Are you interested in entering the healthcare field by working in health services management? Health services managers work to plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. Some health services managers work to manage:
- a healthcare facility
- specific clinical area or department
- a medical practice for a group of physicians
Health services managers must be knowledgeable. They must follow changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology. Medical and health services managers are the professionals in charge of planning and directing the delivery of healthcare services. Medical and health services managers play a big part in improving the quality and efficiency of services provided in a healthcare facility. Because of this, health services managers must have a strong knowledge of healthcare laws, regulations, and technologies. Medical and health services managers must also have experience working in leadership or managerial positions. Here are the steps on how to become a medical and health services manager. They can be taken to learn the skills needed to land one of the health services managers’ positions and become a healthcare leader. Read on to learn how to become a health service manager.
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Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
To be a viable candidate, health services managers must earn a bachelor’s degree. Most healthcare facilities and healthcare consultancy agencies in need of medical and health services managers look for applicants who have at least a medical and health services bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. This typically takes four years to complete. Students enrolling in a four-year bachelor’s degree program can usually choose from a few different majors to enter the medical and health services field. Medical and health services managers’ education includes medical and business and management related courses. Most facilities hire medical and health services candidates who have degrees in the following majors:
- Healthcare administration
- Healthcare management
- Public health administration
- Nursing
- Business administration
Aspiring medical and health services managers can research different medical and health services managers’ degree programs. They can choose the one that best meets their career goals. In most cases, they choose programs that offer both healthcare administration and business courses. Both of these will help the student develop the business acumen needed in a healthcare setting to provide health services. Medical and health services managers’ schools may also require practical experience to graduate. This makes graduates more able to get medical and health service manager jobs.
Sample Curriculum
Many of the available bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration programs prepare up and coming health services managers for administrative careers dealing with the business end of a healthcare facility. Medical and health services managers’ schools help students learn about many things. They do not just study managing the staff and finances. They also study the daily operations of the facility, whether it’s a nursing home, clinic, or hospital.
Students’ coursework gives them the skills needed to fill their professional requirements. Additionally, students are usually required to complete a supervised internship to obtain hands-on training. Students may also opt to join professional organizations to get practical experience.
Depending on the program, some healthcare administration programs offer students the chance to specialize in specific areas. These may include health information systems, health management, long-term care, or emergency management. Course topics in the baccalaureate program include:
- Public health regulations
- Medical records management
- Accounting
- Information technology in healthcare
- Operations management
- Healthcare marketing
- Quality management
- Healthcare law
Earn a Master’s Degree
Want to know how to become medical and health services managers in today’s competitive work environment? Students who want to have a competitive edge when competing for health services managers’ work often choose to earn a master’s degree. They can choose from one of two options: earning a professional master of business administration or a terminal master’s degree. While both programs meet the requirements to earn a graduate degree, the focus of each one is different.
The focus of the MBA program is to prepare students to deal with the business side of healthcare administration. MBA programs generally offer students the chance to specialize in healthcare management or healthcare administration. The terminal master’s degree may include some technical courses. However, it is not as business-focused as the MBA. Its curriculum includes more courses about healthcare policies.
Master’s in healthcare administration programs are also offered through distance learning. Online programs are ideal for individuals already working in a healthcare facility. They may be unable or unwilling to quit their job to earn the degree. The student can continue to work and gain more experience while earning the degree.
Sample Curriculum
Students enrolled in the master’s degree program can expect to be in college for an additional two years. They will learn the skills for how to become a medical manager. Many of the core courses may have already been completed in the bachelor’s degree program. Thus, students can take courses more focused on their areas of interest. The curriculum for a master’s degree in healthcare administration varies between programs. It may or may not offer specific areas of concentration. Courses in the following subjects can be expected:
- Market analysis and planning
- Healthcare leadership
- Negotiations
- Strategic decision-making
- Health policy and management
- Emergency management
- Financing health care
- Quality management in health services organizations
Get Administrative Experience in a Hospital
As important as it is for medical and health services managers to have a degree, it’s just as important that they have administrative experience. In fact, many would say that gaining work experience is a necessity. Many healthcare facilities may not even hire an applicant without relevant work experience. Most academic programs offer students the opportunity to obtain experience by requiring students to complete internships. However, these are typically temporary positions. If you want to know how to become a health services manager, find work in a healthcare setting to see a medical and health services manager in action.
Candidates can search for entry-level administrative positions working in healthcare facilities. This could include hospitals, clinics, and even private practices. Students in a graduate program are advised to do this while earning the degree. In this way, he or she will be satisfying two qualifications at once.
Obtaining Certification
Each state may vary in their licensing requirements. Most states require a license for medical and health services manager administrators working in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Candidates can obtain this licensure by passing an exam through the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards. Even if medical and health services managers are not required to obtain licensure by a state, a specific healthcare facility may require that step.
Organizations like the American College of Health Care Administrators, Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, and the American Health Information Management Association all offer different certifications. Eligibility to take certification exams differs from one agency to another. However, most need completion of an educational program and some work experience.
What Are the Duties of a Medical and Health Services Manager?
Also known as healthcare administrators or healthcare executives, medical and health services managers plan, control and coordinate health and medical services. Depending on the organization in which they work, they may be in charge of a department, a specific clinical area, or an entire facility. They may also be the one in charge of a team of physicians. While their main job is to improve the type of healthcare services delivered in the facility, they also have many other duties. Medical and health services manager jobs often include duties such as:
- Developing departmental objectives and goals
- Creating employee work schedules
- Preparing budgets
- Monitoring spending to ensure the facility or department stays within monetary limits
- Managing patient billing and fees
- Making sure the facility complies with regulations, statutes and laws
- Hiring, training, and supervising employees
- Organizing the facility’s services, such as number of supplies required
- Communicating with department heads and other members of the staff
Job Growth and Salaries
The need to provide better healthcare to patients continues to grow. This results in the demand for qualified health services managers. Labor statistics reveal that health services managers continue to be in high demand. Based on the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the field could see a growth of 32 percent between 2020 and 2030. According to these labor statistics projections, an average of about 51,800 openings for health services managers are projected each year over the 10 years. Many of those openings for health services managers are expected from replacing workers who leave the occupation or leave the workforce. Those hoping to fill one of these health services managers jobs can begin their research now on how to enter the exciting and growing field of health services management. With a median pay of $104,280 per year, health services managers’ work can be financially rewarding as well. Those working as medical health services managers are paid well above average for their skills and knowledge.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations help health services managers keep current in their profession. Education, networking, and other services assist them in this way. Those in medical and health services can benefit through their membership for the ongoing education. They also gain through networking within the profession, information for those entering the field, scholarship information, and more.
Getting connected as a healthcare management student or a medical and health services professional is key to professional advancement. Becoming a member in a professional organization helps provide important professional connections. It also provides options to extend personal development and growth to maintain a high level of skill and professionalism in the field. Check this list to find a professional organization that will help propel you forward in this interesting profession.
The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM)
The AAHAM is a leading organization for medical and health services professionals. This organization promises “to provide education, certification, networking, and advocacy” for those individuals involved specifically in the revenue cycle and management of healthcare professionals. The AAHAM offers regular educational trainings, important updates and other resources. Dues (currently $210) are worth the investment for individuals looking to begin health services managers’ work.
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
The ACHE provides those in health services with a nationwide network as well as local and regional support. As a member, you are automatically enrolled in one of over 80 regional chapters within the organization. Regional chapters provide members with local education programs, career resources, and medical and health services volunteer opportunities. ACHE dues are currently based on a sliding scale ($150 per year for the first two years, $250 for years three to five, and $325 after five years).
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
AHIMA is a health management organization that serves those currently working in medical and health services, and those interested in entering the field. The mission of this organization is to “improve the delivery of quality healthcare by providing management professions with the appropriate tools, resources, and information to raise the standards of practice and care”. AHIMA’s focus is specifically on changing and improving the standard care practices. AHIMA’s annual membership fee is currently $175.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
HFMA specifically focuses on providing professionals with the tools they need to advance their careers. This organization serves its members by providing training opportunities through conferences, seminars, eLearning courses, certification opportunities, and more. This organization helps students as they progress within the field, and it provides networking opportunities.
The National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM)
NAHAM works to promote best practices, maintain high standards, and establish subject matter expertise among medical and health services professionals. NAHAM provides networking functions, educational opportunities, and new certification options. NAHAM’s annual membership fee begins at $97.50.
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