A great health care cover letter can make all the difference during the job search. The key is to demonstrate your unique clinical background and commitment to quality patient care using your most impressive career achievements. This guide offers health care cover letter examples and expert tips to help you craft an eye-catching cover letter and land your next job opportunity.

Health Care Cover Letter Templates and Examples

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How To Write a Health Care Cover Letter

A great health care cover letter has five main elements:

1. Heading. Use a professional template to enhance the style and presentation of your cover letter. Be sure your heading includes:

  • Your name, title, and contact info
  • The current date
  • The addressee’s details

2. Salutation. Greet the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.”

3. Introduction. Write a strong opening paragraph to introduce yourself and convey your interest in the job. Emphasize your years of experience within the health care industry and any clinical expertise that matches the organization’s needs. Include a defining career achievement to demonstrate your proven track record of success as a medical professional.

Example


I am interested in the medical director position with the Seattle Washington Medical Center. In my 15-year career within the health care industry, I’ve developed an array of expertise in clinical program development. I’ve served as both a medical director at St. Francis of Assisi Hospital and as a licensed physician at Virginia Mason Hospital.

4. Body paragraphs. Continue to feature your health care accomplishments in your body paragraphs. Start by mentioning something specific about the hospital’s reputation, culture, or mission statement and why this draws you to apply for the opportunity. For example, if an organization is known for providing cutting-edge cancer treatments, emphasize how this relates to your unique background in oncology.

Example


Seattle Washington Medical Center’s reputation for providing cutting-edge cancer treatments draws me to apply for this opportunity. During my time at St. Francis of Assisi Hospital, I developed a clinical program strategy for the Oncology department. I am confident that my experience as a health care executive would be an asset to your organization based on my previous successes:

  • Led large-scale change management initiatives to increase the utilization of evidence-based care approaches, resulting in a 5% reduction in patient mortality rates
  • Collaborated with hospital leadership, physicians, and nurses to develop hospital guidelines and policies, which included driving patient-centered care and advocacy
  • Oversaw a $40 million operating budget and reduced medical equipment costs by 15%

5. Closing section. Think of your conclusion as a call to action. Ask the hiring manager to contact you so you can learn more about the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and consideration.

Example


I hope to have further discussions on how my expertise in EFT can benefit your practice. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Sarah Engels, licensed professional counselor

Health Care Cover Letter Tips

1. Feature your clinical expertise

Your clinical expertise should serve as the focal point of your cover letter. As you build your content, carefully review the job description and feature medical skills that align with the hospital’s needs. If you’ve completed a certification in a key clinical area, mention this in your introduction.

2. Highlight patient-centered care and advocacy

Patient-centered care is an important trend in health care delivery, as it helps maintain the voice of the patient throughout treatment. It also helps to align the treatment planning process according to the patient’s physical, emotional, and cultural needs. Branding yourself as a patient advocate also shows hiring managers more about who you are as a person and as a health care professional.

3. Quantify your health care achievements

Quantify your career achievements using hard numbers and metrics to establish a sense of scope for the reader. For instance, you might mention that you achieved a 95% patient satisfaction rating in a large hospital with a 1:5 patient ratio. This sends a clear message to hiring managers that you can deliver quality care to patients in high-volume, clinical environments.

Health Care Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level

Heather Cline 
Medical Surgical Nurse | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | San Jose, CA 12345 | LinkedIn

January 1, 2024

Arnold Rosenberg
Hiring Manager
Palo Alto Hospital
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]

Dear Mr Rosenberg,

I am interested in applying for the medical surgical nurse position with the Palo Alto Hospital. I feel that my extensive background within the health care industry would be an asset to your organization. As a board-certified medical surgical nurse, I developed expertise in case management and disease prevention while employed at the San Diego Hospital.

Palo Alto Hospital’s commitment to patient advocacy is what draws me to apply for this opportunity. At San Diego Hospital, I delivered patient-centered care to patients in alignment with cultural, physical, and emotional needs. I am confident I can help drive positive patient outcomes for your organization based on my career achievements:

  • Delivered compassionate care to patients in a 400-bed hospital, communicated symptoms and treatment options with empathy and understanding, and achieved a 92% satisfaction rating
  • Supported process improvement efforts to better patient flow and enhance clinical outcomes, resulting in a 15% reduction in average patient wait times
  • Collaborated with physicians, nurses, and multidisciplinary teams across various medical units

I look forward to speaking with you further about how my expertise in patient-centered care can benefit Palo Alto Hospital. If you have any questions, you may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Heather Cline, registered nurse

Health Care Cover Letter FAQs

Why should I include a health care cover letter?-

Although cover letters aren’t always required for a job application, including one can sometimes help differentiate you from other candidates. In addition to reinforcing your strongest qualifications, the cover letter allows you to convey a genuine interest in the job opportunity. Mentioning something specific about the hospital’s mission or reputation shows you’ve done your research beforehand and can increase your odds of landing the interview.

Are cover letters becoming obsolete?-

According to a LinkedIn poll conducted by Forbes, 70% of correspondents voted that cover letters are no longer needed during the application process. While cover letters aren’t always required, taking the time to write one demonstrates your enthusiasm and genuine interest in the role you’re applying for. This can sometimes make all the difference in generating interviews during the job search. Including one can sometimes help differentiate you from other candidates.

Should I use an artificial intelligence tool to write my cover letter?-

Using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to get started may be a viable option, but never let it write your cover letter in its entirety. Despite recent advancements, documents produced by AI run the risk of being overly derivative and generic. Your cover letter should express your passion and commitment to improving the lives of your patients. Relying solely on an AI tool strips the document of your unique voice.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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