management is expected to grow by 16 percent between 2008 and 2018, so if you possess excellent business administration skills as well as a desire to ensure the efficient delivery of health care services, now is the time to think about a job in health care management.
Salaries are competitive and job prospects are good, but most exciting of all, qualified workers have the opportunity to positively affect the future of the health care system as it incorporates new technologies, structural changes and federal regulations.
Types of Health Care Management Careers
Beyond entry-level health careers, such as medical coder, clinical laboratory technician and medical office assistant, lies a whole world of health care management jobs available to those with a few years' industry experience and some business savvy. The education required for these jobs ranges from an associate's degree or 1-year certificate for medical office managers to a master's degree for managers of clinical departments and larger facilities. Health information technology managers usually hold a specialized bachelor's degree in their field.
Other forms of licensing and certification may also be required, depending on the state where you are employed, particularly for administrators in care facilities.
Health Care Management Jobs: A Side-By-Side Look
| Medical Office Manager | Health Information Technology Manager | Clinical Department Manager, Hospital Administrator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Environment | Clinics, physicians' offices, medical groups, hospital departments, government health agencies | Hospital IT departments, physicians' offices, government agencies, outpatient and inpatient care facilities | Hospital administrative offices, physicians' offices, nursing and residential care facilities |
| Education | A high school diploma plus a medical assistant certificate, or an associate's degree in arts or applied sciences, is required | A bachelor's or master's degree in health information management is required; certification by the American Health Information Management Association is optional | A graduate degree is usually desirable, such as an master's in health administration or MBA degree |
| Salary* | $33,997 – $48,497 | $58,822 – $97,240 | $63,311 – $117,882 |
| Business Skills |
|
|
|
| Health Administration Skills |
|
|
|
* Depends on company size, specific job and location
Sources: Payscale.com, 2009; Bureau of Labor Statistics; All Allied Health Schools
Get Started in Your Health Care Management Career
The field of health care management offers a variety of careers for anyone with a desire to help others and an interest in administration. Take the first step by getting your health care management education. Browse our directory of health care schools, request information about programs that interest you, and get started today.
Health Care Management Resources on the Web
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
- ExploreHealthCareers.org
- Health Career Connection
- American Health Information Management Association
- Professional Association of Health Care Office Management
Spotlight School
Walden University has unique and flexible online delivery models, world-class faculty and customizable programs which are all geared to help adult learners achieve their career goals.