Medical and health services managers are leaders who bridge administrative operations and patient care by planning, directing and coordinating healthcare services. They are typically responsible for the daily operations of facilities such as hospitals, clinics or nursing homes, and for managing areas like finance, human resources and compliance.
The demand for medical and health services managers is growing due to an aging population, medical advancements and a focus on wellness. This is coupled with increasingly complex regulations that require managers to navigate intricate laws, manage finances and ensure compliance.
These factors have created a diverse array of career paths for medical and health service managers, including roles like hospital administrator, nursing home administrator, clinic director, health information manager, nursing services manager and healthcare consultant. With further education, such as Arkansas State University’s online Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management program, professionals can advance their careers.
Understanding the Role of Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers take on several roles, depending on their organization’s needs, including managing staff, creating work schedules, developing and monitoring budgets and ensuring compliance with all healthcare laws and regulations. They also serve as liaisons between clinical staff and executive leadership, coordinate communication across departments, and implement strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency and patient care quality:
- Staff and operations management: Recruiting, hiring, training and supervising medical and administrative staff, creating and managing work schedules and ensuring adequate staffing levels and evaluating the work of personnel.
- Financial management: Developing and managing budgets for the facility or specific departments, monitoring finances and patient billing and ensuring the organization adheres to economic and budgetary goals.
- Compliance and control: Ensuring the facility complies with state, federal and other legal requirements, setting and maintaining standards of care to ensure patient safety and quality of care, and developing and implementing new policies and procedures to improve services.
- Strategic planning and representation: Developing goals and objectives for the organization, representing the facility or department at meetings with governing boards or investors and keeping and organizing detailed records of services, patient outcomes and financial data.
The most common settings in which medical and health service managers work include hospitals, physician offices, nursing and residential care facilities, outpatient care centers and government or public health agencies. Beyond these traditional healthcare settings, medical and health service managers are also increasingly employed by insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms, medical device manufacturers, and health technology startups as the industry continues to expand and diversify:
- Hospitals: Work within specific departments or across the entire facility. This is often a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.
- Physician offices: Managers here focus on day-to-day operations and patient interactions. Most physician offices operate with less urgency than a hospital.
- Nursing and residential care facilities: These roles typically involve long-term patient care and facility operations, including strategic planning and compliance.
- Outpatient care centers: Outpatient care centers span a variety of settings, including medical clinics, rehabilitation facilities and even in-hospital organizations.
- Government and public health agencies: Managers in these environments oversee public health initiatives and healthcare administration at a larger scale.
- Other settings: Additional workplace settings could include health insurance companies and managed care organizations.
Career Paths in Medical and Health Services Management
Career paths in medical and health service management range from frontline roles, including clinic or office management, to executive positions. Here are some of the most common career paths in the field:
- Hospital and health system administrator: Manage hospital departments and ensure efficient operation.
- Clinical department manager: Oversees the administrative and medical tasks of a clinical department.
- Medical practice manager: Manages the day-to-day operations of a medical office or clinic.
- Health information director: Oversees the management of health information and records within a department or organization.
- Specialty roles: Positions in ambulatory care, mental health services and public health organizations also require service management skills.
Education Requirements and Path to Becoming a Medical and Health Services Manager
To become a medical and health services manager, a bachelor’s degree, typically in healthcare administration, health management or a related field like business or nursing, is required. Many advanced roles require a master’s degree and gaining relevant work experience in a clinical or administrative setting is essential. An MBA in Healthcare Management from A-State can typically be completed in one to two years for full-time students.
Additional certifications and credentials can enhance career opportunities, especially in particular areas such as quality, finance, compliance and administration. Some common examples include the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) for leadership, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) for quality assurance and the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) for regulatory knowledge.
Medical and Health Services Manager Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health services managers have a median annual wage of $117,960 as of May 2024. Government positions have the highest median salary at $132,620, while nursing and residential care facilities have an average of $99,250. The highest 10% were over $219,080.
Employment is projected to grow by 23% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. This rapid growth is due to an increasing aging population and advancements in medical practice, regulation and patient care. The factors influencing compensation most directly are experience, location, organization size and specialization.
Skills and Competencies Developed Through an MBA in Healthcare Management
An MBA in Healthcare Management develops several core competencies in areas such as financial management, strategic planning, healthcare policy, leadership and data analytics. Here are some of the most essential skills learned:
- Financial management and budgeting expertise: Students learn to understand budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and investment in a healthcare context. They apply core business concepts like accounting, economics and operations management, as well as identify and address financial, management and other organizational risks.
- Strategic planning and operations management: Graduates are equipped with the skills to develop and implement strategies to align with an organization’s goals, oversee and execute projects efficiently and effectively manage day-to-day facility operations.
- Healthcare policy and regulatory compliance knowledge: Students gain key competencies in understanding how government regulations and policies impact healthcare organizations, how to ensure an organization operates ethically within legal boundaries and the best ways to apply business principles to create innovative and effective solutions for healthcare challenges.
- Leadership, communication and team management abilities: Graduates become ethical leaders capable of managing people and fostering a productive, empathetic work environment. They authentically communicate with a wide range of healthcare professionals, build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and make ethics-based decisions to safeguard patient and employee rights.
- Data analytics and performance improvement capabilities: Students learn to use various sources to identify inefficiencies and improve performance, implement and apply methodologies for process improvement within healthcare operations and understand and utilize technology to improve healthcare delivery and management.
Next Steps: Pursuing Your MBA in Healthcare Management
An MBA in Healthcare Management offers diverse career opportunities in administration, operations and specialized fields, along with strong leadership potential. With opportunities in hospitals, pharmaceutical organizations, insurance companies and health tech firms, your degree equips you to step into impactful roles in healthcare.
The healthcare industry continues to grow rapidly, creating steady demand for qualified professionals with business expertise and clinical understanding. Your MBA positions you to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes and shape the future of healthcare delivery across multiple sectors.
Learn more about A-State’s MBA in Healthcare Management program.