Healthcare management involves developing strategic plans and making informed decisions in a way that is aligned with the long-term growth objectives of the hospital, clinic or department of a hospital. In other words, healthcare managers focus on the big-picture issues, such as overcoming problems (e.g., declining reimbursements) and working toward goals (e.g., reduced readmission rates).¹ 

Healthcare managers oversee one specific department or area of the facility to align with the organization’s goals and policies. Healthcare managers are responsible for all aspects of that specific department, such as the people and resources. For example, one hospital manager may work with the orthopedics department while another oversees the maternity wing. The specific responsibilities of managers can vary from one organization to the next. In some hospitals, managers are primarily concerned with staffing issues. They may focus on ensuring their department has enough qualified staff members on hand to meet the needs of patients.

Healthcare managers may also work on matters related to professional development and continuing education for staff. They may also handle finances such as the department budget and expenditures.

Other critical responsibilities of healthcare management professionals include:

• Working on initiatives to improve the quality of care and the efficiency of its delivery
• Liaising with C-suite executives, as well as with the media and members of local, state or federal governing bodies
• Handling regulatory issues and compliance concerns
• Coordinating activities and goals between hospital departments

Degree Options for Healthcare Management Careers

To pursue a healthcare management career, you’ll generally be expected to earn a degree specific to healthcare management. A healthcare management degree at the baccalaureate level is typically the minimum qualification necessary for this type of role.¹ 

After your bachelor’s degree, it may be beneficial to pursue graduate-level studies by enrolling in a master’s degree in healthcare management or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in healthcare or health systems management.¹

The MBA with a concentration in health systems management is a business degree that teaches specialized, advanced competencies in this area. These competencies include healthcare policies, health systems finances and ethical issues in healthcare organizations. MBA students can expect a significant focus on business courses that cover topics such as managerial finance, accounting practices, operations management and leadership skills.

Healthcare administration focuses on the daily operations of a healthcare facility, including the workflow and various day-to-day problems that may develop.¹ Healthcare administrators oversee the operations for entire facilities, including hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, physical rehabilitation clinics and nursing homes, or for individual departments in a larger healthcare facility.

A healthcare administrator may handle a variety of tasks, including the following:

• Overseeing daily operations
• Training and supervising staff members
• Monitoring various metrics that evaluate patient care quality and safety
• Creating staff work schedules
• Managing departmental budgets
• Doing performance reviews and handling discipline issues amongst employees
• Overseeing the implementation of various quality improvement initiatives
• Tracking organizational resources, including medical supplies

Degree Options for Healthcare Administration Careers

To begin your education in healthcare administration, consider enrolling in a healthcare administration bachelor’s program. In this program, you will be taught concepts and skills crucial to strategically managing a healthcare organization. A bachelor’s degree can pave the way toward pursuing entry-level healthcare administration roles.¹ 

After completing your undergraduate degree, you may choose to pursue your Master of Science in Health Administration degree. Earning a master’s degree can help you position yourself for possible career advancement opportunities within the healthcare administration field.¹

This advanced degree primarily focuses on the healthcare field through the lens of business-related topics. You can expect to examine topics such as:

• Healthcare policies and finances
• Contemporary healthcare delivery models
• Legal and ethical issues in healthcare
• Healthcare research methods and application

One of the most relevant ways to choose between pursuing a career in healthcare administration vs. management is to consider whether you’re a big-picture thinker or a detail-oriented person. Would you rather work on strategic goals and plans, or would you rather dig into the smaller operations that healthcare organizations rely on to keep running smoothly? If the former, consider becoming a healthcare manager, or a healthcare administrator for the latter.

Whether you have your sights set on a career in healthcare management or healthcare administration, you can get started working toward your future at Grand Canyon University. You can choose from several healthcare degree options that will offer you the opportunity to build the necessary skills and knowledge to positively impact the lives of patients and healthcare staff members. 

Explore our degree options such as: the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration, Master of Science in Health Administration or the Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Health Systems Management. To learn more about these programs offered at GCU, fill out the form on this page. 

When you consider the healthcare field, you might think of doctors, nurses and personal care assistants. However, there are many other opportunities in the field that do not involve direct patient care. Healthcare management and healthcare administration are both distinct roles in the healthcare industry.

What’s the difference between healthcare management vs. healthcare administration? While the terms may be used interchangeably by some, the responsibilities of healthcare managers and administrators aren’t quite the same. These job descriptions differ between healthcare organizations and throughout the industry, but there are some commonalities to be aware of.

Before you dive into the differences between these two similar roles, it’s helpful to gain a basic understanding of what healthcare managers and administrators do. You’ll also want to take a look at healthcare management and healthcare administration degree options.

The main difference between healthcare management and healthcare administration is that the former deals with the long-term strategic vision and growth of a healthcare organization, while the latter is more concerned with daily operations. While healthcare managers tackle big-picture issues such as policies, initiatives and goals, healthcare administrators are more “on ground,” dealing with staff members, managing departmental budgets and tracking medical supply inventory.¹

Whereas the decisions of a healthcare manager may affect the entire organization, the decisions of a healthcare administrator are likely to affect a department’s daily operations. Healthcare managers focus on long-term issues, while administrators focus on short-term issues. Similarly, managers liaise most often with upper-level management, such as the C-suite, while administrators most often work with individual staff members, as well as with other administrators and managers.¹

Similarities and Overlapping Skills

While there are many differences between healthcare administration vs. management, there are also quite a few similarities. Both healthcare administration and management focus on ensuring a high standard of patient care and meeting the goals of the organization. To contribute effectively to their communities and improve the quality of patient care, administration and management must develop and implement effective policies.

Both healthcare management and healthcare administration degree options teach important concepts relating to the business side of healthcare. These degrees can prepare you for careers within a healthcare organization working to better patient care and optimize organizational performance. Further developing your knowledge and continuing your education by earning a master’s degree in your area of interest can help prepare you to position yourself to potentially take the next step in your career.¹

Professionals in both roles must possess certain skills and traits to help them in their respective roles. Some of these overlapping skills include the following:^2,3

• Leadership: All managers and administrators must exhibit ethical leadership to oversee their facilities or departments. Leaders actively listen to others, seek constructive criticism and consider input from staff. In addition, effective leadership in healthcare organizations centers on servant leadership.
• Communication Skills: Clear verbal and written communication skills are essential for managers and administrators. Communicating how staff must operate to comply with policies, procedures and regulations is a crucial aspect of both roles. Professionals in either position may also be called upon to collaborate with community leaders and speak to members of the media.
• Analytical Capabilities: Both healthcare managers and administrators can benefit from having an analytical mindset. Managers must evaluate organizational performance data to identify areas that need improvement (and figure out how to reach those goals), while administrators may apply analytical reasoning to troubleshoot various problems that arise in their department. Administrators may also use data analytics tools and other advanced technology to analyze healthcare delivery.