Health Services Manager Job Description:
Health services managers plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. Generalists manage an entire facility, while specialists manage a department.
Health Services Manager Employment Facts:
Medical and health services managers held about 262,000 jobs in 2006:
- About 37 % worked in private hospitals
- 22 % worked in physicians' offices or nursing care facilities
- Others worked in home healthcare services, Federal government healthcare facilities, ambulatory facilities run by state and local governments, outpatient care centers, insurance carriers, and community care facilities for the elderly.
Educational Requirements for Health Services Managers:
Generalists should have a Master's degree in health services administration, long-term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration. A bachelor's degree and work experience is sometimes acceptable in smaller facilities in lieu of a master's degree. For clinical department heads sometimes only a degree in the appropriate field and work experience are required.
Other Requirements for Health Services Managers:
Nursing care facility administrators in all states and the District of Columbia must have a bachelor�s degree and pass a licensing examination. They must also complete a state-approved training program and take continuing education courses.
Advancement Opportunities for Health Services Managers:
A health services manager may advance by moving into a more responsible and higher paying position or by moving to a job in a larger facility.
Job Outlook for Health Services Managers:
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.
How Much Do Health Services Managers Earn?:
Median Annual Earnings in the Industries Employing the Largest Numbers of Medical and Health Services Managers (U.S., 2006)
- General medical and surgical hospitals: $78,660
- Outpatient care centers: $67,920
- Physicians' offices: $67,540
- Nursing care facilities: $66,730
- Home health care services: $66,720
A Day in a Health Services Manager's Life:
A health services manager working in a large facility will have assistant managers who direct activities in clinical areas, including nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records, or health information
A health services manager working in a smaller facility will manage personnel, finance, facility operations, and admissions.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Medical and Health Services Managers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos014.htm (visited July 28, 2008).
