Healthcare Management: Foundation of A Healthy Society

Healthcare is one of the most crucial services, which is an important criterion of a society’s growth and demographic dividend. Over the years, we have realised the significance of standard healthcare services and it has been further proved in the pandemic era. Healthcare sector not only consists of doctors or nurses or other staff but also Healthcare Managers who take care of each and every aspect of running a hospital or a health centre.

A career in Healthcare Management is thus not only a rewarding one but an equally responsible one.

Healthcare managers are administrators or leaders who are the central or core point of control in a hospital or a health centre. They manage each and every aspect including infrastructure, equipment, policies, resources, recruitment, to name a few. Healthcare Managers can either work in multiple functions within a hospital or specialise in one or few functions. 

Introduction to Career in Healthcare Management

A career in Healthcare Management involves administrative and non-medical functions including Finance, Operations, Supply-Chain Management, Marketing, Human Resources, Public Relations and dealing with patients and their family members.

Senior Healthcare Managers are also instrumental in policy formation and ensure the maintenance of the policies by the hospital staff, patients and other stakeholders. Healthcare Managers not only ensure smooth functioning of the hospital, but their responsibilities also include improving the business aspect and introducing innovative initiatives and practices based on current trends and requirements. Take for instance, during the pandemic situation, the Healthcare Managers across hospitals and healthcare centres/facilities have introduced or expedited facilities such as Telemedicine or home care facilities. 

What Do Healthcare Management Professionals Do?

Healthcare Management professionals have a plethora of responsibilities to follow. Some of the job roles are listed below:

1. Ensuring seamless functioning across departments
2. Recruitment of staff
3. Managing patients and guiding their family members or acquaintances in terms of admission, treatment, payment, etc. 
4. Keeping a tab on the inventory and ensuring the supply of medicines and other medical equipment
5. Coordinating with vendors regarding placing orders and timely supply and payment
6. Ensuring timely payment of salaries to hospital staff
7. Ensuring maintenance of safety and security protocols within the hospital/clinic/healthcare facility premises
8. Formulate or modify policies and ensure proper implementation of those policies 

Which Industries Hire Healthcare Management Professionals?

Healthcare Managers are hired by the following units of the Health sector:

1. Hospitals
2. Nursing Homes
3. Clinics
4. Super Specialty Hospitals
5. Multi-Specialtiy Hospitals
6. NGOs working on the Health sector
7. Pharmaceutical companies
8. Diagnostic companies
9. Health insurance companies
10. Healthcare Consulting firms
11. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
12. Academia – Medical colleges or Management colleges offering Healthcare Management courses

Top Companies Hiring Healthcare Management Professionals

Some of the top healthcare organisations hiring Healthcare Management professionals are as follows:

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
2. Safdarjung Hospital
3. Moolchand Hospital
4. Max Hospital
5. Medanta – The Medicity
6. Apollo Hospital
7. Abbott Laboratories
8. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
9. Cipla
10. Pfizer
11. GE Healthcare Partners
12. ClearView Healthcare Partners
13. New India Assurance Health Insurance Company
14. Oriental Health Insurance Company
15. Rural Health Care Foundation 

Why is Healthcare Management a Good Career Path?

The significance of the Healthcare industry is being experienced by people across the world like never before. There has been a huge scarcity of hospital beds, medical facilities and equipment all over. To mitigate this challenge, Healthcare Management professionals are needed across the Health sector.

A career in Healthcare Management bears a lot of responsibilities, hence it is equally rewarding. The Healthcare sector is undergoing massive expansion. With Government of India’s Healthcare scheme like Ayushman Bharat, experts predict that the healthcare industry will grow up to 16 to 17 per cent in the next couple of years. To cater to this growth, the number of jobs for Healthcare Managers will increase manifold. Hence, Healthcare Managers have a huge scope in terms of career opportunities. 

In this age, the score of Healthcare Management professionals is not just limited to hospitals or nursing homes, but across fields such as Nutrition and Fitness, Digital Healthcare, Medical Equipment,  Public Health Care, to name a few. The scope of work is also blended with Management acumen, as well as Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, to name a few. Hence, there are opportunities to learn, as well as innovate and expand the roles and responsibilities as per the current trends in the sector and utilise their learning in specialised areas. 

Who Should Opt for a Career in Healthcare Management

Aspiring Healthcare Management professionals should fulfil the following criteria in terms of skill sets  and personality traits:

1. Domain knowledge
2. Management skills
3. Business acumen
4. Leadership skills
5. Analytical skills
6. Interpersonal skills
7. Problem-solving skills
8. Communication skills
9. Academic background in Science or disciplines related to Health Science and Management degree or diploma with a specialisation in Healthcare Management

Top 5 Courses in Healthcare Management

The top five online or certificate courses in Healthcare Management are as follows:

1. Post Graduate Certificate in Healthcare by IIM Indore (Hughes Global Education)
2. PG Diploma in Healthcare and Hospital Management (ICRI)
3. Achieving Health Equity in Healthcare (Coursera)
4. Healthcare Marketplace Capstone(Coursera)
5. Readings in Global Health (Harvard)