Driven by advancements in medical technology and an aging population, the healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the United States.
While many think of healthcare as a field dominated by doctors and nurses, the reality is that behind ever successful medical facility is a team of skilled professionals ensuring smooth operations. If you’re interested in combining your passion for healthcare with business and management skills, earning an associate degree in healthcare management can open the door to a variety of rewarding careers.
This guide explores the career options with this degree, essential skills, and how healthcare managers support quality care. Whether you’re starting your career or looking to make a meaningful change, healthcare management offers a pathway to stability, growth, and personal fulfillment.
What Careers Can I Pursue with an Associate Degree in Healthcare Management?
With an associate degree, you can take on administrative and operational roles that are critical to the smooth functioning of medical facilities. Here’s an in-depth look at some positions healthcare management graduates commonly acquire.
#1 – Medical Office Managers
Medical and health services managers handle non-clinical operations, such as compliance and customer care, in medical offices. Medical office managers may also supervise scheduling, billing, data entry, and more. The average salary is $110,680, and the role is projected to grow 29% from 2023 to 2033.
#2 – Medical Billing Managers
While medical office managers can be more general in their administrative tasks, billing managers focus on the financial health of healthcare facilities. Their responsibilities often include supervising billing staff, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, and staying up-to-date with changes in insurance policies or coding standards.
#3 – Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Medical records specialists organize, manage, and code health information data. Their main responsibilities include reviewing records for timeliness, completeness, and accuracy, maintaining records for insurance reimbursement and data analysis, and electronically recording data. The average salary is $48,780, and the role is projected to grow 9% over the next 10 years.
#4 – Medical Secretaries
Usually the first person a patient interacts with when they arrive or call the office, a medical secretary is an important link between the patient and physician. Their responsibilities typically include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, answering phone calls, and coordinating communication between healthcare providers and patients.
#5 – Medical Assistants
With an average salary of $42,000 and a projected 10-year job growth of 15%, medical assistants play an important role in the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities. Their main responsibilities include interviewing patients and recording their medical history, measuring patients’ vital signs, assisting physicians with patient examinations, and much more.
#6 – Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
Blending their knowledge of IT and healthcare concepts, health information technologists and medical registrars help provide organizational guidance and use data to improve patient care and operational efficiency. The average salary in 2023 was $62,990, and the BLS projects the role will grow 16% over the next 10 years.
Where do Healthcare Management Professionals Work?
Those within healthcare management roles may work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, physician practices, clinics and in public health departments – managing day-to-day operations and performing administrative tasks. With this degree, you may also work in healthcare-related industries like insurance.
Healthcare Management Career Advancement and Growth
As with many in-demand industries, there are a wide array of opportunities for advancement in healthcare administration careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average projected 10-year job growth for the careers mentioned above is around 17%—which is labeled “much faster” than the average occupation.
Healthcare is a rapidly growth field – the entire healthcare industry is projected to add around 1.9 million new jobs each year from 2023 to 2033. If you are starting in the workforce or looking to change careers, a career in healthcare management may be a rewarding, stable, and fulfilling career choice.
What Are the Top Skills for Healthcare Management Professionals?
Healthcare service managers manage and organize daily functions to keep operations running smoothly for physicians, medical staff, and patients. Healthcare service managers may also oversee budgeting or scheduling, and work to optimize processes to improve patient care. That’s why the skills listed are crucial to the success of a healthcare management professional’s career:
- Communication – strong written and verbal communication skills are important in leadership positions.
- Teamwork – healthcare service managers must be able to work with all members of their staff to keep a facility running efficiently and maintain a high level of productivity.
- Problem Solving & Critical Thinking Skills – managers of healthcare facilities are in charge and must make final decisions. This is why effective, informed decision-making skills are necessary.
- Customer Billing & Budgeting Skills – having proper financial management and understanding of billing is important since this a core piece of a healthcare service manager’s job.
- Management Skills – to be an effective manager you must have strong management skills.
Healthcare Management Courses
An associate degree in healthcare management from the University of Cincinnati Online will prepare you for a career in healthcare management. Core curriculum includes:
- Healthcare Finance – will prepare you for responsibilities involved in maintaining a well-managed, financially strong health care organization.
- Fundamentals of Human Resources – introduces human resource management concepts, issues, and functions.
- Healthcare Compliance – introduces the core elements and strategies for compliance plan development, implementation, and monitoring.
- Managerial Accounting – develops foundational knowledge and skills needed to apply accounting data in planning and controlling business operations.
- Healthcare Applications – covers electronic health information systems and their design, implementation, and application.
To learn more about our Associate of Applied Business in Healthcare Management curriculum, visit our Curriculum at a Glance page.
Is an Associate Healthcare Management Degree Right for Me?
Do you have an interest in healthcare and have a passion for business? Do you want to be part of an organization that positively influences the lives of people daily? If so, a healthcare management degree may be the perfect fit for you.
Healthcare management professionals are an integral part of a healthcare organization – helping facilities run effectively and efficiently. Healthcare management is also an extremely in-demand career field with vast career advancement opportunities.
Ready to Enroll in an Online Healthcare Management Associate Degree Program?
Earn your degree on your own time, at your own pace. Our UCO staff is ready to answer your questions about the Associate Healthcare Management Technology program. You can connect online with an advisor, call our associate degree specialists’ team at 833-556-7877, or visit UC Online’s Associate of Applied Business in Healthcare Management to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the highest-paying job in healthcare management?
The highest-paying jobs in healthcare management are typically executive-level roles, such as hospital CEOs or healthcare administrators, where salaries can exceed six figures. These positions require extensive experience and advanced education, such as a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
Is healthcare management in demand?
Yes, healthcare management is in high demand due to the growing complexity of healthcare systems and the increasing need for efficient administration. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster-than-average growth for healthcare management roles in the coming years.
Are healthcare managers in high demand?
Absolutely. As the healthcare industry expands, there is a pressing need for skilled managers to oversee operations, ensure compliance, and optimize patient care. This demand spans hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations.
Is a career in healthcare management worth it?
A career in healthcare management is highly rewarding, offering stability, growth opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on patient care. It’s especially appealing for those who are passionate about healthcare and enjoy leadership and problem-solving.