Medical and Health Services Managers
Nature of the work
Health care is a business and, like every business, it needs good management
to keep it running smoothly. Medical and health services managers, also referred
to as health care executives or health care administrators, plan,
direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. These workers are
either specialists in charge of a specific clinical department or generalists
who manage an entire facility or system.
The structure and financing of health care are changing rapidly. Future
medical and health services managers must be prepared to deal with the
integration of health care delivery systems, technological innovations, an
increasingly complex regulatory environment, restructuring of work, and an
increased focus on preventive care. They will be called on to improve efficiency
in health care facilities and the quality of the care provided.
Training, other qualifications, and
advancement
A master’s degree in one of a number of fields is the standard credential for
most generalist positions as a medical or health care manager. A bachelor’s
degree is sometimes adequate for entry-level positions in smaller facilities and
departments. In physicians’ offices and some other facilities, on-the-job
experience may substitute for formal education.
Education and training. 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, at the
departmental level within health care organizations, and in health information
management. Physicians’ offices and some other facilities hire those with
on-the-job experience instead of formal education.
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 2007, 72
schools had accredited programs leading to the master’s degree in health
services administration, according to the Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Management Education.
Job Outlook
Employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow faster
than average. Job opportunities should be good, especially for applicants with
work experience in the health care field and strong business management skills.
Employment change. Employment of medical and health services
managers is expected to grow 16 percent from 2006 to 2016,
faster than the average for
all occupations. The health care industry will continue to expand and diversify,
requiring managers to help ensure smooth business operations.
Managers in all settings will be needed to improve quality and efficiency of
health care while controlling costs, as insurance companies and Medicare demand
higher levels of accountability. Managers also will be needed to oversee the
computerization of patient records and to ensure their security as required by
law. Additional demand for managers will stem from the need to recruit workers
and increase employee retention, to comply with changing regulations, to
implement new technology, and to help improve the health of their communities by
emphasizing preventive care.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of wage and salary medical and health services
managers were $73,340 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $57,240
and $94,780. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,050, and the highest 10
percent earned more than $127,830. Median annual earnings in the industries
employing the largest numbers of medical and health services managers in May
2006 were:
| General medical and surgical hospitals |
$78,660 |
| Outpatient care centers |
67,920 |
| Offices of physicians |
67,540 |
| Nursing care facilities |
66,730 |
| Home health care services |
66,720 |
Earnings of medical and health services managers vary by type and size of the
facility and by level of responsibility. For example, the Medical Group
Management Association reported that, in 2006, median salaries for
administrators were $72,875 in practices with 6 or fewer physicians, $95,766 in
practices with 7 to 25 physicians, and $132,955 in practices with 26 or more
physicians.
According to a survey by the Professional Association of Health Care Office
Management, 2006 average total compensation for office managers in specialty
physicians’ practices was $70,474 in gastroenterology, $70,599 in dermatology,
$76,392 in cardiology, $67,317 in ophthalmology, $67,222 in obstetrics and
gynecology, $77,621 in orthopedics, $62,125 in pediatrics, $66,853 in internal
medicine, and $60,040 in family practice.
Related Occupations
Medical and health services managers have training or experience in both
health and management. Other occupations requiring knowledge of both fields are
insurance under writers and social and community service manager.
