7 Ways a Business Degree Can Benefit Your Healthcare Career
Whether you already work in healthcare or want to get your foot in the door at a medical facility, a Business Administration or Business Management Degree could help set you up for success. The healthcare industry isn’t just about medicine; it also has a complex business side with operations, regulations, and financial decisions. That’s where your business degree comes into play. A business degree can give you the knowledge, skills, and insight that you need to grow your healthcare career.
Here are 7 ways a business degree can benefit your future in healthcare:
1. Business Degrees Teach You Leadership Skills
Strong leaders are needed in every corner of healthcare. Hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and private practices all need professionals who can manage teams, solve problems, and guide staff through challenges. A business degree can teach you leadership theory and practical skills that help you inspire teams, manage a facility, and make sound decisions.
2. You Learn How to Manage Healthcare Operations
Successful healthcare facilities need administrative teams to keep operations running smoothly. From scheduling and supply management to patient intake and insurance billing, there are many areas of crossover between business and medical practices. A business degree teaches you about operations management and helps you find ways to improve workflow, reduce waste, and increase patient satisfaction.
3. Healthcare Needs Financial Experts Too
Medical facilities are businesses, and someone has to manage the money. With a business background, you can better understand budgeting, cost analysis, financial planning, and resource allocation. These skills are especially useful when you work in healthcare administration or medical billing & coding. But they can also set you up for roles in financial analysis or practice management.
4. A Business Degree Opens Up Management-Level Opportunities
If you want to move up the healthcare career ladder, additional education in business can help set you apart from competitors in the job market. Business expertise may make you eligible for management or supervisory roles, whether you work at a hospital, outpatient facility, physical therapy clinic, or long-term care facility. You’ll be seen as someone who understands both the human side of healthcare and the numbers behind it.
5. Business Programs Teach About Marketing and Outreach
Hospitals and clinics need marketing experts to reach their communities, attract patients, and promote health services. A business degree can prepare you for roles in digital marketing, public relations, and community outreach within the healthcare space. The right business degree program can teach you how to use data, branding, and strategy to build awareness and trust to attract new patients and keep them.
6. Healthcare Compliance and Risk Management Are Business Functions Too
Every healthcare organization must follow regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A quality business degree covers risk management and legal basics, which help you ensure your organization stays compliant. Understanding the business side of healthcare law can even open doors to careers in healthcare compliance or quality assurance.
7. A Business Degree Makes You a More Versatile Healthcare Professional
In this competitive job landscape, the more skills you have, the better. If you already have a healthcare background in areas like allied health or medical office administration, adding a business degree to your resume shows employers you’re serious about growth. It also gives you the tools to pivot into new areas of healthcare, from admin to consulting to entrepreneurship.
Do you want a competitive edge that sets you apart from other healthcare job candidates? At Charter College, we offer business degree programs that are flexible and career-focused to give you the knowledge and skills you need to work in different healthcare sectors. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more about how a business degree can benefit your healthcare career.