Top 6 Reasons to Work in Healthcare Management

Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries. As countries continue to enjoy longer life expectancy than ever before, demand for operations management specialists to find ways of providing more effective and affordable care to more patients keeps rising.

Leaps in digital technology are already reshaping healthcare, opening new doors for tech-savvy students interested in business and financial operations to come in and find solutions.

If you're motivated by the prospect of making a significant contribution to society and gaining greater earning potential, the good news is: the lucrative and often highly satisfying field of healthcare management is growing, and it needs you. Read on for the top seven rewards of a career in Healthcare Operations Management (HOM).

1. It's a healthy industry — and a booming one worldwide Data collected by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that careers in medical and health services management will grow by another 23% by 2022. That's a much higher growth rate than most occupations. Working in healthcare gives you access to more opportunities, greater earning potential, and the chance to climb the ladder faster.

2. You may be happier According to an anonymous 2013 survey by PayScale, 44% of the 25 highest-earning roles described their work as "meaningful" and "contributing to society" — and those people worked in healthcare. It seems that if you believe your high-paying work benefits society, you're also more likely to feel happy. According to PayScale, those pursuing healthcare management careers rate their satisfaction at the highest five-star level — and also report great benefits such as dental, medical and vision insurance.

3. New digital trends are reshaping healthcare services Digital technology is already reshaping healthcare services and care, making them more accessible, affordable and effective. From storing medical records in the cloud to making mental health services available 24/7, there are many ways digital trends are changing healthcare. That means more room for growth and an incredible working environment for you.

4. HOM lifts up many types of organisations Studying healthcare management at university will qualify you for a range of management and/or organisational healthcare jobs. You'll lead service transformation, implement innovative plans, new services and supervision policies to improve care delivery in hospitals, nursing homes, GP practices and other health organisations.

5. The field always needs new HOM specialists Healthcare providers are always seeking operations management experts to improve processes, raise quality and reduce costs — essentially to help health professionals deliver better, faster care at an affordable price. The need for innovation, expertise and change is constant. Qualifications such as the newly launched Healthcare Operations Management master's at the University of Warwick cover key topics such as quality, health economics, resource management, electronic medical records and health informatics — giving you the knowledge you need to integrate teams, systems and technology, cut inefficiency and optimise delivery.

6. HOM specialists can work anywhere in the world As the largest employer in most countries, the healthcare industry needs innovative managers around the world. The University of Warwick's Healthcare Operations Management programme will equip you with the skills and knowledge to evaluate organisational performance, drive the implementation of innovation, and manage the integration of people, systems and technology to deliver consistently high-quality, person-centred care. These skills are needed worldwide to help healthcare organisations improve delivery and meet the needs of increasing numbers of patients.

Start your healthcare operations management career at the University of Warwick The University of Warwick's one-year Healthcare Operations Management master's prepares students for management or organisational leadership roles in healthcare in the UK and around the world. Beginning with eight taught modules covering all aspects of operations management — from quality and productivity in healthcare service systems to leadership in healthcare — the master's concludes with independent research and a final thesis. Studying in a close-knit group of around 30 classmates, you'll receive ongoing support from experts at the Institute of Digital Healthcare at Warwick's WMG department, where you'll build a diverse professional network. WMG currently has students from up to 60 different nationalities, giving them access to executives and alumni holding leadership roles in industries around the world.

Request an admissions brochure here!