Job openings in the healthcare field have skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 50% growth since 2020. The demand for qualified leaders who can effectively manage healthcare operations has grown along with the number of job listings.
Through the Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Southeastern) online Master of Science (M.S.) in Healthcare Administration program, rising healthcare professionals will pick up the skills they need to make daily operations more efficient and use data to inform patient care decisions.
With the knowledge gained from this program, graduates can pursue additional training or degrees and fulfill a handful of roles. Five options are defined below:
- Medical and Health Services Manager
Whether they run a specific department or manage a facility, medical and health services managers are tasked with ensuring that the business, legal and technological aspects of healthcare operations run smoothly.
Their job duties may include keeping track of regulatory changes; monitoring budgets and billing; recruiting and training staff; and creating recordkeeping systems to keep track of patient services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Often, their job includes interfacing with a wide variety of healthcare employees including physicians, nurses, medical records specialists and even insurance agents.
The job market for medical and health services managers is growing at a much faster pace than other career paths, according to BLS data. Employment is expected to increase by 28% by 2032, with a median wage of $104,830 in 2022.
- Clinical Manager
Clinical managers use their leadership skills to oversee specific departments. They ensure that physicians, nurses and other healthcare staff working in a specialized field (such as respiratory therapy or intensive care) are given the tools they need to deliver patient care and meet regulatory requirements.
Because their duties of overseeing administrative tasks, training new staff, organizing records and managing budgets are often similar across departments, clinical managers can work across many different specialties and facility types. Clinical managers make an average salary of $74,715 each year, according to ZipRecruiter data.
- Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing home administrators specialize in ensuring the operations of a retirement home or long-term care facility run smoothly while meeting all state and federal regulations. They often coordinate leadership teams, maintain regulatory policies, create budgets and act as the public face of the organization as well as a liaison between staff and the families of residents, according to LeaderStat..
Because these facilities typically offer around-the-clock care to patients, these professionals thrive in an environment that requires them to work non-standard hours. ZipRecruiter data finds that nursing home administrators bring home an average salary of $111,301 a year, though the salary can increase substantially depending on work experience and the size of the facility.
- Health Information Manager
Recordkeeping is the name of the game for health information managers who specialize in managing patient information in digital and physical formats. Their duties include managing databases of patient records, generating reports for medical staff and ensuring that confidential information is only available to authorized staff.
Health information managers make an average salary of $73,480, according to Indeed. Their earning potential only rises as they gain more education and move into supervisory roles.
- Risk Management Director
Risk management directors, also known as clinical risk managers, identify circumstances that put patients at risk of harm and develop programs that help staff prevent and control risks, according to the World Health Organization.
They frequently analyze reports of adverse events and near misses involving patient care to discover trends and implement solutions for staff. They also aim to resolve patient complaints before they turn into legal issues for their employer. Professionals in risk management director positions make an average salary of $119,492, according to ZipRecruiter data.
Advance Your Career With a Healthcare Administration Degree From Southeastern
Through courses like Strategic Management in Healthcare and Leadership for Health Professionals, students in Southeastern’s online M.S. in Healthcare Administration program learn the ins and outs of what it takes to effectively lead in various roles.
By diving into the financial, ethical and legal aspects of healthcare management, graduates gain a well-rounded knowledge base and the confidence to take their careers to the next level.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Master of Science in Healthcare Administration program.