What is a Medical and Health Services Manager?
A Medical and Health Services Manager, also known as a healthcare administrator or executive, plans, directs, and coordinates the business activities of a healthcare facility. Their main goal is to ensure that the facility runs efficiently and provides high-quality patient care. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, including managing budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations, and supervising staff.
Typical Education
A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum education required, although some positions may prefer or require a master's degree in a field such as public health, business administration, or health administration.
Salary Range in the United States
The median annual salary for a medical and health services manager was $117,960 in May 2024. The lowest 10% earned less than $69,680, while the highest 10% earned more than $219,080.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers
Day in the Life
How to Become a Medical and Health Services Manager
- Obtain a Bachelor's Degree: Start with a bachelor's degree in a relevant field like healthcare administration, business administration, or public health.
- Gain Healthcare Experience: Most prospective managers need work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility.
- Pursue a Master's Degree (Optional): A master's degree, particularly a Master of Health Administration (MHA) or an MBA with a healthcare concentration, can lead to higher-level positions and greater responsibility.
- Develop Key Skills: Focus on building a strong foundation in a variety of skills, including analytical reasoning, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Stay Current with Regulations: Healthcare is a highly regulated field, so a commitment to continuous learning and staying informed about new laws is essential.
Essential Skills
- Leadership: The ability to motivate and guide a team of healthcare professionals.
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential for collaborating with a variety of people, including staff, patients, and insurance agents.
- Analytical Skills: The capacity to evaluate data and a facility's operations to find ways to improve efficiency and meet goals.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulousness is crucial for organizing and maintaining schedules, billing information, and other records.
- Technical Skills: The capacity to stay up-to-date with new technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs).
Key Responsibilities
- Planning and Coordination: Planning, directing, and coordinating the business activities of healthcare providers.
- Budget and Finance Management: Preparing and monitoring budgets, managing finances, and overseeing patient billing.
- Staff Management: Recruiting, training, scheduling, and supervising staff members.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that the facility is in full compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
- Quality Improvement: Identifying and implementing strategies to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare services.
Five Common Interview Questions
- Can you describe a time when you had to handle a difficult situation with a patient or staff member?
- This behavioral question evaluates your interpersonal and problem-solving skills in a high-stakes environment.
- How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and regulations in the healthcare industry?
- This question assesses your commitment to continuous learning and your proactive approach to compliance.
- What is your experience with managing budgets and financial planning in a healthcare setting?
- The interviewer wants to gauge your technical skills and your experience with a core responsibility of the job.
- How do you ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and industry standards?
- This highlights your understanding of the importance of compliance and your methods for ensuring it.
- Describe a successful project you led that improved the quality of patient care or streamlined operations.
- This allows you to demonstrate your leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills with a real-world example.
Questions?
Have questions about this career? Post in the Healthcare Career Community!