Overview

For more information on careers in this field, click on the appropriate profession(s) in the Career Explorer section of this site.

Healthcare is a business and, like every other business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly. The term "medical and health services manager" applies to those professionals who plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare.

The healthcare industry is a dynamic field, and the healthcare management profession includes individuals with specialized training either at the undergraduate and/or graduate level in the traditional management disciplines, but taught in a healthcare context, combined with coursework in policy and public health.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field of healthcare management is expected to grow 116 percent from 2008-2018. The healthcare industry will continue to expand and diversify, requiring managers to help ensure smooth business operations.

Today, an estimated 100,000 people serve in health administration, from middle management to CEO positions at organizations that range in size from 1-2 staff members to major international companies employing hundreds of thousands of employees.

NOTE: The Health Administration, Management and Policy Centralized Application Service (HAMPCAS) is an online application service for students applying to a program granting a degree in health administration/management

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) offers:

7 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Healthcare Management

For more information, see AUPHA website. You might also consider buying a copy of the Healthcare Management Education Directory.

Once you have your degree, you might want to check out the American College of Healthcare Executives Website, which provides online career services.

You can download, save and print a PDF of this overview:

Health Administration Management Overview 14 May 2008 [pdf, 158 KB]