Median annual earnings of medical and health services managers were $61,370 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $47,910 and $80,150. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,460, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $109,080. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical and health services managers in 2002 were as follows:
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $65,950 |
| Home health care services | 56,320 |
| Outpatient care centers | 55,650 |
| Offices of physicians | 55,600 |
| Nursing care facilities | 55,320 |
Earnings of medical and health services managers vary by type and size of the facility, as well as by level of responsibility. For example, the Medical Group Management Association reported that, in 2002, median salaries for administrators were $78,258 in practices with fewer than 7 physicians; $92,727 in practices with 7 to 25 physicians; and $125,988 in practices with more than 26 physicians. According to a survey by Modern Healthcare magazine, median annual compensation in 2003 for managers of selected clinical departments was $71,800 in respiratory care, $79,000 in physical therapy, $84,500 in home healthcare, $85,100 in laboratory services, $89,100 in rehabilitation services, $89,500 in medical imaging/diagnostic radiology, and $98,400 in nursing services. Salaries also varied according to size of facility and geographic region.
Healthcare is a business and, like every other business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly. The occupation, medical and health services manager, encompasses all individuals who plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare. medical and health services managers include specialists and generalists. Specialists are in charge of specific clinical departments or services, while generalists manage or help to manage an entire facility or system.
The structure and financing of healthcare is changing rapidly. Future medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with evolving integrated healthcare delivery systems, technological innovations, an increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. They will be called upon to improve efficiency in healthcare facilities and the quality of the healthcare provided. Increasingly, medical and health services managers will work in organizations in which they must optimize efficiency of a variety of interrelated services—for example, those ranging from inpatient care to outpatient followup care.
Large facilities usually have several assistant administrators to aid the top administrator and to handle daily decisions. Assistant administrators may direct activities in clinical areas such as nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records, or health information. (Managers in nonhealth areas, such as administrative services, computer and information systems, finance, and human resources, are not included in this statement. For information about them, see the statements on management occupations elsewhere in the Handbook.)
In smaller facilities, top administrators handle more of the details of daily operations. For example, many nursing home administrators manage personnel, finance, facility operations, and admissions, and have a larger role in resident care.
Clinical managers have more specific responsibilities than do generalists, and have training or experience in a specific clinical area. For example, directors of physical therapy are experienced physical therapists, and most health information and medical record administrators have a bachelor’s degree in health information or medical record administration. Clinical managers establish and implement policies, objectives, and procedures for their departments; evaluate personnel and work; develop reports and budgets; and coordinate activities with other managers.
In group medical practices, managers work closely with physicians. Whereas an office manager may handle business affairs in small medical groups, leaving policy decisions to the physicians themselves, larger groups usually employ a full-time administrator to help formulate business strategies and coordinate day-to-day business.
A small group of 10 to 15 physicians might employ 1 administrator to oversee personnel matters, billing and collection, budgeting, planning, equipment outlays, and patient flow. A large practice of 40 to 50 physicians may have a chief administrator and several assistants, each responsible for different areas.
Medical and health services managers in managed care settings perform functions similar to those of their counterparts in large group practices, except that they may have larger staffs to manage. In addition, they may do more work in the areas of community outreach and preventive care than do managers of a group practice.
Some medical and health services managers oversee the activities of a number of facilities in health systems. Such systems may contain both inpatient and outpatient facilities and offer a wide range of patient services.
.Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, as the health services industry continues to expand and diversify. Opportunities will be especially good in offices of physicians and other health practitioners, home healthcare services, and outpatient care centers. Applicants with work experience in the healthcare field and strong business and management skills should have the best opportunities.
Hospitals will continue to employ the most medical and health services managers over the projection period. However, the number of new jobs created in hospitals is expected to increase at a slower rate than in many other industries, as hospitals focus on controlling costs and increasing the utilization of clinics and other alternate care sites. Medical and health services managers with experience in large facilities will enjoy the best job opportunities, as hospitals become larger and more complex. Employment will grow the fastest in practitioners’ offices and in home healthcare agencies. Many services previously provided in hospitals will continue to shift to these sectors, especially as medical technologies improve. Demand in medical group practice management will grow as medical group practices become larger and more complex. Medical and health services managers will need to deal with the pressures of cost containment and financial accountability, as well as with the increased focus on preventive care. They also will become more involved in trying to improve the health of their communities. Managers with specialized experience in a particular field, such as reimbursement, should have good opportunities.
Medical and health services managers also will be employed by healthcare management companies who provide management services to hospitals and other organizations, as well as to specific departments such as emergency, information management systems, managed care contract negotiations, and physician recruiting.
.Medical and health services managers must be familiar with management principles and practices. A master’s degree in health services administration, long-term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration is the standard credential for most generalist positions in this field. However, a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities and at the departmental level within healthcare organizations. Physicians’ offices and some other facilities may substitute on-the-job experience for formal education.
For clinical department heads, a degree in the appropriate field and work experience may be sufficient for entry. However, a master’s degree in health services administration or a related field may be required to advance. For example, nursing service administrators usually are chosen from among supervisory registered nurses with administrative abilities and a graduate degree in nursing or health services administration.
Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in health administration are offered by colleges, universities, and schools of public health, medicine, allied health, public administration, and business administration. In 2003, 67 schools had accredited programs leading to the master’s degree in health services administration, according to the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.
Some graduate programs seek students with undergraduate degrees in business or health administration; however, many graduate programs prefer students with a liberal arts or health profession background. Candidates with previous work experience in healthcare also may have an advantage. Competition for entry to these programs is keen, and applicants need above-average grades to gain admission. Graduate programs usually last between 2 and 3 years. They may include up to 1 year of supervised administrative experience, and course work in areas such as hospital organization and management, marketing, accounting and budgeting, human resources administration, strategic planning, health economics, and health information systems. Some programs allow students to specialize in one type of facility—hospitals, nursing care facilities, mental health facilities, or medical groups. Other programs encourage a generalist approach to health administration education.
New graduates with master’s degrees in health services administration may start as department managers or as staff employees. The level of the starting position varies with the experience of the applicant and the size of the organization. Hospitals and other health facilities offer postgraduate residencies and fellowships, which usually are staff positions. Graduates from master’s degree programs also take jobs in large group medical practices, clinics, mental health facilities, nursing care corporations, and consulting firms.
Graduates with bachelor’s degrees in health administration usually begin as administrative assistants or assistant department heads in larger hospitals.
All States and the District of Columbia require nursing care facility administrators to have a bachelor’s degree, pass a licensing examination, complete a State-approved training program, and pursue continuing education. A license is not required in other areas of medical and health services management.
Medical and health services managers often are responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of facilities and equipment and hundreds of employees. To make effective decisions, they need to be open to different opinions and good at analyzing contradictory information. They must understand finance and information systems, and be able to interpret data. Motivating others to implement their decisions requires strong leadership abilities. Tact, diplomacy, flexibility, and communication skills are essential because medical and health services managers spend most of their time interacting with others.
Medical and health services managers advance by moving into more responsible and higher paying positions, such as assistant or associate administrator, or by moving to larger facilities.
.Medical and health services managers have training or experience in both health and management. Other occupations requiring knowledge of both fields are insurance underwriters and social and community service managers.
Information about undergraduate and graduate academic programs in this field is available from:
For a list of accredited graduate programs in medical and health services administration, contact:
For information about career opportunities in long-term care administration, contact:
For information about career opportunities in medical group practices and ambulatory care management, contact:
For information about medical and healthcare office managers, contact:
They coordinate and direct support services to organizations as diverse as insurance companies, computer manufacturers, and government offices. Specific duties for these managers vary by degree of responsibility and authority. First-line administrative services managers directly supervise a staff that performs various support services. Administrative services managers who work as facility managers plan, design, and manage buildings and grounds in addition to people. Tasks within these broad categories may include space and workplace planning, budgeting, purchase and sale of real estate, lease management, renovations, or architectural planning and design.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos002.htm
This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. Job Zone Examples These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals.
Summary of: http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/11-9111.00
Health services managers include generalists and specialists. The structure and financing of health care is changing rapidly. They will be called upon to improve efficiency in health care facilities and the quality of the health care provided. In smaller facilities, top administrators handle more of the details of daily operations. Facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals operate around the clock, and administrators and managers may be called at all hours to deal with problems.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20002001/68.htm
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A master's degree is the standard credential for most positions, although a bachelor's degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities. Employment will grow fastest in practitioners' offices and in home healthcare services. Applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business and management skills should have the best opportunities. The medical and health services manager occupation encompasses all individuals who plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of healthcare. Medical and health services managers include specialists and generalists.
Summary of: http://healthcare.monster.com/articles/medicalmanager/
Like every other business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly, especially during times of change. The term "health services manager" encompasses individuals in many different positions who plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. Future health services managers must be prepared to deal with evolving integrated health care delivery systems, restructuring of work, and an increased focus on preventive care. CEO's make long-term institutional plans by assessing the need for services, personnel, facilities, and equipment and recommending changes such as opening a home health service. For example, directors of physical therapy are experienced physical therapists, and most medical records administrators have a bachelor's degree in medical records administration.
Summary of: http://www2.jobtrak.com/help_manuals/outlook/ocos014.html
Nature of the Work Health care is a business, albeit a special one. Like every other business, it needs good management to keep it running smoothly, especially during times of change. They will be called upon to improve efficiency in all health care facilities, while continually improving quality of the health care provided. CEO's make long-term institutional plans by assessing the need for services, personnel, facilities, and equipment and recommending changes such as opening a home health service. (Because the nonhealth departments are not directly related to health care, these managers are not included in this statement.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh9899/15.htm
A master’s degree is the standard credential for most positions, although a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller facilities. Employment will grow fastest in practitioners’ offices and in home healthcare services. Applicants with work experience in healthcare and strong business and management skills should have the best opportunities. The occupation, medical and health services manager, encompasses all individuals who plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare. medical and health services managers include specialists and generalists.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos014.htm
A combination of business management and health care education and training is most appealing to employers. Medical and health services managers work to make sure that the people who come through their doors receive the best possible care. But like other management professionals, they must also keep an eye on costs. For example, the director of a physical therapy department may be a licensed physical therapist. Make High School Count Take plenty of math and science all through high school.
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