When we consider a healthcare professional’s role in the patient experience, we might be inclined to picture a patient-facing individual such as a nurse or a patient care technician. These professionals have an incalculably beneficial effect on patients’ health and well-being. But apart from having the proper skills and disposition required to do their jobs effectively, they need strong, compassionate leadership to guide them and set them up for success.
Here we’ll discuss the vital role healthcare managers and leaders play in ensuring their facility’s patients receive the best of care.
Rethinking the Patient’s Role
The phrase “patient-centered care” comes up often today because of a significant mindset shift in healthcare. While physicians and other healthcare professionals may be exceptionally skilled and experienced, patient-centered care dispenses with the view that these professionals alone know what’s best for a patient in favor of a more inclusive, personalized approach.
Patient-centered care puts an emphasis on treating the patient as an individual and learning their specific healthcare needs. It seeks to engage patients and their families by providing them with the information to understand a health condition and make their own decisions regarding the course of care. This requires healthcare professionals to be excellent communicators and advocates for their patients.
The Driver of Patient-Centered Care
Healthcare manager is not a specific role but rather a general title for a variety of different professions including clinical manager, nursing home administrator, and health information manager. While managing the day-to-day operations of their department or facility is front and center for these professionals, better healthcare outcomes and a first-rate patient experience are always at the core of their mission.
Healthcare managers drive the personalized, patient-centered care that can result in a positive patient experience by:
- Establishing a mission and ensuring all employees understand and adhere to it.
- Setting the tone for care within their facility.
- Hiring skilled professionals to support their efforts.
- Ensuring patients have everything they need.
- Equipping employees with the resources to do their jobs well, from medical equipment and supplies to adequate mental health breaks.
The Rewards of Leadership
As a healthcare manager or leader, you’ll have the potential to improve the lives of countless patients and employees throughout your career—a challenging but ultimately rewarding endeavor. While positive patient outcomes may be their own reward, healthcare management roles can also lead to more job opportunities and higher compensation. Data shows median earnings in the six figures and an astonishing growth rate of 28%—much faster than the average for all occupations—for related careers in the coming years. The University of Texas Permian Basin can put you on a path to these leadership roles in healthcare.
Redefine the Patient Experience as a Healthcare Leader
UT Permian Basin’s online degrees in healthcare management and leadership lay the groundwork for fulfilling careers at the helm of a patient-centered organization.
Online Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
Explore the application of core business principles from the AACSB-accredited BBA program within a healthcare context, including topics such as financial management in healthcare organizations, patient service strategies, and understanding legal and regulatory frameworks. See where graduates of this UTPB program are working!
Online Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Healthcare Leadership
Enhance your expertise in meeting the requirements of employees and patients while also refining your skills in financial management and quantitative decision-making. This program is designated for students who hold an AAS degree in nursing, emergency medical services, radiology, or other healthcare-related disciplines.
One Choice for Convenience and Quality
Choose either healthcare-focused online UTPB bachelor’s degree to experience the benefits of our asynchronous, 100% online format. Enjoy the flexibility of finishing your coursework according to your own timetable, regardless of your location, all while maintaining your professional and personal obligations. You’ll still receive guidance from our esteemed faculty, as both programs are overseen by the same distinguished educators who teach at our Odessa, Texas, campus.