The exact tide may vary from institution to institution, but the responsibilities are the same-to plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. There are two types of health services managers: generalists, who manage or help to manage an entire facility; and health specialists, who manage specific clinical departments or services found only in the health industry.
The top administrator must staff the hospital with both medical and non-medical personnel; provide all aspects of patient care services; purchase supplies and equipment; plan space allocations; and arrange for housekeeping items such as laundry, security, and maintenance. The administrator must also provide and work within a budget; act as liaison between the directors of the hospital and the medical staff; keep up with developments in the health care field including government regulations; handle hospital community relations; and sometimes act as a fund raiser.
In large facilities, the administrator has a staff of assistants with expertise in a variety of fields, but, in small and medium-sized institutions, the administrator is responsible for all of them.
Health specialists manage the daily operations of individual, specialized departments such as surgery, rehabilitation therapy, nursing, and medical records. These workers have more narrowly defined responsibilities than generalists. They also receive more specialized training and experience in their field.
In addition to working in hospitals, health services managers are employed by nursing homes and extended-care facilities, community health centers, mental health centers, outreach clinics, city or county health departments, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Others are employed as advisors and specialists by insurance companies, government regulatory agencies, and professional standards organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Some serve as commissioned officers in the medical service and hospitals of the various armed forces or work for the U.St Public Health Service or Veterans Administration.
Depending on the size of the institution, a new graduate might start as an administrative assistant, an assistant administrator, a specialist in a specific management area, a department head, or an assistant department head. In a small health care facility, the new graduate would start in a position with broad responsibilities, while in a large hospital the position might be narrow in scope with rotating work in several departments necessary to gain broad experience.
Places of Employment and Working Conditions
Health services managers work throughout the country in hospitals and health care facilities of all sizes.
Health services managers put in long hours. They are on call at all times for emergency situations that affect the functioning of the institutions. They have very heavy workloads and are constantly under a great deal of pressure.
Qualifications, Education, and Training
Health services managers should have health and vitality, maturity, sound judgment, tact, patience, the ability to motivate others, good communication skills, and sensitivity for people.
Good grades in high school are important. Courses should include English, science, mathematics, business, public speaking, and social studies. Volunteer work or a part-time job in a hospital is helpful.
Preparation for this career includes the completion of an academic pro-gram in health administration that leads to a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. degree. The various levels of degree programs offer different levels of career preparation. Most health care organizations prefer to hire administrators with at least a master's degree in health administration, hospital administration, public health, or business administration. Usually, larger organizations require more academic preparation for their administrative positions.
The administrators of nursing homes must be licensed. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, but all require a specific level of education and experience.
Potential and Advancement
Significant growth is projected for this field through the years to come as the increasing number of people 85 years old and over create a greater demand for health services.
The most opportunities will be in hospitals as well as in hospital subsidiaries that provide services such as ambulatory surgery, alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation, hospice facilities, or home health care. There will also be many opportunities in physicians' offices, outpatient care facilities, health and allied services, and nursing and long-term care facilities.
In spite of the tremendous growth in this field, there will be keen competition for upper-level management jobs in hospitals.
Health services managers advance as they move into higher paying positions with more responsibilities. They also may advance by transferring to another health care facility or organization.
Income
Salaries vary depending on the manager's level of experience and expertise, the type and size of health facility, the geographic location, and the type of ownership.
Additional Sources of Information
- American College of Health Care Administrators
- American College of Healthcare Executives
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration
