Prof. Dr. Tuğba Altıntaş, a faculty member of the Health Management Department, stated that healthcare services become sustainable not only medically but also through a strong management approach, on the occasion of December 18 Health Administrators' Day. She said, “Healthcare Institutions Management is a background yet vital area of the healthcare system. Well-managed healthcare institutions both reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and offer higher quality services to patients.”
Underlining that health management is a globally valid field, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş stated, “Graduates who improve their foreign language proficiency can find employment opportunities in hospitals abroad, health tourism companies, international health organizations, and in health consulting and project management fields.”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Health Management Department faculty member, VERİMER (Data Application and Research Center) Director Prof. Dr. Tuğba Altıntaş, drew attention to the importance of healthcare institutions management and the field of health management on the occasion of December 18 Health Administrators' Day.
A strategic field encompassing the managerial dimension of healthcare services
Emphasizing that Healthcare Institutions Management or Health Management should be handled not only from its medical dimension but also from the axis of management, planning, and sustainability, Prof. Dr. Tuğba Altıntaş said, “Healthcare Institutions Management and Health Management is a strategic field that encompasses not only the medical but also the managerial, economic, and organizational dimensions of healthcare services. Graduates of these programs play an active role in managing healthcare institutions effectively, efficiently, and patient-centrically.”
Graduates gain versatile management skills
Referring to the basic competencies the program provides to graduates, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş said, “Our graduates gain expertise in areas such as management and organization, financial planning and budget management, human resources, quality and accreditation processes, health legislation, and patient satisfaction and service quality. One of the most significant gains is that graduates acquire the ability to evaluate healthcare services from the perspective of both the patient, the institution, and the employee. Thus, they contribute to the more regular and sustainable provision of healthcare services.”
Wide range of employment opportunities
Stating that Healthcare Institutions Management graduates can work in a wide range of positions in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş said, “Our graduates can be employed in public and private hospitals, oral and dental health centers, medical centers, family health centers, private healthcare companies, pharmaceutical and medical companies, health insurance and private pension companies, and health tourism companies. Graduates typically work in administrative positions; in departments such as patient services, quality units, human resources, purchasing, and planning.”
A globally valid profession
Underlining that health management is a globally valid field, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş stated, “Graduates who improve their foreign language proficiency can find employment opportunities in hospitals abroad, health tourism companies, international health organizations, and in health consulting and project management fields. Especially health tourism and international patient management areas offer significant opportunities for graduates.”
Private sector offers faster opportunities
Also touching upon the comparison between the public and private sectors, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş said, “The private sector offers faster and more flexible opportunities for the employment of graduates. Private hospitals, healthcare groups, and healthcare companies show high demand for these graduates. In the public sector, there are opportunities to work in the Ministry of Health and its affiliated institutions; however, appointments in this area are more limited and competitive. For this reason, a large portion of graduates prefer to start their careers in the private sector.”
Digitalization and data-driven management will come to the fore
Also addressing the trends that will come to the fore in the field of health management in the coming years, Prof. Dr. Altıntaş said, “Digitalization, health information systems, artificial intelligence-supported decision-making mechanisms, data-driven management, patient experience and satisfaction-focused approaches, and quality and patient safety practices will be the defining topics of the upcoming period. These developments are increasing the importance of healthcare institutions management graduates every day.”
Health administrators are the unseen heroes of the system
Prof. Dr. Tuğba Altıntaş concluded her words by drawing attention to the vital role of health administrators in the system, saying, “Healthcare Institutions Management is a background yet vital area of the healthcare system. Well-managed healthcare institutions both reduce the burden on healthcare professionals and offer higher quality services to patients.”