Medical and Health Services Manager

What They Do:

Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. Medical and health services managers must direct changes that conform to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology.

Tasks might include:

• Improving efficiency and quality in delivering healthcare services

• Keeping up to date on new laws and regulations

• Managing finances of the facility, such as patient fees and billing

• Creating work schedules

• Keeping and organizing records of the facility’s services

• Representing the facility at investor meetings or on governing boards

• Communicating with members of the medical staff and department heads

• Supervising assistant administrators in facilities that are large enough to have them

Qualifications:

At minimum a bachelor’s degree is generally need to enter this profession. And many medical and health services managers also have master’s degrees in health services, long-term care administration, public health, public administration, or business administration.

What They Make:

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2016 median income was $96,540 per year.                                       

Where They Work:

Most medical and health services managers work in offices in healthcare facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes, and group medical practices.

Outlook:

Demand for workers in this profession is expected to grow by 17% between 2014 and 2024, faster than average for all occupations. Key areas of growth include nursing care facilities, medical group practices, and offices of health practitioners.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (visited December 2017).

Updated November 2018