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What Is Health Care Management? A Career Guide
Learn all about health care management, including career paths, salary information, and how to get into this field.
August 17, 2022
Article
Learn more about the skills and certifications you need to advance your career in health care administration and management.
Learn more about health care management
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: People Management, Financial Reporting, Financial Data, Financial Statements, Health Systems, Health Care Administration, Income Statement, Employee Performance Management, Financial Analysis, Performance Measurement, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Business Metrics, Decision Making, Organizational Change, Program Evaluation, Health Care, Organizational Structure, Performance Analysis, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Medicare
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Northeastern University
Skills you'll gain: Performance Improvement, Process Analysis, Health Care Administration, Process Mapping, Health Systems, Business Analytics, Clinical Trials, Systems Thinking, Quality Improvement, Change Management, Patient Flow, Analytics, Health Care, Care Coordination, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Health Systems, Health Care Administration, Health Care, Healthcare Industry Knowledge, Medicare, Economics, Insurance, Behavioral Economics, Cost Containment, Market Dynamics, Payment Systems, Resource Allocation
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Health care management encompasses a broad range of skills and careers, from hospital administration to health care policy planning to health care IT and informatics. Given the numerous options in this dynamic field, it can be challenging to determine a starting point. On Coursera, you'll find extensive resources to aid you in meeting your career objectives, whether you are exploring a new career in health care or ready to advance your career as an experienced professional. Delve into various health care management topics, including:
Healthcare is the prevention and treatment of illness as well as the improvement of wellbeing by medical professionals. This term can be used to describe healthcare provided to individuals, but often refers to the healthcare delivery systems responsible for providing health services to communities more broadly, including entire countries. Access to healthcare is thus important for promoting and maintaining the physical and mental wellbeing of the general public.
Healthcare is especially important to learn about because it is becoming more complex as health economics change. In the United States and other countries, the question of how to provide affordable and effective health insurance has been a politically challenging one, as healthcare costs have grown alongside aging populations - and existing government policies to ensure healthcare access have struggled to keep up. The provision of insurance and health services more broadly may be covered by public entities, private companies, or both, and different countries are attempting to meet these needs with different combinations of policy frameworks.
As in other areas of the economy, the growing use of information technology holds promise to transform this sector. Health informatics is helping medical professionals manage patient data far more efficiently, facilitating better treatment and enhanced collaboration between different healthcare providers. The power of this approach will be further enhanced by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), which will allow doctors to harness more information for diagnosis and develop data-driven decision support systems for the evaluation of different treatments for patients.
If you're looking for a great beginners healthcare management course, consider one of these specializations offered on Coursera:
Each offers unique insights and perspectives into healthcare management, allowing learners to develop a comprehensive understanding of the guiding principles and best practices that healthcare managers should use in their day-to-day work.
To excel in Healthcare Administration, you should focus on developing the following skills:
Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial in healthcare administration as you will often interact with patients, medical professionals, and other staff members. It will help you convey information clearly, listen actively, and resolve conflicts efficiently.
Organizational Skills: Healthcare administration requires managing multiple tasks, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining records, and coordinating various departments. Enhancing your organizational skills will allow you to handle these responsibilities effectively.
Leadership Skills: As a healthcare administrator, you may be responsible for leading teams or managing a healthcare facility. Developing leadership skills, including decision-making, problem-solving, and motivating others, will be essential for success in this role.
Analytical Skills: Healthcare administrators need to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions. Building strong analytical skills will enable you to solve complex problems, improve processes, and optimize the quality of care.
Financial Management Skills: Understanding financial management principles is crucial in healthcare administration. Skills like budgeting, financial analysis, and cost control will assist in managing resources efficiently and ensuring financial success in the healthcare organization.
Technological Skills: Familiarity with healthcare-specific software and technology is becoming increasingly essential. Skills such as electronic health records (EHR) systems, data management tools, and healthcare analytics will allow you to streamline operations and enhance patient care.
Remember that while these skills are vital, the specific requirements may vary depending on the organization and the level of responsibility within healthcare administration. It's always beneficial to stay updated with industry trends and continue learning throughout your career.
Here are some topics you can study that are related to Healthcare Administration:
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