Healthcare Management Careers with an M.B.A.

06/19/2021

Professionals in healthcare management careers can help patients live longer, fuller lives. But healthcare is also a massive global industry: Worldwide healthcare expenditures exceeded $9 trillion as of 2020 and according a report from Deloitte, will likely rise to more than $12 trillion by 2040. With that growth comes major questions about how organizations can continue to invest in emerging technologies, maintain quality of care and deal with larger volumes of patients, all while maximizing efficiency.

Shifts in the industry have resulted in a healthcare management career outlook that holds many possibilities for individuals who combine advanced business skills with specialized knowledge of best practices and regulations. Leaders in hospitals and life sciences firms address complex challenges that make an impact in people’s lives while advancing their careers. Earning a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management could help you to excel in a crucial and rapidly growing industry.

Healthcare Management Career Options

• Business analyst
• Clinical manager
• Corporate development associate
• Financial analyst
• Healthcare consultant
• Health information manager
• Hospital administrator
• Insurance specialist
• Medical practice administrator
• Mental health program manager
• Nursing home administrator
• Pharmaceutical brand manager

What Careers are Available with an M.B.A. in Healthcare Management?

There are a wide range of positions at the intersection of business and healthcare. Organizations rely on leaders who can apply management principles, connect healthcare providers with resources and fulfill the needs of patients. A healthcare management career path might lead to a wide variety of positions:

Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators work in hospitals, nursing homes, public health organizations, pharmaceutical firms, and medical device manufacturers. They supervise business operations for an entire organization or department, including setting long-term objectives, making strategic decisions, developing budgets, and hiring workers. Administrators must understand the regulations that apply to issues like patient privacy or record-keeping and apply policies accordingly.

Clinical Manager

Clinical managers may supervise a medical office, clinic, or a department within a larger facility. In each of these settings, managers establish and carry out a range of policies and procedures to bring patients the proper care. Clinical managers are often responsible for setting schedules, evaluating the performance of department employees, preparing reports, and arranging the purchase of equipment or supplies.

Health Information Manager

Health information managers specialize in maintaining medical records and data by keeping information systems up to date, making records available to authorized personnel, and monitoring regulatory compliance. They may be responsible for managing revenue cycle, improving the quality of data that’s available to care providers, or securing protected health information. In many organizations, these professionals lead teams of medical records and health information technicians.

Is Healthcare Management a Good Career?

In the U.S., an expanding older population and leaps forward in information technology have resulted in a rising number of healthcare management jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an increase of 28% for medical and health services manager positions between 2022 and 2032, considerably faster than the average growth for all occupations. These jobs come with chances to take on fascinating, consequential problems and are also financially rewarding. In 2022, the average healthcare management salary was $104,830.

Must-Have Skills for Healthcare Managers

To succeed in healthcare management careers, professionals must be prepared for the unique demands of the industry, which involves complex laws and tremendous responsibilities to patients. That means developing advanced knowledge and skills in business leadership, finance, and communication in addition to in-depth knowledge of the health sector and its challenges.

Advanced education can be a critical asset for building these healthcare management skills. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor noted that graduate education is necessary for many roles in medical and health services management.

Different types of organizations and departments need varied expertise from their leaders. However, some of the most crucial requirements for many healthcare management jobs include:

• Setting and enforcing policies that meet the needs of an organization while complying with all applicable regulations
• Making strategically effective and ethically sound decisions that lead toward long-term objectives
• Applying management principles to hire, train, and evaluate teams of personnel in medical, technical, service, and maintenance functions
• Planning budgets, controlling spending, and reporting on finances
• Using database software to develop and maintain record management systems
• Communicating clearly in both speech and writing with stakeholders at all levels of an organization

Healthcare managers are essential to operations in facilities and life sciences organizations. By synthesizing a thorough understanding of the healthcare industry with leadership capabilities, these professionals can change lives while driving growth.

About MTSU and Jones College of Business

Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University delivers a unique blend of world-class education, personal attention, and value to over 20,000 students. MTSU is the top choice for Tennessee transfer students, the biggest provider of graduates to the Greater Nashville-area economy, and the home of the state’s largest adult degree program. Princeton Review ranks MTSU among the 388 Best Colleges and one of the Best Regional Colleges in 2023. As the home of the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center and the state’s first VetSuccess On-Campus program, the University has a reputation for welcoming current and former service members.

MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business is among the top 1.5% business schools in the world with Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation in both accounting and business.

Our faculty of award-winning educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs provide students with cutting-edge education in management, finance, big-data tools, and business communication.