For those individuals who are interested in starting a career or changing their existing career to Healthcare Management (HCM), you should know exactly what these professionals do on a day-to-day basis. The responsibilities of Healthcare Managers and Administrators vary slightly depending upon the setting in which they work. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, HCM professionals are responsible for:
- Working with other healthcare professionals to improve the efficiency and quality in the delivery of direct healthcare services.
- Staying abreast of changes and new laws and regulations in order for the healthcare facilities where they work to adequately comply with those regulations.
- Supervising assistant Healthcare Administrators in healthcare facilities that are large enough to employ them.
- Management of the finances of the Healthcare Facility, such as managing overhead costs, patient fees and billing.
- Creation of work and shift schedules for both direct care providers and other administrators.
- Representation of the facility at investor meetings or at meetings of any governing boards.
- Keeping and organizing records of the facility’s services, such as the number of inpatient beds currently being used by patients.
- Communication with members of the medical staff and department heads.
It is obvious that Healthcare Managers must be capable of multitasking and tackling many different responsibilities simultaneously. In addition to these general responsibilities, HCM professionals will also have facility specific responsibilities.
Responsibilities of Nursing Home Administrators
Nursing Home Administrators are responsible for managing staff, admissions, finances, and care of the building, as well as care of the residents in nursing homes. These professionals must be fully licensed according to the licensing requirements set forth by the state.
Responsibilities of Clinical Managers
Clinical Managers are responsible for overseeing a specific department, such as nursing, surgery, or physical therapy, and have specific responsibilities based on that specialty. These managers must create and implement policies, goals, and procedures for their departments. They are also responsible for the evaluation of the overall and individual quality of the staff’s work. Finally, Clinical Managers must develop reports and budgets.
Responsibilities of Health Information Managers
Health Information Managers are responsible for the maintenance and security of all private patient records. They must stay up to date on evolving information technology as well as current or proposed laws regarding health information systems and privacy. Health information managers must ensure that databases are complete, accurate, and accessible only to authorized personnel.
Responsibilities of Assistant Administrators
Assistant Administrators work under the top administrator in larger facilities and often handle daily decisions. Assistants may be responsible for directing activities in clinical areas, such as nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records or health information.
Depending upon the setting and the level of employment, Healthcare Managers have a multitude of responsibilities. While it may sound overwhelming initially, for individuals in the field of HCM these various daily responsibilities creates an exciting, ever-changing career where boredom is never an option. If you are seeking an innovative career with a variety of day-to-day responsibilities, the field of Healthcare Management is for you.