I receive a fairly large number of request from career
aspirants for seeking advice on taking ‘healthcare management’ as a career
choice. On Quora, where I try to regularly answer queries of students who are
confused about ‘healthcare management’, I found that most questions are very rudimentary
in nature, which is suggestive of a gross lack of awareness about this field
amongst career aspirants. The questions also indicate that there are certain misconceptions
about this field which results in confusion and apprehension amongst
prospective students. As career choice could be one of the most important
decision of anybody’s life, I am writing this post which is exclusively meant
for those who are considering for taking admission in a masters level programme
in healthcare and hospital management. The contents of this post are basic and I
request my colleagues from industry to add on their advice/opinion in comments.
What is healthcare management?
Healthcare management is a field of management that has
application in healthcare and related function. A healthcare manager will
typically use his/her management knowledge and expertise in an organization
that operates within the healthcare sphere. Now, healthcare is an umbrella term that can
encompass a variety of things. It can include Medical care, public health, pharmaceuticals,
medical devices, healthcare insurance, healthcare IT/consulting, etc. A large
number of healthcare managers work in hospitals and public health organizations
but the proportion in other associated sectors such as healthcare IT,
consulting, health insurance etc. is rapidly increasing.
What is the difference between healthcare management and
hospital management?
Well, there are many other names like Masters of Public Health, Healthcare
administration etc. These can differ or mean the same thing, depending upon the
institute. There is no uniform nomenclature for the programme in healthcare
management.
In general, however, hospital management deals more with preparing students for
managing hospitals, while healthcare management can be broad and have focus on
public health. I have given a table comparing hospital and healthcare
management on different parameters.
What is the scope in taking healthcare management as a career?
Management education in healthcare is relatively new concept (at-least in
India) but is emerging and getting popular rapidly. The healthcare industry
itself is growing at a fast pace (better than other sectors) and there are many
reputed companies who stared to do business in healthcare. There is a need of good
and qualified managers in this field and is expected to be there for many
years. Currently, much of these needs are being fulfilled by general MBAs, but
as good institutions are preparing exclusive managers in healthcare, many
healthcare organizations are now recruiting them.
The success in this field depend upon many factor, but the most important
ones are the institute from where you studied, your background qualification
& experience and your networking skills.
Below, I have given a table tod describe the healthcare and hospital
management field on different parameters.
MBA in hospital management
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MBA in healthcare management
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Curriculum
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More focused on hospital related subjects such as hospital
operations, quality and safety in hospital, hospital marketing, hospital
planning and design, hospital facility management etc.
Students do internship in corporate hospitals or large public
hospitals
|
While some basic teaching on hospitals will be there, curriculum will
be largely focused on public health subjects such as, epidemiology, public
health programmes, demography, preventive health, universal healthcare,
healthcare system and structure.
Students do internship at NGOs working in health sector and
government health organization
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Students profile
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Most students who chose hospital management have background in
patient care. They have qualifications of MBBS, BAMS, BHMS, BDS etc. and may
also have work experience in any hospital.
But any one with a graduation can get into it and there are many who
have made great career in this field, even though they don’t have medical
background.
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Same as hospital management
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Initial Jobs
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Campus placement and initial jobs happens largely in corporate
hospitals. Few may also go to healthcare consultancy firms and health
insurance.
Campus placement or finding entry level jobs is relatively easier
compared to healthcare management.
|
Most campus placement and initial jobs in healthcare management
happens in public health organizations and government health institution
In GIM, campus placement happens largely in IT and consulting, followed by pharmaceuticals,
medical devices hospitals and health insurance companies.
|
Function
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The students function for various management discipline, but largely
hospital operations and quality. Some also gets into hospital marketing,
hospital HR and Finance, but here they face stiff competition from MBA of
those specific discipline
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These students largely work for managing programme or projects. They
use less of management inputs and more of their understanding of healthcare
domain.
In GIM, students gets a diverse role depending upon which domain they
entered
|
Career
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Career progress is slow and have limited growth compared to
healthcare management. Very few reaches to top management of hospital or
hospital chain, as for top management position also they face stiff
competition from MBAs of premier institution.
On an average hospital management person reaches to the level of
senior manager or general manager, if they stick around for about 8-10 years.
The salary increase is also low compared to other industry and this
is one reason why majority of people after 4-5 years of experience in
hospital management leave hospital industry
and join some other industry (like IT, consulting or even public
health) that offer better pay
|
There is no limit for career growth for performing candidates. The
career growth is fast and as you grow in career the job becomes challenging
and interesting.
Most people in public health field stick around this domain for
fairly long time.
|
Salary
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Hospitals are amongst the lowest paymaster compared to all other
industry. Right from beginning the salary offered is low and it continues
even when you climb up the ladder.
You may start at a package of 4 to 6 lacs (as of 2016) per annum and
can at the most double in 5-6 years time
Some, who are lucky enough to get into corporate office of hospital
chain may get a better pay.
|
In public health initial salary is low (may be even lower than
hospitals), but it increases rather quickly.
There are plenty of contractual opportunities also where the payment
is really good. (60k to more than a lac per month for people with 2-3 years’
experience). But this depends upon availability of funding for a public
health project, from donor agencies.
Some also gets absorbed in international NGOs with good funding who
can pay comparable to big corporates
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Stability
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Hospital is the safest and most stable organization to work for. As
hospital is one of the recession free organization, most management employees
in hospital do not risk losing their job
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Contractual work in public health is slightly risky. As most public
health work are project based of 1 to 5 years duration, so as the project is
over one may have to find another job.
Most jobs are contractual which need to be renewed, thus posing a
risk of losing job. However, shifting opportunities are plenty.
In some instance, where one gets on roll of international NGO, the
job stability is high
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Work culture and environment
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In hospitals, doctors are the most important person. All others are
just a support staff. This implies to management person also. Hence, unless
one reaches the top position in hospitals, his/her job are generally
considere less important. This aspects gets reflected in almost anything that
a hospital manager do, which is one cause of dissatisfaction amongst many
hospital managers
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Work culture is mixed and depends upon organization where one is
working. However, it largely gives the satisfaction of doing something
important and contributing to the cause. It also gives opportunity to be
exposed to wider and higher level of challenges in healthcare sector
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Opportunities abroad
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Very few. Some opportunities are there in middle eastern countries
but complete NO in developed nation
If you are working in international marketing (medical tourism)
department of the hospital, you may get opportunities to travel abroad.
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Very few. You may get project based assignment outside your country,
but permanent position outside are very rare
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Who should chose
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If you like hospital and can listen to others, have flexible approach
and want stability in life, go for hospital management
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If you like challenges, have high career aspirations, high on
intellectual skills and don’t get bogged down by frequent travelling or job
shifting, you can take healthcare management
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Additionally, these answers that I shared on Quora could be useful
These are my views which could differ from others in this
field. As in any other field, individual differences are there in healthcare
management also.
(Please leave your comments below)
