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Medical and Health Services Managers

Career Overview

Career Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate medicine and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Industry: Management

Other Job Titles for Medical and Health Services Managers:

  • Administrative Services Managers
  • Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
  • Management Analysts
  • First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  • Demonstrators and Product Promoters
  • First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  • First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers
  • First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
  • Fishers and Related Fishing Workers
  • Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
Get Qualified!
This career may require a Degree in Healthcare Management.

Personality Profile

  • Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
  • Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
  • Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
  • Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
  • Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
  • Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

Common Work Tasks

  • Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
  • Establish objectives and evaluative or operational criteria for units they manage.
  • Direct or conduct recruitment, hiring and training of personnel.
  • Develop and maintain computerized record management systems to store and process data such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
  • Develop and implement organizational policies and procedures for the facility or medical unit.
  • Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting.
  • Establish work schedules and assignments for staff, according to workload, space and equipment availability.
  • Maintain communication between governing boards, medical staff, and department heads by attending board meetings and coordinating interdepartmental functioning.
  • Monitor the use of diagnostic services, inpatient beds, facilities, and staff to ensure effective use of resources and assess the need for additional staff, equipment, and services.
  • Maintain awareness of advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes, and financing options.
  • Manage change in integrated health care delivery systems, such as work restructuring, technological innovations, and shifts in the focus of care.
  • Prepare activity reports to inform management of the status and implementation plans of programs, services, and quality initiatives.
  • Plan, implement and administer programs and services in a health care or medical facility, including personnel administration, training, and coordination of medical, nursing and physical plant staff.
  • Consult with medical, business, and community groups to discuss service problems, respond to community needs, enhance public relations, coordinate activities and plans, and promote health programs.
  • Inspect facilities and recommend building or equipment modifications to ensure emergency readiness and compliance to access, safety, and sanitation regulations.
  • Review and analyze facility activities and data to aid planning and cash and risk management and to improve service utilization.
  • Develop or expand and implement medical programs or health services that promote research, rehabilitation, and community health.
  • Develop instructional materials and conduct in-service and community-based educational programs.
  • Organize and coordinate the work of staff and convention personnel for meetings to be held at a particular facility.
  • Receive and process advance registration payments, mail letters of confirmation, or return checks when registrations cannot be accepted.
  • Meet with clients to schedule and plan details of conventions, banquets, receptions and other functions.
  • Provide assistance to staff members by inspecting rooms, setting tables or doing laundry.
  • Book tickets for guests for local tours and attractions.
  • Establish personal offices in local districts or states, and manage office staff.
  • Evaluate the structure, efficiency, activities, and performance of government agencies.
  • Organize and maintain campaign organizations and fundraisers, in order to raise money for election or re-election.
  • Oversee expense allowances, ensuring that accounts are balanced at the end of each fiscal year.
  • Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.
  • Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
  • Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.
  • Harvest crops, and collect specialty products such as royal jelly, wax, pollen, and honey from bee colonies.
  • Install and shift irrigation systems to irrigate fields evenly or according to crop need.
  • Herd cattle, using horses or all-terrain vehicles.
  • Destroy diseased or superfluous crops.

Emerging Tasks

  • Collect payments and record data pertaining to funds and expenditures to monitor the revenue activity of the hotel or facility.
  • Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff, engaged in administering academic institutions, departments and/or alumni organizations.
  • Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
  • Oversee facilities management for the university, including construction, repair, and maintenance projects.
  • Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events/meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
  • Write grants to procure external funding, and supervise grant-funded projects.

Work Activities

  • Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  • Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  • Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
  • Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Get Qualified!
This career may require a Degree in Healthcare Management.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adhere to safety procedures
  • analyze financial data
  • analyze operational or management reports or records
  • assign work to staff or employees
  • compile data for financial reports
  • conduct or attend staff meetings
  • conduct training for personnel
  • confer with other departmental heads to coordinate activities
  • convert information into instructional program
  • develop instructional materials
  • develop plans for programs or projects
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • develop records management system
  • direct activities of physicians or technologists
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • direct and coordinate treatment program activities
  • enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
  • establish and maintain relationships with community organizations
  • establish and maintain relationships with health specialists or civic groups
  • establish employee performance standards
  • evaluate information from employment interviews
  • evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
  • hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
  • implement staff policies
  • inspect facilities to determine repair or replacement needs
  • interview job applicants
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • make presentations
  • make presentations on health or medical issues
  • orient new employees
  • oversee execution of organizational or program policies
  • perform safety inspections in health care setting
  • prepare reports for management
  • publicize job openings
  • recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
  • recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
  • research health improvement issues
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use facility management techniques
  • use health or sanitation standards
  • use negotiation techniques
  • use public speaking techniques
  • use research methodology procedures in health care
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • use oral or written communication techniques
  • use technical information in manufacturing or industrial activities
  • maintain job descriptions
  • manage contracts
  • monitor operational budget
  • negotiate labor agreements
  • obtain information from individuals
  • orient new employees
  • oversee execution of organizational or program policies
  • participate in staff training programs
  • prepare or maintain employee records
  • prepare reports for management
  • present information on human resource management issues
  • recommend action to ensure compliance
  • recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
  • recruit employees
  • resolve personnel problems or grievances
  • resolve worker or management conflicts
  • seek out applicants to fill job openings
  • use conflict resolution techniques
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use interviewing procedures
  • use knowledge of employee classification system
  • use negotiation techniques
  • use project management techniques
  • write employee orientation or training materials
  • schedule activities, classes, or events
  • schedule employee work hours
  • slaughter animals, fish, or poultry
  • study production records
  • transport passengers or cargo
  • understand second language
  • use animal disease control techniques
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use fish culturing techniques
  • use hand or power tools
  • use herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides or related products
  • use oral or written communication techniques
  • use plant disease control techniques

Tools & Technology Used on the Job

  • 3DGrid HIPAA Checkup
  • Alteer Office
  • American Medical Association CodeManager
  • ArticSoft FileAssurity
  • Bed Management Suite
  • Charting software
  • CliniTrend software
  • ColorSoft AutoMatch
  • ConceptDraw software
  • Contract management software
  • Current Professional Terminology CPT software
  • Database software
  • Desktop computers
  • DxCG RiskSmart
  • Electronic mail software
  • Emdeon HealthPro
  • e-MDs Bill
  • e-MDs Chart
  • e-MDs DocMan
  • e-MDs Schedule
  • Expert Health Data Programming Vitalnet
  • Graphic software
  • HCPro Staffing Analyzer
  • IMPAC Practice Management
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Inventory management software
  • Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice Management Software
  • Laptop computers
  • MEDITECH Medical and Practice Management MPM Suite
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word
  • Misys Healthcare Systems Misys Tiger
  • Misys Healthcare Systems software
  • NDCLytec software
  • Nuance PaperPort Professional
  • Personal computers
  • Relative Values for Physicians software
  • Scanners
  • SPSS software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • TeleTracking PreAdmit-Tracking
  • Web browser software
  • Yost Engineering CodeSearch Pro
  • Microsoft Dynamics NAV
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Front Page
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Office Visio
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows Server
  • Microsoft Word
  • Mid-range computers
  • Minicomputers
  • Mobile wireless network infrastructure software
  • Netscape Navigator
  • Netware servers
  • Network interface cards NIC
  • Novell Linux
  • Novell network software
  • Oracle E-Business Suite
  • Oracle JD Edwards OneWorld
  • Oracle software
  • Pegasus software
  • Performance monitoring tools
  • Performance Solutions Technology ManagePro
  • Personal computers
  • PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
  • Plumtree software
  • Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
  • Print servers
  • Provisioning software
  • QUALCOMM Eudora
  • Robot automation tool
  • Routers
  • Ruby on Rails
  • Samba
  • Scripting languages
  • Siebel Server Sync
  • SOX COBIT
  • Storage servers
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Sun Microsystems Java
  • Switches
  • Symantec Veritas File System
  • Symantec Veritas Volume Manager
  • Teleconferencing equipment
  • Telnet programs software
  • Tk software
  • Unix
  • Web authoring software
  • Web browser software
  • Web servers
  • Workstations
  • Zephyr EXTRA! Terminal Emulation

Education, Training & Experience

Overall Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Job Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Examples
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, physicists, school psychologists, and surgeons.

Salary & Wages

  • Average hourly wage (2007) -$37.01
  • Average annual wage (2007) - $76,990.00

Projected Employment Growth

  • Projected growth (2006-2016): 16.41%
  • Projected need (2006-2016): 42,985
  • Employment (2006): 261,925
Get Qualified!
This career may require a Degree in Healthcare Management.

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