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Health Care Administration and
Management Careers
Most healthcare management positions go to graduates of health care management programs. Click here for a list of colleges and universities offering healthcare administration degrees.
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As with any type of business, the business of medical care requires trained management personnel. Health services and health care managers are responsible for planning and coordinating healthcare delivery. Some health care administrators are specialists -- supervising a specific practice area or department, while others are generalists, responsible for an entire health care facility.
Healthcare administrators face unique challenges due to the changing nature of patient care, and the expected increase in the need for health care services with the coming retirement of the baby boom generation. Health care delivery is affected by numerous regulatory concerns which must be addressed. Managers are under constant pressure to hold down costs, and are working to improve efficiency and place a greater reliance on techniques such as managed care and outpatient services.
Healthcare managers have to be good decision makers. They frequently have responsibility for a physical plant with expensive, specialized equipment, and hundreds or thousands of employees. An understanding of finance, information systems, human relationships and leadership skills is essential to a successful career.
The Roles of Healthcare Managers in Different Sized Facilities
In large health care facilities, such as hospitals, several assistant administrators will be in charge of areas such as surgery, therapy, and nursing. Other assistants may be responsible for medical records and health information services. There will also be other managerial personnel in non health care related areas. Smaller facilities, such as nursing homes, will have a senior manager with responsibilities for most operational areas.
Part of the consolidation of the health care industry involves multiple physicians establishing a group practice. In smaller practices, administrative duties are frequently assigned to a medical office manager, who will coordinate patient relations, order supplies, and manage insurance reimbursement, billing, and financing. In group practices with more than ten physicians, a full time administrator is used to run the business operations. In the largest of group practices, a chief administrator may have several assistants, each one assigned to a specific area, such as patient flow, financing, or purchasing.
The work of health care managers and administrators can be demanding. Because many facilities are open around the clock, an administrator can be called in at any time to solve a problem. Despite the long hours, however, a career in health care management can be very rewarding.
Next: Education and Training Requirements for Healthcare Administrators