Healthcare Managers, also called Healthcare Executives or Healthcare Administrators, are those employees that will handle the planning, direction, and coordination of medical and healthcare services. Healthcare Managers work in many capacities and they must be able to understand and implement the current changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology. With so many different types of Healthcare facilities throughout the country, Healthcare Managers and Administrators can be found working in a wide variety of settings.
Where do The Majority of Healthcare Managers Work?
Nearly fifty percent of healthcare managers work in hospitals or medical centers. Others are employed as managers in nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, outpatient health facilities, medical supply companies, health insurance companies, managed care facilities, rehabilitation centers in the community, home healthcare agencies, professional healthcare associations, centers that provide adult day care, group physicians practices, mental health centers, community health centers, drug treatment facilities, consulting firms for healthcare, government health agencies and other organizations.
Are the Specific Areas of Employment for Healthcare Management Careers Determined By the Level of Education?
There is a direct correlation between the levels of responsibility and the educational level of individuals in healthcare management positions.
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management is sufficient for some entry-level positions in Healthcare management as well as mid-management positions in smaller facilities. Those with concentrations in Healthcare Management can advance to higher levels of responsibility in larger operations. A Bachelor’s Degree prepares graduates to manage the finances, human resources, and daily operations of hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other related organizations.
- A Master’s Degree is now required for the majority of mid level or executive positions in Healthcare Management. These professionals will be prepared with the knowledge of current Healthcare policies and regulations as well as the marketing, organizational, behavioral, finance, human resources and healthcare management skills.
Specific areas of responsibility for a Healthcare Manager is determined by the level of experience and education. A Healthcare Management Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree will prepare graduates to enter careers in almost any medical management or supervisory position in billing and medical coding practices, coordinating medical benefits, improvement of the care and treatment of patients, supervising the business issues in a Healthcare facility providing quality health care as effectively and efficiently as possible. According to the 2012 United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, more than one third of all health care managers worked for general medical and surgical hospitals in 2011 with an average salary of $102,040 per year. Another nine percent of those with a Healthcare Management degree worked as practice managers in physician’s offices earning $93,770 per year. The top paid salaries were those employed as insurance and employee benefit funds managers, with averages salaries over $139,400 per year.
There are opportunities in almost every medical and healthcare setting. Each individual earning a Healthcare Management Degree can choose the setting that is most ideal for him or her. From hospitals to doctor’s offices; rehab facilities to pharmaceutical companies, Healthcare Managers can choose a setting that fits their needs and preferences.