What Does a Health Services Manager Do?

Do you already work in healthcare? Do you think you could make even more of an impact from the top? A career as a Health Services Manager might help you do just that! As a Health Services Manager, you would plan, direct, and coordinate the business activities of healthcare providers. You might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. In other words, you would handle both business and healthcare-related tasks to ensure everything functions as smoothly as possible to meet your end goal of providing patients the best care possible.

Prospective Health Services Managers usually have some work experience in an administrative or a clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility, plus a Bachelor’s degree, to qualify for the role.

Typical Responsibilities of a Health Services Manager

Here are 8 tasks you might perform as a Health Services Managers:

• Schedule, Supervise, and Evaluate the Staff: Managing the staff will probably be your most important responsibility because those healthcare professionals have the most direct contact with patients. You need to make sure they do their jobs well. You’ll need to ensure that all shifts are covered and that everyone is following policies and procedures correctly. Most importantly, you need to make sure everyone’s number one priority is patient care.
• Assist in the Hiring Process: Whether it’s medical or office staff, as a Health Services Manager, you will be actively involved in recruiting, interviewing, and training new hires. For a major hospital, you might just start the process, but for a small practice, you may do it all, from finding prospects to onboarding new hires.
• Ensure Regulatory Requirements Are Followed: There are numerous business, safety, and healthcare laws that you and your staff will need to follow. As their manager, you’ll need to set a great example and then train your staff how to work ethically and equitably. That means everyone will need to understand and follow HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), and other rules of healthcare departments and facilities.
• Select Computer Hardware and Software: Healthcare runs on technology today—and it’s always changing. It will be your responsibility to monitor and evaluate technology. When the time comes for an upgrade, it will be up to you to form and lead a team to choose the right computer equipment and software to conduct the daily business of your organization.
• Manage the Finances: Depending on your role within your organization, you may be tasked with taking inventory and ordering office supplies, or you may need to run payroll and decide on hiring and promotions. You may also be required to supervise billing and coding for insurance reimbursement. And, you may need to evaluate the profitability of your department or the entire practice.
• Propose and Implement Quality Improvements: Quality control is critical in a medical environment and there are always better ways to deliver service. One of your responsibilities will be to research best practices in the industry, look for improved care methodologies, and discover efficiencies. Once you evaluate whether those methods fit your organization and its goals, you’ll need to implement them with your staff.
• Establish and Update Policies and Procedures: From signing in patients to medical billing, everything in your practice will need to have a documented procedure. You will also need clearly defined rules and protocols for staff. What happens when someone is out sick? How are vacations and promotions handled? What are the perks of the job? You need to communicate it all and also update the particulars as your practice grows and demands change.
• Create Plans for Ongoing Professional Development: Medical services personnel need to stay on top of all the latest in healthcare treatments and regulatory requirements. As their manager, you’ll need to ensure everyone receives the professional development training they need to do their job effectively.

Are Health Services Managers in Demand?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Health Services Manager jobs are projected to grow much faster than average through 2028 and currently have a median salary of $100,980. With the large baby-boom population aging, and with clinics providing more services that previously took place only in hospitals, there is an increasing demand for healthcare services that will require experienced and dedicated Health Services Managers.

If you have experience as an administrator or a clinician in any type of medical practice, get your bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management to become a Health Services Manager. With a degree in hand, you can take your career in many different directions. In addition to being a Medical Office Manager, consider these specialties:

• Patient Finance Manager
• Health Insurance Manager
• Physician Practice Manager
• Assisted Living or Nursing Home Manager
• Laboratory Manager

At National American University, we offer an online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management that will help prepare you for a rewarding career. Call 800-209-0182 to speak to a counselor or fill out the form to request more information.