What is Hospital Management Training?

Hospital management training varies widely, depending on the area of specialty, amount of experience, and level of responsibility. Healthcare is the largest industry in the U.S. and well-trained healthcare administrators help ensure efficiency and compliance in such increasingly challenging and complex areas as insurance, government regulation, technology, cost control, and patient services.

Field Defined

A hospital's managers plan, maintain, organize, and administer the delivery of its healthcare services internally and in coordination with its networks and other related systems. Training begins at the certificate or undergraduate level and prepares you for individual or team responsibilities in a smaller hospital or specialty area. Graduate and postgraduate studies may qualify you for the responsibilities of a larger facility or a particular managerial or clinical specialty.

Important Information About Hospital Management Training

Possible Careers	Health Economist, Health Service Manager, Insurance Underwriter
Online Availability	Available in a hybrid format, with majority of coursework online with some campus visits
Common Courses	Healthcare information technology, Human resources management, Policy issues in healthcare
Continuing Education	Required for licensure renewal, varying by state and available through the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards
Median Salary (2021)*	$101,340 (for all medical and health services managers)
Job Outlook (2021-2031)*	28% growth (for all medical and health services managers)

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Training and Education

According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), most healthcare providers require a degree or certificate for administrative positions. A hospital management training degree or certificate program should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Examples of such programs of study follow.

Bachelor's Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management is a four-year undergraduate degree that would provide a more extensive background in general studies, critical thinking, and the function and structure of healthcare administration. Your training in hospital management would include more comprehensive study in areas such as the legal, financial, regulatory, and policy aspects of the business. You could also participate in internships.

Certificate Program

Non-degree hospital management-related certificate programs are designed for experienced healthcare professionals as well as those new to the field. These typically require applicants to hold at least a bachelor's degree. Examples are:

The Public Health Certificate in Informatics
The Public Health Certificate in Core Concepts
Certificate in Global Health

Graduate Degree

On the graduate level, master's and dual-degree programs allow you to further train in hospital management. In such programs, you can increase your general business administration knowledge or focus on specialized study in a particular area such as public health, patient rights, industry issues, or information systems. Examples of master's degrees are:

Master of Science (MS)
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Master of Health Administration (MHA)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)

A Ph.D. program, such as a Doctor of Philosophy in Healthcare Management program, would prepare you for a higher administrative level, such as the directorship of a hospital, system, or network.