Many industries are in constant flux. Demand goes up. Demand goes down. Localized industries like manufacturing become increasingly automated or move to countries with cheaper labor costs. Mining resources like coal are depleted or outmoded by newer sustainable resources.
The rate of change in healthcare, however, is relatively constant. People need healthcare services throughout their lives, and the industry reflects this continuous demand. For instance, the North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA) reports that the North Carolina healthcare industry’s gross domestic product impacts totaled roughly $40 billion in 2022. Plus, healthcare industry employment in the state shows dramatic growth, keeping pace with the growth of its population.
An essential and broad range of opportunities across North Carolina’s healthcare infrastructure lies in management. Healthcare professionals in North Carolina who are interested in pursuing advancement into management positions can work to achieve this goal through advanced education. The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Specialization in Healthcare Management program from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) meets this specific demand.
Healthcare Industry and Employment in North Carolina
The impact and quality of the healthcare industry in North Carolina can be measured in more than dollars and cents. Becker’s Hospital Review named four North Carolina hospitals in their 2023 “great hospitals in America” list. According to NCHA, hospitals and health systems in North Carolina supported over 515,000 jobs in 2022, equaling about 8% of all jobs in the state.
The healthcare industry in North Carolina includes a wide range of professions. Beyond the most obvious roles of nurses, doctors and other medical professionals, healthcare organizations employ a significant number of people in other positions. These include technical services, support staff, mental health professionals, IT specialists, laboratory assistants, management personnel and more. Healthcare industry employees in North Carolina work in an array of settings, from hospitals and physicians’ offices to nursing homes and retirement community care facilities.
Healthcare management personnel with advanced knowledge of healthcare information systems are increasingly important in North Carolina. Healthcare information systems are being widely and effectively implemented. Significantly more expertise is needed in the management of those systems, analysis and integration between healthcare services. Highly qualified healthcare management professionals are well suited to improve this area.
How Does UNCW’s MBA Prepare Students for Job Advancement in Healthcare Management?
Healthcare management requires advanced education in a wide array of topics like management, healthcare systems, healthcare policy and informatics. UNCW’s online MBA in Healthcare Management program covers these and other topics in depth, giving students the skills necessary to integrate knowledge from two seemingly disparate fields: business and healthcare.
This integrated study prepares students to be effective in various managerial positions. They may pursue traditional jobs in areas like human resources management and administration. Further, with the increasing use of digitized healthcare information systems in North Carolina and elsewhere, healthcare management professionals often occupy positions relating to the effective integration of such systems. In these positions, healthcare management professionals can use information technology to improve healthcare outcomes while increasing efficiency and profitability. They can also promote continuity among different parts of the healthcare system, including traditional business functions.
How Can an MBA in Healthcare Management Improve Career Flexibility?
Although healthcare industry employment in North Carolina and across the nation grows constantly, many healthcare jobs require a specific educational background. Nurses, physicians, dentists, biostatisticians and even diagnostics technicians are educated for their specific role. This has certain benefits, but also means these professionals are somewhat limited to their field and certain types of healthcare organizations.
Because effective leadership is needed across industry sectors, healthcare management professionals can pursue employment opportunities in a wide range of healthcare organizations. By earning an MBA in Healthcare Management, graduates enjoy a great deal of flexibility in employment, within a variety of healthcare settings.
The increasing demand for highly educated professionals in this area also correlates with rapid employment growth and a strong job outlook. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 28% between 2022 and 3032 — much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations.
In addition, the generalized business knowledge gained through core coursework in a comprehensive MBA program like UNCW’s prepares students for work in other fields. Business management methods are widely applicable to various industries. Further, holding an MBA degree from a well-respected, accredited business program is an asset — and a requirement in some cases — when pursing business administration jobs in many industries.
With the advanced study of business management, healthcare systems and data analytics, healthcare management professionals can play important roles in North Carolina’s healthcare industry. Offering career flexibility in a stable and growing field, an MBA in Healthcare Management can be a smart move for those looking to advance into management positions in the industry.
Learn more about UNCW’s online MBA with a Specialization in Healthcare Management program.
