If you’re curious about how to get into healthcare management, you’ve come to the right place. Demand for healthcare management professionals is expected to grow much faster than average in the next several years, which means job applicants may have the upper hand in this profession. Completing an online healthcare management short course can be one way to stand out to employers and set yourself apart from the competition. 

This guide will introduce you to the field, explain how short courses work and help you decide whether a healthcare management short course is ideal for you.

A simple healthcare management definition is the overseeing of a healthcare organization’s services and procedures. A healthcare management short course is an abbreviated course of study designed to teach individuals the basics of healthcare management. The duration of these short courses varies widely, but some programs may be completed in a matter of weeks.

There are suitable short courses available for those already working in the field, as well as newcomers to healthcare management. If you’re still researching your options for health-related short courses, we recommend checking out some public health short courses.

Generally, the curriculum of your chosen healthcare management short course will be focused on a specific topic. Short courses can help you gain new skills in an area of the field to improve your performance at your current position, or to improve your odds of landing a job in a new field. So choose a short course that matches your professional interests. 

For example, a short course in leadership may include topics such as building and motivating teams, communication skills and change management. A short course in healthcare cost-effectiveness may cover modeling, reviewing and interpreting data.

Admissions requirements for healthcare management short courses are often minimal. You likely don’t have to be a doctor or nurse to take a healthcare management short course. In fact, you may not even need a college degree to enroll in your chosen course. That said, these programs are generally targeted at working professionals with some healthcare,  managerial or administrative work experience. Some courses may recommend that applicants have experience with certain programs, such as Excel.

Those working in healthcare management perform the critical tasks of ensuring an organization has enough qualified staff, equipment, supplies and funding to provide optimal care for all its patients. In an industry treating an aging population and constantly bringing new technologies to market, the business of healthcare management is complicated, demanding and continuously changing.

Healthcare management is also responsible for establishing the organization’s mission and goals and developing a strategy to ensure the system meets its goals. Without good healthcare management, it’s hard for medical personnel to do their jobs. If you enjoy finding creative solutions to problems, analyzing budgets and optimizing business practices, there’s a healthcare management short course that may prepare you for that role.

While healthcare management professionals oversee the big picture of an organization’s mission and operations, healthcare administration focuses on staffing and daily operations, often for a single department. Healthcare administration may handle hiring, day-to-day management of staff, developing department-specific objectives, ensuring regulatory compliance, organizing records and more.    

If healthcare administration sounds closer to your professional goals than healthcare management, consider pursuing a master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) degree. There are many online MHA programs available now, making it easier than ever to enhance your job skills and potentially increase your odds of landing a job in the field.

Healthcare leadership is a field focused on improving staff performance and patient outcomes. These professionals may perform individual coaching or offer team-wide consulting to support their staff. Healthcare leaders build relationships with other influential individuals and groups and make sure their team is up to date on their organization’s systems and tools in order ​​to lead others toward organizational goals.

If you’re looking for a leadership concentration with wider-reaching influence, consider a leadership concentration in public health. A position in public health leadership could mean collaborating with community organizations, healthcare systems and government agencies to help people access the care they need.

Each individual may need to determine whether a course in healthcare management is worth it for them. As you make that decision for yourself, we encourage you to consider the healthcare management benefits you could enjoy after completing a short course:

A healthcare management short course may be a valuable experience for those already working in the field and people trying to get a start in healthcare management. If you are motivated to take on a leadership role in a healthcare organization, a short course may be a quick and affordable step in the right direction.

You may still have questions about whether a healthcare management short course is right for you. Is it worth the investment of time and money? How long may it take for you to complete a program? Are you qualified to apply for a short course in healthcare management?

Research programs that match your professional goals and fit with your schedule. And remember that there are numerous online programs available, making it easier for busy professionals to upgrade their skills and create new opportunities.

Last updated in February 2022