Career Opportunities for Healthcare Executives
This is an exciting time for healthcare management. The field requires talented people to help introduce and manage the changes taking place. In their roles, healthcare executives have an opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the communities their organizations serve. As a result of the transformation taking place in the healthcare system, career options for healthcare executives are becoming more diverse. Increasingly, positions for healthcare executives may be found in a wide variety of settings, such as:
Ambulatory care facilities
Consulting firms
Healthcare associations
Home health agencies
Hospices
Hospitals and hospital systems
Integrated delivery systems
Long-term care facilities
Managed care organizations (such as HMOs and PPOs)
Medical group practices
Mental health organizations
Public health departments
University or research institutions
Today, an estimated 100,000 people occupy health management positions at numerous organizational levels, from department head to chief executive officer. Requirements for senior-level positions in healthcare organizations are demanding, but these jobs also offer opportunities to improve the system of care giving.
With the growing diversity in the healthcare system, many executives are needed in settings other than the traditional hospital. However, competition is intense at all job levels, and many positions that previously required only a bachelor’s degree now require a master’s degree. Each year, about 2,000 students receive graduate degrees in healthcare management. Salaries for beginning master’s degree graduates generally range from the high-30s to high-40s, depending on the type of organization and its location. If you choose a career in healthcare management, your first job might be an entry- to mid-level management position in a specialized area, such as:
Finance
Government relations
Human resources
Information systems
Marketing and public affairs
Materials management (purchasing of equipment and supplies)
Medical staff relations
Nursing administration
Patient care services
Planning and development