The healthcare industry relies heavily on effective leadership to keep it moving forward, and to ensure the highest level of care can continue to be delivered to anyone that needs it. Lots of young professionals just setting out on their careers in the industry will strive to progress into a leadership role further down the line. But what opportunities are available, and how do healthcare professionals end up in these positions of authority?
In this quick guide, we’ll discuss just a handful of the many different management and leadership roles within the healthcare sector, highlighting the skills needed to succeed in each, and the common career paths taken to secure these top positions.
Medical director
Overseeing all levels of patient care, the medical director is generally one of the most influential professionals in any healthcare setting. They’ll be responsible for driving the work performed by medical practitioners, and bridging the gap between clinical and non-clinical staff, to ensure the entire practice/hospital continues to run smoothly. This is an extremely varied role, where day-to-day tasks will constantly change depending on the needs of the organisation at any given time.
To be successful as a medical director, there are several skills you’ll need to possess. First and foremost, it’s essential to have the relevant technical knowledge relevant to the industry, in order to ensure best practice is constantly being implemented. While lots of these healthcare-specific skills can be learned in an academic setting, the most useful knowledge will often be developed through years of clinical experience. Beyond this, more general management skills such as effective communication and good organisation are pivotal, since directors will be required to consider the thoughts of multiple teams, and their workload will be incredibly varied.
Healthcare consultant
Similar in lots of ways to the responsibilities of a medical director, a healthcare consultant will ultimately be responsible for improving processes and the service delivered by teams within the organisation. As a public health consultant, you won’t necessarily always be working in a medical setting. In fact, lots of different institutions employ these professionals, including universities, governments and the defence sector.
In addition to overseeing the processes and practices of a department, a healthcare consultant will also be required to manage a budget and set internal policies and strategies that will impact the organisation in both the short and long term. There are lots of different disciplines within the industry that professionals could specialise in on their way to becoming a consultant. It’s common for leaders in this role to focus on a specific discipline across the course of their career, and this role is a great opportunity to develop their understanding and conduct further research in their chosen field.
HR manager
In the healthcare industry, maintaining a positive work environment is essential to provide quality patient care. This is where a human resources manager can be invaluable. Generally speaking, HR managers are responsible for directing an organisation’s workforce, from recruitment and hiring to employee management and development. In the healthcare industry, HR managers ensure that staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of patients, oversee employee benefits and compensation, and ensure compliance with regulations and laws.
On top of this, they work with management to facilitate staff training and development programs to ensure that healthcare providers stay up-to-date with current medical practices and standards. This role is critical to creating a healthy and productive workforce that can deliver the best possible patient care, while limiting potential disruptions to the service provided.
Find your perfect role
Working in the healthcare industry is an incredibly rewarding career path that offers the chance to work closely with the public, and make a positive impact on a great many lives. To succeed in a healthcare leadership role, you’ll be required to have gained considerable experience in lower-ranking positions, gaining the requisite knowledge and understanding along the way. In what is a rapidly evolving industry, strong leaders are essential to upholding the standards of healthcare, to ensure everyone can rely on their services whenever they’re required.
