9.  Health Care Management
What do health care managers do?
Health care managers play essential roles in keeping the business of health care running smoothly. They plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of health care. 
In large facilities, health care managers may work with several assistant administrators to direct activities in specific clinical departments such as nursing, surgery or therapy. These managers may have more specific responsibilities and training or experience in a clinical area. They establish and implement policies, objectives and procedures for their departments; evaluate personnel and work; develop reports and budgets and coordinate activities with other managers. 
Some health care managers may oversee the activities of a number of facilities in health systems. Such systems may include both inpatient and outpatient facilities and offer a wide range of patient services. 
Managers in smaller facilities may handle more of the details of daily operations - personnel, finance, facility operations and resident care. In group practices, a health care manager may work closely with physicians and advise on business strategies and coordinate day-to-day business. The responsibilities of managers in managed care settings may extend to areas of community outreach and preventative care. 
What degree options are available in health care managment?
Undergraduates can earn a bachelor’s in health care management. Graduate students can earn a master’s degree in health care management or an MBA with a concentration in health care management. 
What''s the difference between a master''s in health care management and an MBA with a health care management concentration? 
The basic difference between these two options is that the master’s degree is highly specialized and will allow you to focus almost exclusively on health care management. In contrast, an MBA program is designed to develop a general set of management skills in a variety of areas while you learn about health care management practices through specialized elective courses.
There are advantages to each: a master’s program will enable you to delve into health care management issues in greater depth; an MBA program will allow you to spend your first year developing a set of skills that can be transferred to other areas and your second year specializing in health care management. 
While both a master’s degree and an MBA concentration will prepare you to hold management positions, master’s programs are designed to help you become a leader in the specific field. In contrast, an MBA degree may also qualify you to hold management positions in other fields, should you become interested in a different career. 
What will I study?
An MBA with a health care management concentration generally consists of core courses in management fundamentals during the first year and a selection of elective courses specific to health care during the second year. Core co