Learn about health technology management and the education you'll need to work in this field. Also, find out about career outlook and salary potential in health technology management.
Health Technology Management Defined
Health technology management is where the disciplines of science, technology and business meet. You could work as a biomedical equipment technician or medical equipment repairer and installer, calibrate and troubleshoot biomedical instruments, medical devices or machines used in healthcare settings.
You could also work as a health technology manager or chief technology officer. In one of these supervisory roles, you would oversee the overall selection, implementation, usage, effectiveness and management of healthcare technology equipment and systems. Other job duties could include budgeting for planned expansion or replacement of health technology systems.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHealthTechnologyManagement">Important Facts About Health Technology Management</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Medical and Health Services Manager, Medical Transcriptionist</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Detail oriented, integrity, technical, and analytical skills</td></tr>
<tr><td> Professional Certifications </td><td> Registered Health Information Technician and Certified Tumor Registrar certifications are suggested, but not required</td></tr>
<tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Hospital or physician's office, typically full time</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---EducationOptions">Education Options</h3><p>Depending on your career goals and experience, there are a number of education options in health technology management. An associate's degree in biomedical equipment technology or a related field is often the minimum education requirement. If you already have a degree in a field like electronics, you could take continuing education classes or earn a certificate in a field related to health technology.
</p><p>Bachelor's and master's degree programs in biomedical technology management and closely related fields are also available. The prerequisites for a master's degree could include a bachelor's degree in a field like engineering or physics.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatYouWillStudy">What You Will Study</h3><p>Programs in this field typically provide training in computers, electronics, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and common medical devices. You'll also gain an understanding of the procedures for installation, inspection, maintenance and repair of health technology, like diagnostic imaging devices, infusion devices, patient monitoring devices, surgical technologies and physical therapy equipment.
</p><p>Patient safety, medical ethics and regulatory compliance commonly are part of the curriculum. A master's degree program also might include advanced topics like accounting and finance, marketing and organizational structure that would be relevant to running a department or unit of company operations.
</p><h3 id="section---CareerOutlookAndSalary">Career Outlook and Salary</h3><p>Health technology management jobs can be found in the medical equipment industry, such as for a device manufacturer, or in a patient care setting like a hospital. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that medical equipment repairers could expect to see employment growth of 17% from 2021-2031, a rate much faster than the average for all jobs (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS also reported that the median annual salary for medical equipment repairers was $49,910 in May 2021.</p>
