What does a healthcare manager do?

Answer 1

To answer the first question, you must be clear in your understanding of "being an administrator." You can be considered part of a management or administrative team without leading an entire organization and without being visibly responsible and accountable for its success or failure. On the other hand, you can manage planning, quality, or information management departments and still be considered "management" even though you might not directly contribute to an organization's bottom line.

Healthcare: A Changing System

Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. The field is changing in terms of how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services, and how that care is financed. These changes are being driven primarily by the growth of managed care. A number of other current trends are expected to continue, including:

• Integration of healthcare delivery organizations to create accessible, appropriate, and comprehensive care pathways for all people
• Continual advances in medical technology
• Collaboration among provider organizations, physicians, businesses, insurers, and others to improve community health status
• Increased emphasis on disease prevention and wellness promotion
• An elderly population that will grow exponentially with the "Baby Boomer" generation
• Better-informed patients demanding high-quality care
• Pressure from business, government, insurers, and patients to control costs and demonstrate the value of the services delivered
• Efforts to implement continuous quality improvement initiatives similar to those found in other fields

This is an exciting time for healthcare management. Healthcare is changing more rapidly than almost any other field. The field is changing in terms of how and where care is delivered, who is providing those services, and how that care is financed. Healthcare management requires talented people to manage the changes taking place. In their roles, healthcare executives have an opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving the health of the communities their organizations serve.

With growing diversity in the healthcare system, executives are needed in many settings, including:

• Clinics
• Consulting firms
• Health insurance organizations
• Healthcare associations
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Physician practices
• Mental health organizations
• Public health departments
• Rehabilitation centers
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Universities and research institutions

Today, an estimated 100,000 people occupy health management positions at numerous organizational levels, from department head to chief executive officer. Requirements for senior-level positions in healthcare organizations are demanding, but these jobs also offer opportunities to improve the system of care giving.

If you choose a career in healthcare management, your first job might be an entry- to mid-level management position in a specialized area, such as:

• Finance
• Government relations
• Human resources
• Information systems
• Marketing and public affairs
• Material management (purchasing of equipment and supplies)
• Medical staff relations
• Nursing administration
• Patient care services
• Planning and development

The health care industry has become a behemoth, employing hundreds of thousands of physicians, nurses, health specialists, and other non-health workers, and wielding considerable clout on Wall Street. Health care administrators run this behemoth, coordinating and organizing the financing and delivery of care and assisting in the management of health facilities. Executive-level administrators are highly educated individuals responsible for overall policy directions. They assess the need for services, equipment and personnel and also make recommendations regarding the expansion or curtailment of services, and the establishment of new or auxiliary facilities. They also oversee compliance with government agencies and regulations. Their duties tend to vary with the size and operations of the health facility where they are employed; generally, smaller facilities have less staff support so administrators are left with larger work loads. In larger facilities, administrators can delegate duties and devote more time to policy directives. Assistants to administrators at large facilities typically provide support in the execution of top-level decisions. Depending on their expertise and experience, some assistants oversee the activities of clinical departments such as nursing or surgery, or they may direct the operations of non-health areas such as personnel, finance and public relations. At nursing homes, home health agencies, and other smaller facilities, the duties and responsibilities of administrators are vast and varied. Administrators wear multiple hats in departments such as human resources, finance and operations, and admissions. Clinical managers are health specialists who supervise specific clinical services in the health care industry. They have job-specific training and are involved with implementing policies and procedures for their departments, while coordinating their activities with other managers. Policy decisions do not fall within the purview of managers for small group practices, but larger groups usually retain the services of a full-time administrator who not only coordinates activities on a day-to-day basis but also develops and implements business strategies.Paying Your Dues

To land a plum job in the health care industry, it is sensible to first complete graduate studies. A bachelor's degree will only open doors at the entry level, and only a lucky few will be able to work up to a top-level position in a small operation or a middle-management position at a larger facility. A Master's degree in hospital or nursing administration, public health, public or business administration, and other related fields is usually a requirement for executive office. Courses in accounting and budgeting, management principles, hospital organization and management, health economics, and health information systems provide the student with a solid foundation. Applicants to the field must be willing to work their way up the corporate health ladder, as even new graduates with master's degrees often start out as assistant administrators or managers of non-health departments. As in all management positions, strong leadership qualities, effective communication and analytical skills, and the ability to motivate others will greatly enhance employment opportunities. Specialized expertise in one type of health facility-HMOs, mental health hospitals, nursing homes, general hospitals or outpatient care services-can significantly expand the possibility of easy placement in the industry.

Associated Careers

Health care administrators can apply their training in health and management as underwriters for health insurance companies and HMOs and in sales, marketing and distribution of health equipment and supplies. Some become directors of public health, social welfare administrators, and directors of health agencies. An administrator with a Ph.D. might consult, teach, or do research.