Health Care Managers

Several years' experience in health care support or assistant manager positions are required for top managerial jobs.

Much of the work of health services managers consists of dealing with people—the hospital's governing board, the medical staff, the department heads and other employees, the patients and their families, and community leaders and businesses. Therefore, health care managers must be tactful, sympathetic, and good listeners.

In addition, administrators must be able to coordinate the health care facility's many related functions. They need to understand, for instance, financial operations, purchasing, organizational development, and public relations. They must also have the ability to make some decisions with speed and others with considerable study. And, of course, health services executives should have a deep interest in the care of sick and injured patients. Other important traits include leadership ability, a detail-oriented and analytical personality, and an interest in learning throughout one's career.