Health Care Managers

Managers of hospitals and health care facilities organize and oversee personnel, equipment, and auxiliary services. They hire and supervise personnel, handle budgets and fee schedules charged to patients, and establish billing procedures. In addition, they help plan space needs, purchase supplies and equipment, oversee building and equipment maintenance, and arrange mail, phones, laundry, and other services for patients and staff. In large health care institutions, many of these duties are delegated to assistants or to various department heads. These assistants may supervise operations in such clinical areas as surgery, nursing, dietary, or therapy, as well as in administrative areas such as purchasing, finance, housekeeping, and maintenance. In smaller health care institutions, health care managers and administrators are responsible for managing daily operations.

The health services administrator, or clinical manager, works closely with the institution's governing board to develop plans and policies. Following the board's directions, the administrator may carry out large projects that expand and develop hospital services. Such projects include organizing fund-raising campaigns and planning new research projects. Health information managers maintain and secure patient records.

Health services managers meet regularly with their staffs to discuss departmental goals and to address problems. Managers may organize training programs for nurses, interns, and others in cooperation with the medical staff and department heads. Health care executives also represent the health care facility at community or professional meetings.