Beyond the bedside: the essential role of business in healthcare

By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Dr. Ben Spedding, Academic Program Director, Health Administration, School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration

Reading Time: 4 minutes

When you think of healthcare, you probably picture doctors in scrubs or nurses at a bedside. But for Dr. Ben Spedding, Academic Program Director at Capella University, that is only half of the story. Every life-saving treatment is powered by an invisible engine of strategy and technology that makes it all possible.

“Behind every patient interaction is a complex infrastructure that ensures care is accessible, efficient, sustainable and compliant,” Dr. Spedding explains.
The business side of healthcare isn’t just about spreadsheets – it’s also about the mission-critical decisions that ensure patients get the care they need when they need it most. By blending medical goals with strategic management, healthcare leaders are building a system that is more efficient and more sustainable for everyone.

What is the business side of healthcare?

Think of the business side as the essential support system for a hospital or clinic. It encompasses all the non-clinical functions – from finance and human resources to supply chain management and information systems – that clinical teams rely on to do their jobs. Without this foundation, even the most talented doctors and nurses would lack the resources necessary to provide high-quality care.

In this field, success is measured by value-based financial sustainability. Dr. Spedding notes that healthcare administrators carry a dual responsibility: ensuring the long-term viability of the institution while maintaining a focus on patient-centered care. This balance allows healthcare systems to consistently reinvest in the latest technology and top-tier clinical talent.

What do healthcare administrators do?

Administrators are the architects of the healthcare ecosystem. Their job is to clear the path for clinicians by removing barriers and organizing the resources required for a great patient experience. In the current landscape, Dr. Spedding sees administrators focusing on three primary pillars:

• Implementing health intelligence: Administrators decide where agentic AI can take over busy work, such as automating billing or using predictive analytics to ensure there is an open bed for a patient in need.
• Cultivating workforce ecosystems: To help prevent burnout, administrators can launch virtual nursing programs and use smart scheduling to help the clinical team feel supported and energized. “It’s about managing resources – people, technology and capital – so that clinical teams can focus on delivering high-quality care,” emphasizes Dr. Spedding.
• Managing data interoperability: A top priority is omnichannel care, which ensures a patient’s medical records move securely and instantly between their home, their doctor’s office and the hospital.

Which healthcare innovations are changing patient care?

Healthcare trends are moving toward whole-person health integration. This business-led strategy uses data to look at the big picture of a patient’s life – addressing physical health alongside mental well-being and social factors like food insecurity or housing. Dr. Spedding is particularly interested in seeing the system shift from reactive treatment to proactive population health management.

The rise of the hospital-at-home model is also a game changer. By using high-speed connectivity and remote monitoring, administrators can now bring hospital-level care right into a patient’s living room. This doesn’t just lower costs. It lets patients recover in a comfortable, familiar environment, which often leads to faster healing.

How do you pursue a career in healthcare administration?

According to Dr. Spedding, breaking into healthcare administration requires a unique blend of business grit and clinical empathy. “Healthcare is data-rich, so comfort with finance, operations and analytics is essential," he says, “but this is also a people-centered field where leadership and ethical decision-making matter deeply.”

Whether you’re seeking your first supervisor role or aiming to lead a department, here are pathways to building your expertise:

1. Build a strong foundation: A BS in Health Care Administration Leadership is great if you want to lead clinical teams. If you’re more interested in the financial and operational nuts and bolts of the industry, a BS in Business with a Health Care Management specialization might be your perfect fit.
2. Advance your management skills: For those ready to lead complex systems, a Master of Health Administration (MHA) teaches you how to balance the needs of the patient with the efficiency of the business.
3. Drive strategic change: If you want to influence high-level policy or national strategy, an MBA in Health Care Management or a Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) provides the credentials to lead an industry in transition.

Take the next step in your journey

The most effective healthcare leaders are those who can speak the languages of both medicine and management. As Dr. Spedding reminds us, “the business side of healthcare is not separate from care delivery – it is what enables it.” By aligning clinical goals with business excellence, you can help build a system that’s more resilient and equitable for everyone.

Explore Capella University’s online healthcare degrees to find a program that aligns with your professional goals.