A career in health policy and management is a potentially lucrative and exciting one. You have the important responsibility of ensuring that health and social care services are safe, high quality and delivered efficiently.

Individuals can begin their career in policy and management after graduating from a health management course. Topics may include political science, public health, public policy along with solid understanding of clinical and political concepts.

In this article, we'll discuss the five best career opportunities for people who work in health policy and management.

What is Health Policy and Management?

Health policy and management refers to (a) the development of health policies relating to the delivery of health care services and (b) ensuring that these policies are implemented effectively. The three main functions of health policy and management are planning, financing and regulation.

Health policy is the set of decisions, plans, rules and actions that are regulated by a government or other decision-making body to deal with issues relating to health.

Careers

Health policy is a diverse area. There are many different ways to enter the field, including government and non-government organizations, research institutions, and universities. Often, a good place to start is with one of the many careers in health. After gaining hands-on professional experience, you can then start to build a policy and management career.

If you're looking for a career that helps make decisions about health policy at the local, state or national level and want to be on the cutting edge of new healthcare legislation affecting your community, consider these five careers in health policy and management.

1. Hospital administrator

A hospital administrator has to manage the operations of a hospital. The hospital administrator is also called a chief administrator. Hospital administrators have many responsibilities in their roles. They are responsible for overseeing daily operations, working with staff and meeting the needs of patients and their families.

2. Health system planner

Health systems planning is a broad term that applies to the healthcare industry. It is the process in which a person or group undertakes analysis and planning to improve the effectiveness of health services, usually within a specific area or region. Health systems planners work in hospitals, clinics, and government agencies.

3. Health policy researcher

Health policy researchers have the possibility to work for federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, health foundations, international organizations, universities and hospitals.It is important to note that each of these sectors has different requirements for health policy researchers. Therefore, it is necessary to be flexible and adaptable to new surroundings.

4. Health insurance specialist

Health insurance is a big business and a big expense for many people. The average American spends $15,000 on health care each year, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. While most are familiar with traditional health insurance plans through employers or government programs like Medicare, more people are exploring the benefits of private health insurance services to supplement what they already have.

Health insurance specialists are one of the most important positions in an insurance company. They are part of the sales team and work with clients to solve any issues they may have regarding their health coverage. Health insurance specialists are responsible for helping clients find doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that have contracted with their company. Health insurance specialists are tasked with answering questions regarding their client's benefits including co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles. They must also inform clients about any changes in their policy or the healthcare system at large.

5. Healthcare consultant

The job of health care consultant is a very broad and wide field that has many different careers, jobs and employment opportunities. Healthcare consulting is a highly competitive field. There are over 150,000 businesses in the United States alone that do healthcare consulting work.

Health care consulting services are used by hospitals, medical doctors, dentists, nursing homes, pharmacy chains and other healthcare providers to improve their performance, reduce costs and increase revenues. A healthcare consultant may advise on how to improve the organization's financial structure or it may offer a business plan for the entity seeking advice.

More job opportunities

The list of the jobs associated with health policy and management does not end here. There are dozens of more career options that you can pursue after completing a health management course.

Other careers include Account Coordinator in Health Management/Disability Management, Project Coordinator, Research Coordinator, Data Analyst, Health Finance Analyst, Systems Integration Specialist, Health Human Resources Analyst, Community Health Worker, Community Health and Education Associate, Health Legislative Aide and Political Coordinator.