Majors at the University of Connecticut

Health Care Management

Do you enjoy learning multifaceted information? Do you have an interest in various health system organizations? Would you like a major that encompasses a clinical, financial, and management perspective in the area of health care? If you find yourself answering "yes" to these questions health care management may be the major for you.

The Health Care Management Program is offered through UConn's School of Business Administration. The program's objective is to integrate business administration with a specialized study of health care management. Participation in an internship is required in order to ensure students gain the necessary practical experience in a health care organization. The goal of the program is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of the health systems field. The major in health care management places specific emphasis on analytical and problem solving skills, and the course work focuses on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of health care services. The courses in the health care management major center upon finance, risk management and insurance, the analysis and design of existing health systems, and the complexities of operation information systems.

This field of study prepares students for positions involving short and long-term health care agencies and the management of various health systems. It also provides individuals with a solid academic background for future graduate studies in health care management.

Academic Department

• UConn's School of Business Administration

Nature of Work

Health care managers are generally responsible for running hospitals and other health care facilities or departments requiring patient care. They tend to deal with the administrative side of the medical field. In health care management, you plan, organize, supervise, budget, and manage employees as well as the facility itself. Being involved in health care management requires improving the service of health care to the community as well as doing research in order to stay current with the rapid changes in the medical field.

Sample Job Titles

Potential Employers

Individuals in the health care management field are employed by hospitals, clinics, government planning and regulatory agencies, health maintenance organizations, hospital associations, consulting firms, group medical practices, computer vendors, health insurance companies, and the hospital equipment and supplies manufacturers.

Useful Skills

Many different skills are necessary to be successful in obtaining such a wide variety of jobs. Some of the needed skills for those working in health care management are strong written and verbal abilities, interpersonal skills, managerial skills, and the ability to train, delegate, evaluate and negotiate. Leadership skills, analytical skills, an understanding of fiscal management, information systems, marketing, public relations, and organizational behavior are also important qualities to posses in the field of health care management.

Getting Experience

The best way to gain experience in the health systems management field is through volunteer or internship opportunities. You may also want to consider what type of environment in health care management you would be most interested in working and then pursuing the opportunity to shadow a health care manager in that specific area of the field. If you need assistance in discovering an area of health care management that may be the most interesting to you, or in finding job shadowing, volunteer, and internship opportunities, it would be extremely helpful for you to explore Career Services. It may also be especially beneficial for you to speak with the specific Career Consultant who specializes in your academic department.

Employment Opportunities

There are a vast amount of employment opportunities in the health care management field.

There is the possibility of being in a work place that is more oriented to direct patient care, such as hospitals and other immediate medical care agencies, or organizations that function more from a business or health benefits perspective. There is also a need for those with an educational background in health care management to work in federal or government agencies.

There are opportunities in nursing homes, clinics, hospices, health maintenance organizations, insurance companies, mental health centers, ambulatory care facilities, rehabilitation centers and various government organizations. The health care field is continuously changing and expanding, allowing for many different and increasing job opportunities.

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