Become a Health Care Manager with a Master’s in Public Health Degree
It’s possible for students to become health care managers with a Master of Public Health degree. Health care managers are the ones responsible for managing the work that employees do in a health care facility. They can work in physical rehab centers and in addiction centers as well as in offices that employ multiple doctors and in hospitals. To work as managers, they usually need to have a few years of experience and an understanding of the American health care system. Those who finish a Master of Public Health program develop the knowledge that managers need.
Master of Public Health Basics
A Master of Public Health, also known as an MPH, is a graduate degree that usually takes two years to complete. Most programs include concentrations in related areas such as health education and epidemiology. Students in a health education program will learn more about educating people at different levels, including through national and local advocacy programs. Those in an epidemiology program will focus more on the causes of certain diseases and how treatments can help patients. Most programs either require that students do internships or give them the choice to do one for college credit.
How MPH Programs Can Help
Finishing an MPH program can help students develop some of the skills they’ll need to work as health care managers. Some of the more important skills come from the internships they do. Not only do they learn the basic ins and outs of the facility and the public health field, but they also develop skills that can help when they actually work with patients and anyone else in need. Some MPH programs have concentrations in management too. The management concentration prepares students to work as leaders in any facility and to handle the operations of that facility.
Skills That Managers Need
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the skills that health managers need include interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. Their leadership skills will assist them when it comes to leading and working with both large and small groups, while their communication skills will help them communicate with employees, coworkers and patients. Interpersonal skills are important because managers need to work with different types of people such as representatives working for insurance companies and the doctors working in facilities. The BLS also found that these managers may need licenses from professional agencies and organizations too.
Other Useful Degrees
An MPH is far from the only type of degree that can help a graduate find work as a health care manager. Many of the professionals working in this field have Master of Arts degrees or a Master of Healthcare Administration degree. MHA degrees usually have an internship requirement to ensure that students develop some practical skills. The schools will help students secure internships in major health organizations and facilities. Health managers can also have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. These degree programs often feature concentrations in healthcare administration or healthcare management.
Related Resource: 10 Fastest MPH Degree Programs Online
The number of jobs open in the health care industry will grow at a steady rate in the coming years as the current workers retire and new positions become available. Anyone who wants to work as a health care manager should get a graduate degree such as a Master of Public Health or a Master of Healthcare Administration.