Rapidly advancing technology and the evolving needs of patients in the 21st century have resulted in a healthcare revolution. As the healthcare landscape continues to shift and grow to meet the demands of modern patients, there is a clear need for skilled allied health professionals.
Allied professionals, defined as those who work in the healthcare industry outside of physicians and nurses, are often responsible for health services management. Skilled and intuitive allied health professionals play a critical role in shaping the healthcare experience and improving outcomes for all patients.
What Is Allied Health Management?
Allied health management is the process of applying scientific principles and evidence-based practices to evaluate patients, develop treatment plans, and improve outcomes. Ultimately, the focus of allied health services management is to provide support for healthcare providers using expert healthcare management skills.
The best way to prepare for health management careers is to pursue an allied health management degree that focuses on the topics and skills shaping the healthcare field today. Choosing a degree program that offers a universal foundation in organizational behavior in healthcare, health information systems, healthcare financial management, and healthcare law will allow you to pursue a wide variety of positions in medical practice management.
Key Skills Gained From an Allied Health Management Degree
To effectively prepare students for healthcare management careers, the allied health management degree offers a skills-based curriculum focused on the core competencies required for this field. Key skills gained from an allied health management degree include:
Patient Care Management
While allied health professionals do not play an active role in diagnosing, treating, or caring for patients, they have a significant impact on patient outcomes, since they may create or shape policies and protocols. Allied health professionals must be aware of the best practices in care management to positively impact the patient experience throughout their careers.
Healthcare Organization Management
Understanding the organizational structure of healthcare facilities and learning the best practices in healthcare organization management can prepare allied health students for a lifelong career in health services management. Healthcare organization management skills — and the leadership skills you’ll develop along the way — are transferable and can be applied in nearly any type of allied health position.
Legal Compliance
Medical law is constantly changing, and allied health professionals must understand the complexities of these laws and the steps that must be taken to remain in compliance. Regulatory and legal compliance is a critical aspect of allied health, so you will need to have a strong universal foundation in this area.
Procedural Coding
Technical skills in procedural coding are necessary for allied health professionals, particularly those who want to pursue a career in medical billing and coding. Often described as a distinct healthcare language, an advanced knowledge of procedural coding allows you to serve as a liaison between the physician, the patient, and the insurance provider.
Health Technology Management
Health technology is embedded into today’s modern healthcare system, with physicians and medical practitioners relying heavily on technology to document patient diagnoses and care plans. Rapid advances in health technology require allied health professionals to be familiar with the leading healthcare technology solutions and to stay abreast of any changes in the health technology field.
Health Policy Analysis
Developing the critical and analytical skills to translate and implement the best healthcare policies allows allied health professionals to have a competitive edge in the field. Health policy will continue to shape the healthcare landscape, making analytical skills vital among allied health professionals.
Adapting to Technological Advancements in Healthcare
Students who enroll in an allied health management degree program today have the opportunity to work with the newest healthcare technology. Developing those skills and becoming familiar with the latest healthcare technology solutions is essential to securing a position in the field — however, the healthcare technology of today will quickly become obsolete, as new advances seem to arrive with each passing day.
It is important to select a degree program that instills a sense of resiliency and adaptability in students. Not only should you be prepared to work with the most powerful healthcare technology solutions of our time, but you should be given the skills and tools required to continue to manage inevitable technological changes in healthcare.
Throughout your career, you should strive to stay abreast of technological advances, as it will allow you to continue to grow and progress in your health services management career.
Leadership in Healthcare: A Crucial Competency
While an allied health management degree will likely focus on the technical and practical skills needed for a career in medical practice management, it is essential to choose a bachelor’s degree program that provides you with the opportunity to hone your leadership skills. Effective leadership in health services management is crucial for improving the patient experience.
Within the allied health management bachelor’s degree program at Florida Technical College, we have developed a leadership-focused curriculum that provides students with an in-depth overview of the organizational structure of medical practices as well as the soft skills required to effectively oversee health services management. By focusing on core competencies, such as communication, empathy, critical thinking, and analytical skills, you can become an intuitive leader who knows how to balance the needs of staff members and patients within a medical practice.
Navigating Healthcare Policies and Law
Healthcare policies and laws are complex and difficult for the average person to understand, yet allied health professionals must have an advanced understanding of medical law and regulations. They are responsible for interpreting healthcare policies and implementing changes within the medical practice to remain in compliance with those laws. Health policy analysis is a crucial component of managing a healthcare facility, as it not only prevents you from dealing with legal ramifications but also allows you to provide patients with the best possible care.
Career Opportunities and Advancements
The healthcare industry is one of the largest and most powerful industries in today’s economy, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that there will be 1.8 million openings in the healthcare field each year between now and 2032. Amid the healthcare landscape evolution, it’s anticipated that there will be heightened demand for allied health professionals.
According to Indeed, some of the career paths that may be available to graduates with an allied health management degree include:
Medical Coding and Billing
Sometimes referred to as medical records specialists, medical coding and billing professionals work to record patient treatments, input procedural codes, and manage patient files. They often work with the patient and the insurance provider to ensure that the patient is getting the coverage they need. H3: Healthcare Administration
Medical and health services managers are allied healthcare professionals who plan and coordinate the services provided at a healthcare facility. They oversee shaping policies and procedures for the facility, recruiting qualified staff members and medical care providers, and maintaining legal compliance. H3: Healthcare Policy Advising
Healthcare policy advisors interpret and analyze healthcare policy and provide actionable information and advice to medical facilities so that they can remain in compliance with the law. Given the dynamic and complex nature of healthcare policy, this can be a challenging yet rewarding position for those passionate about streamlining access to healthcare and improving patient outcomes. H3: Healthcare Technician
A healthcare technician is an allied health professional who plays a hands-on role in patient diagnostics, and it is an ideal career path for those interested in working directly with patients. Examples of types of healthcare technicians include radiology technicians, sonographers, and cardiovascular technicians. H2: Learn More, Today
The Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Management at Florida Technical College features a skills-based curriculum that focuses on the most relevant topics in healthcare administration education, allowing graduates to pursue health management careers. Whether you are interested in the medical coding and billing field or passionate about healthcare quality improvement, you will find that this is an engaging and rewarding degree program.
Request more information about our allied health management degree today.
These examples are intended to serve only as a general guide of possible employment opportunities. There are many factors that determine the job an individual may obtain and Florida Technical College cannot guarantee its graduates any particular job. Some positions may require license or other certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements for the particular position you desire.
