Are you interested in a career as a clinical manager? If so, at some point you might have asked yourself, “What steps do I need to take to become a clinical manager?” First of all, in order to pursue a career as a clinical manager, you must earn an appropriate degree. There are some situations when it may be also necessary to pursue some extra training or certification. After the completion of all the necessary training, you will find that there are many exciting career opportunities. The field of clinical management is growing at a very good pace. This growth is due mostly to the increasing number of people in need of dependable healthcare. In order to become a clinical manager in a healthcare field, it is ideal to have some related experience. This experience should be in both the medical side and the administrative side of healthcare. The following article will cover an overview of clinical managers. It will include what the job description of a clinical manager is, as well as what type of career outlook a clinical manager can expect.
What is a Clinical Manager?
A clinical manager works within the healthcare field. More specifically, a clinical manager is a professional trained to manage and oversee a healthcare facility. The job of a clinical manager is very important. This is because clinical managers are responsible for coordinating all aspects of the healthcare facility that they oversee.
A clinical manager may oversee an entire facility, or only one specific department within a healthcare setting. They may also be responsible for overseeing a particular practice or group of physicians. The job duties of a clinical manager can be varied. This variation can be for many reasons. For one, the natural day to day responsibilities within the job will fluctuate. Also, there will be a difference in a clinical manager’s job description depending on where they manage. Duties of a clinical manager can include recruiting new workers and managing the clerical, medical and clinical staff. They also include setting budgets and developing and implementing new policies. Clinical managers are often responsible for performance review. They are also responsible for ensuring that employees under their care are functioning to the best of their abilities. Duties may also include making purchases for the facility and overseeing the day to day operations of the facility.
Clinical managers usually have extensive knowledge of clinical facilities, as well as some work experience in this area. Clinical managers will have dual duties because they manage not only the clinical side of a healthcare facility but also the administrative side.
What kind of a person makes a good clinical manager? 
The job of a clinical manager is multi-faceted. Their responsibilities are widespread and varied. With this in mind, there are various qualities that would be beneficial for someone looking to be successful in the field of clinical management. For one, it is of utmost importance to have good organizational skills. Good organizational skills will allow a clinical manager to be successful in balancing the various aspects of employees, schedules, budgets, and day to day operations. They are not only responsible for one facet of a healthcare facility. Because of this, it is important to be able to manage each of the different areas, and manage them well.
It is also important to have good people skills, as a clinical manager will have employees and staff that answer to them. To manage people well, it is important to be able to communicate clearly, to listen well, and to interact with others in a way in which they can tell that they are valued. These types of skills will result in good job performance for employees, as well as a happy staff.
It is also important for a clinical manager to have empathy. Anyone working within the field of healthcare needs to have empathy, as many of the people they will interact with are in less than ideal circumstances. An empathetic clinical manager will more likely be able to put themselves in the shoes of those they are working with. Having the ability to do this will likely result in effective decision making. This, in turn, will result in a facility that runs well with happy employees and happy patients.
How to Become a Clinical Manager – Do I need a degree to become a manager? 
An aspiring clinical manager should have at least a bachelor’s degree in health management, health administration, nursing, or business administration. In almost every situation, the job of clinical manager in a medical facility requires at least a bachelor’s degree. There are some cases in which employers prefer the clinical manager to have a master’s degree. The degree needed will often depend on the job that you are pursuing.
Many jobs do require only a bachelor’s degree. However, if you are interested in managing a larger facility or medical practice, then it is likely worth it to pursue an additional degree. Students in a master’s level program would need to complete courses in health services management, law and ethics, health information systems, accounting and budgeting, human resources administration, and health economics. Common master degree programs for clinical managers include an MBA in health management, or a Master of health leadership. These degrees are ideal because they combine the administrative skills and healthcare skills needed for this unique position.
In addition to earning the degree, the aspiring clinical manager would most likely need to complete an internship working in an administrative position. This internship would allow them to obtain hands-on training. This would also give them the opportunity to gain some real life experience. There are times when it may be beneficial to seek an entry level job as a clinical manager at a smaller healthcare facility. Working at a smaller facility will likely allow you to gain some experience managing people right away. Managing opportunities like this might be harder to gain if you immediately enter the field working for a larger healthcare facility.
It is also very important to note that if the clinical manager plans to work in a nursing home, he or she must be licensed. This licensure is required in each of the 50 states. Some states also require additional licensure if the clinical manager is working in an assisted-living facility. The licensure requirements vary from state to state, but most of the states require the candidate to pass a certification exam to become licensed. The actual certification exam can also vary from state to state. Both of the clinical manager certification exams are state-specific. There are various agencies that offer certification. You will need to complete your undergraduate education in the appropriate field before being eligible for the necessary certification. Further information can be obtained through the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards.
Career Outlook for Clinical Manager
Clinical managers are grouped under the category of medical and health services managers by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These professionals expect to see an employment growth of 28 percent during the decade of 2021-2031, according to the Bureau. The elderly population is aging and therefore needing continued healthcare. The aging population is the strongest factor behind the expected job growth for medical and health services managers. The increasing use of electronic health records also puts clinical managers in demand. The average yearly salary for medical and health services managers is $111,680.
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Working in a healthcare facility in any capacity can be very challenging and yet very rewarding. This is especially true for a clinical manager because they are involved in helping others on a daily basis. Individuals who choose to become a clinical manager in a healthcare field usually have many career opportunities. Any type of healthcare facility, whether big or small, will need a clinical manager in order to run in an efficient manner. Clinical managers will have the opportunity to ensure the medical facility runs as smoothly as possible. This will be a very rewarding experience, both for the clinical manager and for all those connected to the medical facility.
MPH staff, 2023