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What is health services management?��

is a multidisciplinary field combining aspects of business, health policy and science with the goal of improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. It is integral to healthcare governance and involves leading and managing healthcare systems.

Professionals in this field , such as public health systems, nursing homes, hospitals and entire hospital networks. Health services management, in other words, might look different depending on the setting. Consider the following environments:

• Hospitals: Health services managers might oversee specific departments or the entire hospital. They’re responsible for compliance with laws and regulations, improvements in efficiency and quality in patient care, and budget-related matters.
• Nursing homes: In this setting, health services managers sometimes hold the title of administrator and are typically responsible for staffing, admissions, budgeting and resident care.
• Clinics: Smaller clinics might rely on health services managers to oversee day-to-day operations, including hiring and training staff and managing budgets.
• Public health departments: Managers who work in public health typically coordinate public health programs and policies. They also tackle staff management duties.

What is a health services manager?

A health services manager,��also known as a , is an administrator who��coordinates important aspects of a healthcare environment. These professionals might address such tasks as planning and implementing operations, managing facilities and overseeing employees.

During a single week, health managers might��oversee nurse training, purchase equipment, plan budgets and create staff schedules. Broken down, their duties include the following:

• Operational management: Health services managers’ primary job is to run a tight ship and ensure each department functions smoothly. They also focus on efficiently managing resources and implementing organizational goals.
• Financial management: Staying on (or below) budget is a big part of this job. Health services managers monitor expenses and revenue to ensure stable financials. They oversee budgets, financial planning and billing to accomplish this goal.
• Human resources: Ensuring the hospital or clinic is staffed adequately means that health services managers work closely with HR. They’re usually in charge of staffing, recruiting, performance evaluations and training.
• Strategic planning: Long-term strategies are essential to improve patient outcomes and run a hospital efficiently. Health services managers are professionals at this too. They typically know they must stay ahead in a fast-changing environment that can include emerging diseases and new policies.
• Policy development: Health services managers ensure their facilities comply with safety standards and quality assurance. This generally means that they need to stay abreast of federal regulations and figure out how to create policies to keep their organizations in compliance.

Remember, each hospital’s or health system’s needs may dictate different responsibilities at different times.��

How to become a health services manager��

People who pursue a health services management career might take the as part of their path:

1.�������� Earn a bachelor’s degree, usually in healthcare or business

2.�������� Gain practical experience in a hospital or healthcare facility, usually in a clinical or administrative capacity

3.�������� Complete licensure and certifications

4.�������� Continue education with advanced degrees or certificates, or both, depending on educational and career goals

Let’s walk through how to become a medical and health services manager and discuss the importance of each step.

Skills needed to become a health services manager��

Candidates for health services manager roles need many skills to do their jobs. The right combination of hard skills (technical knowledge) and soft skills can make all the difference in your career.

Understanding healthcare laws and ethics��

Ongoing education plays an important role in the career of health services managers. They must understand laws and ethics that affect their responsibilities and how those policies might change over time.

Laws provide a rigid framework for healthcare settings. They might and safety and regulate billing. The same laws could also inform internal policies on patient safety and risk.

As far as ethical considerations, health services managers should understand how��ethics��affect patient consent, how to ensure equal access to care and what patient family rights entail. An organization’s ethical policies should also provide clarity during a dispute or conflict of interest.

Nye Clinton, associate dean for the College of Health Professions at ��������ʿ�����¼, says, “As ethical issues in healthcare often entail conflicting issues, it is important for health services managers to have a deep understanding of the field, regulatory requirements and their organization’s core values to help them navigate that complexity.”��

Health services management career progression and opportunities��

As health managers gain experience, they might qualify for more senior leadership positions within a healthcare organization. Growth opportunities can include administrative or department leadership. They might aspire to additional roles with increased responsibility, where they may collaborate with stakeholders, clinicians and community representatives to shape policy and protocols.

Other health services managers go on to become��consultants. They can use their knowledge and skills to help healthcare companies��improve operations��across departments.��

Health services manager salary and job outlook��

Several important factors influence the salary of virtually every healthcare employee. For example, location, years of experience, active certifications and employer can all impact income.

As of May 2023,��medical and health services managers earned an annual wage , with a median of��$110,680, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.

Positions are ,��much faster than other occupations, according to BLS. This should create an��estimated 54,700 new positions each year��for aspiring medical and health services managers.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of ��������ʿ�����¼. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. ��������ʿ�����¼ does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

BLS publishes BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ��������ʿ�����¼ students or graduates.

What do health managers do?

Health managers plan, direct and coordinate health and medical services. They can manage at a facility- or department-wide level. Their responsibilities include setting policy, managing staff, budgeting and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. They’re a bridge between care providers and the administrative aspects of healthcare.

Is health services management a good career?

Health services management can be an excellent career for several reasons. First, there’s a growing demand for these professionals. Because health managers can work in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient care centers, there’s plenty of potential to find a company that fits your needs. Finally, health managers play a critical role in the quality of healthcare for patients, so it’s a fulfilling job in that you can make a positive impact on people’s lives.

What is the difference between health services management and healthcare administration?

Health services management and healthcare administration have few differences. While health managers might focus on the broader business and strategic aspects of a healthcare organization, healthcare administrators tend to concentrate on the daily operations and personnel management within a facility. However, in many respects these two roles are similar and the titles are often used interchangeably.

Earn your degree at ��������ʿ�����¼��

��������ʿ�����¼�� has degree programs that can help you prepare for a career in health services management.

Healthcare degrees can be earned��100% online, allowing you the��flexibility��to pursue your educational goals without putting your life on hold. Read more about healthcare degree options available at UOPX:

• Bachelor of Science in Health Administration: This degree prepares students to learn important business aspects of health management to help organizations improve patient care and outcomes. Key skills include marketing trends, accounting and quality care analysis.��
• Bachelor of Science in Health Management: This degree is specifically designed for allied health professionals, such as medical assistants, who want to pursue a career in healthcare management. You’ll learn critical skills like financial management, regulatory and compliance policies and data analysis.
• Master of Health Administration: Students learn to generate core business strategies based on innovative concepts developed in the program, evaluate industry and organizational dynamics in the healthcare environment and construct strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders across the health sector to achieve business objectives with a current or desired employer.
• Master of Health Administration with a concentration in Health Care Compliance and Privacy: This program equips you with skills to navigate the complexity of healthcare laws, rules and regulations to help keep patients and providers safe. The program educationally prepares students to sit for the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) examination.
• Doctor of Health Administration: If you’re a health professional seeking greater responsibility in shaping the future of the health sector, the Doctor of Health Administration can help you get there. You’ll meet the challenges inherent to today’s healthcare landscape, including economic fluctuations, burgeoning patient needs and industry-changing legislation.
• Online healthcare certificates: Explore five certificates that include options for undergraduate and graduate students in areas like health administration and medical records.