The occupation of healthcare management: relating core competencies to growth as a distinct profession

There are many questions regarding the education of the healthcare manager. Some would argue that rather than focus on specific issues of core competencies and licensing, the discussion should be directed toward the successful development of healthcare management as a distinct profession. Two elements in defining a profession, education and legal restraints, are particularly relevant to healthcare management. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for healthcare management to achieve recognition as a distinct profession in the traditional sense. There is no unique body of knowledge on which the profession is based, and no mechanism for credentialing to restrict practice. The organizational framework, however, does exist to better position the MHA-prepared graduate as the preferred candidate to manage healthcare organizations. A professional society needs to be identified as the representative society for the generalist healthcare manager. Core competencies should articulate the integration of academics and practice preparation. To accomplish the latter, academic accreditation requirements relating to faculty credentials should encourage practice-based credentials in addition to the current exclusive focus on academic credentials.