On the occasion of December 18 Healthcare Administrators Day, emphasizing that healthcare services can only become sustainable not solely through medical expertise but also through strong management practices, Prof. Tuğba Altıntaş, faculty member of the Department of Health Management, stated: “Healthcare Management is a field that operates behind the scenes of the health system yet plays a vital role. Well-managed healthcare institutions reduce the burden on healthcare professionals while providing higher-quality services to patients.”
Highlighting that health management is a globally valid field, Prof. Altıntaş noted that graduates with strong foreign language skills can find employment opportunities in hospitals abroad, health tourism companies, international health organizations, as well as in healthcare consultancy and project management.
Prof. Tuğba Altıntaş, faculty member of the Department of Health Management at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, and Director of VERİMER (Data Application and Research Center), drew attention to the importance of healthcare management and healthcare institutions administration on the occasion of December 18 Healthcare Administrators Day.
A strategic field covering the managerial dimension of healthcare services
Emphasizing that Healthcare Institutions Administration or Health Management should address healthcare services not only from a medical perspective but also in terms of management, planning, and sustainability, Prof. Altıntaş stated: “Healthcare Institutions Administration and Health Management is a strategic field encompassing not only the medical but also the managerial, economic, and organizational dimensions of healthcare services. Graduates of these programs take an active role in managing healthcare institutions efficiently, effectively, and with a patient-centered approach.”
Graduates gain multifaceted management skills
Referring to the core competencies gained by graduates, Prof. Altıntaş said: “Our graduates acquire expertise in management and organization, financial planning and budgeting, human resources, quality and accreditation processes, healthcare legislation, patient satisfaction, and service quality. One of the most important outcomes is their ability to evaluate healthcare services from the perspectives of patients, institutions, and employees. This enables them to contribute to the more organized and sustainable delivery of healthcare services.”
A broad range of employment opportunities
Noting that graduates of Healthcare Institutions Administration can work across a wide spectrum in Türkiye, Prof. Altıntaş stated: “Our graduates are employed in public and private hospitals, oral and dental health centers, medical centers, family health centers, private healthcare companies, pharmaceutical and medical device firms, health insurance and private pension companies, as well as health tourism organizations. They generally work in administrative roles such as patient services, quality units, human resources, procurement, and planning.”
A Profession with International Recognition
Underlining the global validity of health management, Prof. Altıntaş explained: “Graduates who improve their foreign language proficiency can work in hospitals abroad, health tourism companies, international health organizations, and in healthcare consultancy and project management. Especially health tourism and international patient management offer significant opportunities for graduates.”
The private sector offers faster career opportunities
Comparing public and private sector employment, Prof. Altıntaş noted: “The private sector offers faster and more flexible opportunities for graduates. Private hospitals, healthcare groups, and healthcare companies show strong demand for these professionals. In the public sector, employment is possible within the Ministry of Health and affiliated institutions; however, appointments are more limited and highly competitive. For this reason, many graduates prefer to begin their careers in the private sector.”
Digitalization and data-driven management will shape the future
Addressing future trends in healthcare management, Prof. Altıntaş stated: “Digitalization, health information systems, AI-supported decision-making mechanisms, data-driven management, patient experience and satisfaction-oriented approaches, as well as quality and patient safety practices will be the defining trends of the coming years. These developments continuously increase the importance of healthcare institutions administration graduates.”
Healthcare administrators are the invisible heroes of the system
Concluding her remarks, Prof. Tuğba Altıntaş emphasized the vital role of healthcare administrators, stating: “Healthcare Institutions Administration is a field that plays a crucial role behind the scenes of the healthcare system. Well-managed healthcare institutions both reduce the workload of healthcare professionals and provide higher-quality services to patients.”