What healthcare management careers offer the highest amount of patient interaction? This is a basic question asked by many individuals interested in going into this career field. They want to work on the managerial side of healthcare while still keeping in contact with patients. Take a look at a few examples of health management careers that may be appealing to people who want to interact with patients.
Nursing Home Administrator
A nursing home administrator is in charge of the daily operations in a long term care facility. This professional manages the budget, directs the medical staff and makes sure that the facility has the supplies and materials it needs to operate with efficiency. In addition, a nursing home administrator interacts with the patients who live in the facility as well as family members who visit them. A successful nursing home administrator takes the time to get to know the interests and background of each patient. This contributes to the friendly, comfortable atmosphere of this kind of facility.
Nurse Manager
The job of a nurse manager is similar to a medical services manager. Specifically, a nurse manager is in charge of hiring nurses and overseeing their work. Nurse Managers are employed by hospitals, clinics and home healthcare companies. A competent nurse manager is always trying to improve the level of care provided to patients. This professional must interact with patients to determine the quality of care they are receiving from the nurses who serve them. A nurse manager gains insight by looking at things from a patient’s point of view.
Nutrition Services Manager
This healthcare management career has to do with getting the proper meals to patients in a long term care facility, hospital or clinic. A nutrition services manager looks at the recommendations of a patient’s physician and dietician to determine the types of meals that the person will receive. This professional also oversees meal preparation to ensure that kitchen staff members are adhering to health codes and sanitary practices. A nutrition services manager interacts with patients to see if their meals are satisfactory. If a patient wants to add something to his or her meal, the nutrition services manager checks with the person’s doctors before making any changes.
Director of a Rehabilitation Center
There are a variety of work environments for someone who wants to become the director of a rehabilitation center. This professional may manage a skilled nursing facility that provides physical and occupational therapy to patients. Or, the individual may direct the day to day operations of a rehabilitation center that treats people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of the responsibilities of this job include hiring staff members, equipping the rooms in the facility and helping to admit new patients. A director of any type of rehabilitation center interacts with patients to make sure they are getting the care they need to recover. Personalized attention is important when a patient is going through the process of recovering from an injury or breaking a longtime addiction.
These are just a few examples of rewarding careers in the field of healthcare management. Those looking for healthcare management careers that offer the highest amount of patient interaction can find them in practically any area of medicine.
Related resource:
Top 20 Graduate Programs in Health Care Management in the West