Top Reasons to opt for Healthcare Management as your Career

Healthcare industry has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years which has changed the scope and perspective of healthcare management as a career. Healthcare industry has expanded remarkably beyond the boundaries of hospitals, and the healthcare sector today covers hospitals, pharmacies, health insurance, medical devices and equipment, and more. Amongst various reasons for the growth of this industry, some of the key drivers are the rise in the demand of superior healthcare facilities and increased awareness towards health in public and health policies. In order to cater to the rising demand of the healthcare industry, there is a dire need to empower the youngsters as skilled and prepared healthcare management professionals. This, in turn, requires specialized management courses in the field of healthcare. A Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital and Health Management can be the perfect answer for the void, which is created in the health care industry. The advantages of such a specialized course in Health Management are the following: (a) complement the clinical education and expertise of healthcare professionals, (b) enable graduates to better understand strategic concepts and good business practices, and then put these into implementation, (c) prepare graduates to take on management roles in hospitals, clinics, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, health insurance, and healthcare consulting and research, (d) enhance managerial skills to make informed choices for efficient and effective delivery of healthcare services, and (e) sustain a life-long career in modern healthcare sector due to proficiencies gained through diverse skill-sets.

What can a specialized course in Health Management offer as a career?

It’s quite probable that you must have started wondering about the top reasons why you should consider being a healthcare management professional. This can get you into the rapidly burgeoning healthcare industry and open prospects to get into leadership positions into the leading healthcare facilities effectively. This will also leave you with the sense of fulfillment of contributing towards better community health and health conditions. By making a career in healthcare management, there is a very high possibility that you extend the much-needed health services to those who need them the most. Here are the top reasons to opt for Healthcare Management as your career:

Employment and Growth Opportunities

Employment opportunities in the field of medical and health services are fast growing. To manage the load of increasing public expectations, the healthcare industry today is in dire need of skilled and knowledgeable healthcare professionals, who can particularly take up the responsibility of the managerial positions. This is where the value of a healthcare management degree gains prominence. Individuals possessing a degree in health management are readily preferred by healthcare organizations and are even considered for higher management roles. Moreover, innovations in healthcare technology and mergers and acquisitions between health service providers and healthcare systems are further going to enhance the demand.

Career Advancement

Healthcare management is very different from patient care. By gaining knowledge as a student of the healthcare management program, you shall be able to take up either administrative or clinical jobs. Earlier, many of the specialized healthcare management positions were available only in larger healthcare facilities, but the opportunities with physicians and health practitioners are rapidly growing. This gives you the freedom to choose from several types of jobs like Nursing Administration, Public Relations / Public Affairs, Human Resources, Planning and Development, Information Systems, and more.

Healthy Lifestyle

While working in a health care setup, it is natural to be conscious of your good health and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, you get complete awareness and best knowledge on how to remain fit and healthy yourself so that you can ensure good health for others.

Professional Exposure

A vast majority of healthcare professionals work in larger health care facilities such as hospitals. This gives you professional exposure to hone your skills further. You have a congenial work environment and are able to expand yourself in that environment.

Great Salary

Healthcare is a booming industry, and the pressure of delivering to the customer’s satisfaction and offering timely and safe medical services is immense. With these considerations, the industry offers a great salary to the medical and health services managers as compared to similar managerial positions in other industries. Thus, salary is one of the most attractive aspects of choosing healthcare management as a career.

Besides, the bonuses which are offered in healthcare facilities are lucrative. You get entitled to several other benefits such as free health checkup and consultations including dental and eye treatments which otherwise may not be included in your medical insurance. Also, you get the privilege in your family and community for sound medical advice and recommendations.

The significance of having a formal education in Health Management

An appropriate course in hospital and health management from a reputed institute can serve as a validation of your improved skills and excellent domain knowledge which will help you establish yourself as a reliable healthcare management professional in the industry. In that sense, the Post Graduate Diploma Program in Hospital and Health Management (PGDHM) from IIHMR, New Delhi, is a deliberately constructed course that has the many unique features. First, this is a two-year full time course approved by AICTE, NBA accredited program, and recognised as equivalent to MBA degree by Association of Indian Universities (AIU). This provides ample testimony and makes it a credit worthy program, while also attesting the quality and rigour of PGDHM. Second, PGDHM designed in the context of National Health Mission and its various affiliates/schemes, also keeps in view the human resource skills and knowledge requirements of the private health sector. Third, the course combines classroom teaching, dissertation and internship, summer training, industry field visits, and industry expert guest lectures coupled with a strong component of field-based project work. Fourth, PGDHM is competency driven and health systems connected. Fifth, IIHMR Delhi has a multi-disciplinary faculty that comprises of epidemiologists, public health experts, hospital administrators, information technology experts, health economists, health-financing experts, demographers, statisticians, and other social scientists. Thus, they bring rich field experience to the classroom through their research, training and consultancies. In addition, many PGDHM students are engaged in primary research projects undertaken by the faculty, enhancing their practical research and analytic skills. Sixth, the course is comprehensive that includes program planning and management, monitoring and evaluation, understanding of national health programs, practical exposure to data management and analysis using statistical software, and managerial skills in human resource, financial and supply-chain management, among others. Seventh, the pedagogy uses a problem-solving approach through group work, case studies, and application of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Finally, PGDHM goes through a continuous revision of its modules, based on industry and student feedback, to make it relevant and contextual. This ensures quality assurance and provides an edge over peer institutions. Recently, the Outlook magazine has ranked IIHMR Delhi as one of the top 100 B-School in India.

Pradeep Panda, PhD 

Professor of Health Economics and Dean (Academics)

International Institute of Health Management Research, New Delhi