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Health Manager - Career Profile |
Career OverviewHealth managers are also known as health services managers and health services administrators. They direct the operations of hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other health care institutions. They are responsible for services, facilities, programs, staff, budgets and relations with other organizations. The health manager is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital or other health care facility.
Health care managers purchase high-tech equipment, and manage personnel and auxiliary services. They handle budgets, fee schedules and billing procedures. They help plan space needs, purchase supplies and authorize new construction and maintenance. They oversee all of the services the institutions need for both patients and staff: food, laundry, cleaning, telephone, security, etc.
Health managers will delegate much of the responsibility to various assistants and department heads in such clinical areas as nursing, surgery, dietary, and therapy; and in such administrative areas as purchasing, housekeeping and finance, but responsibility ultimately lies with the health manager.
The health manager must work closely with the institution’s board of governors in the development of plans and policies. If the board approves, the health director may carry out major projects that expand hospital services or plan new research projects. These activities often involve the organization of fundraisers.
The health manager also meets regularly with staff to discuss achievements and address problems. Health managers assist in maintaining coordination and cooperation among the various medical staff and department heads. The health manager also represents the health care institution at community or professional meetings.
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Career RequirementsHigh school students interested in becoming health managers should take college preparatory courses. They will need courses in business, mathematics, health and computer science. Communications will be important, so students should take as many speech and writing classes as possible.
The training required for a health manager depends largely on the employer or the facility’s board of governors. Most of them want a health manager with a graduate degree in health services administration. Some want the CEO to be a physician. Others prefer a health manager with training in law or business administration, as well as experience in the health care field.
Specialized training in health services administration is available at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The graduate program is usually a two-year course followed by some months as an administrative resident in on-the-job training at a facility approved by the university. The residency, and perhaps a thesis, is required for a master’s degree.
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Job OutlookHospitals and other health care facilities all employ health managers, so employment opportunities in this field will be excellent through 2010. The number of hospitals is declining, but other companies are being set up to provide such services as drug and alcohol rehabilitation and ambulatory surgery.
Qualified health managers will also find opportunities with healthcare management companies who provide hospitals with management services and such specifics as information management systems, managed care contract negotiations and physician recruiting. Many health care managers are coming out of the colleges and universities, so competition will be stiff. Many starting health managers will find positions in settings other than hospitals or will be offered jobs at department head or staff level.
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Career TrackPeople do not usually go straight from college to a CEO position. Health managers usually gain experience that qualifies them for advancement by working in more specialized administrative or clinical areas in a health care facility. Experience and graduate work often leads to promotion to department head. Those with graduate training can expect to advance to higher levels. Often the next step is vice president or assistant administrator. This could lead to an appointment as CEO.
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CompensationSalaries of health managers depend on the type of facility, geographic location, the size of the staff and budget, and the policy of the board of governors. Health managers earn from $35,000 to over $97,000 a year. The average annual salaries are $60,300 for hospital CEOs and $51,200 for CEOs in nursing and personal care facilities.
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