Top Jobs in Health Management
- Practice Manager
- Hospital Administrator
- Health Policy Analyst
- Health Information Manager
- Provider Relations Liaison
Health management jobs are highly sought after. Fortunately, with the population of graduates who are completing master’s degree and MBA programs, it is promising to learn that the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the need for health and medical services managers will grow by 20 percent in the next decade. Since this is dramatically higher than the national growth projected, health management has become a field that many schools are developing advanced-level programs for.
Anyone who wants to become a health services manager of any kind must first attain the appropriate level of education. Generally, most managers will need to possess a master’s degree in health management or a related field before being eligible for these administrative roles. Many will also have clinical experience in their work background. Here are five great jobs for prospective health services managers:
1. Practice Manager
One of the less chaotic positions in health services management is that of the practice manager. Practice managers handle all of the business operations in private practices and other clinics that are smaller in size. They will manage the billing, payroll, recruiting, scheduling, office orders, and more to ensure everything behind-the-scenes runs smoothly.
2. Hospital Administrator
There are several different types of hospital administrators that each work in different departments throughout the facility. It is the administrator’s responsibility to oversee budgeting, hiring physicians, update contracts, establish new policies, maintain compliance with laws, and other procedural tasks. Administrators average large salaries but their titles come with a great deal of stress.
3. Health Policy Analyst
Hospital policies must change on a regular basis as government agencies add amendments to the healthcare and reform laws. The health policy analyst is in charge of reviewing changes in regulations to determine what policies need to be changed within the facility. It is also the policy analyst’s job to look for possible changes that could lead to a reduction in the cost of care.
4. Health Information Manager
Health information managers are the technology specialists who will manage data, update databases, organize digital medical records, and coordinate how the information from department to department is communicated. Because Electronic Health Records are becoming a mandated requirement rather than an option, the BLS projects that demand for HIM professionals will remain high.
5. Provider Relations Liaison
Maintaining good relationships with physicians is a must within a network. One way to keep positive relationships with providers while giving excellent service to your patients is to offer a liaison who speaks the language of both. Liaisons communicate with providers and then translates the information into works that patients and communities understand to promote overall well being. This position may be available in hospitals but it is more likely to be found in a public health setting.
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Health managers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have a four-year degree with years of business experience and others have a master’s degree in clinical experience. Since the roles from job title to job title are so different, salaries can vary dramatically. According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for managers is $76,292 per year. It’s important to review the salaries for each of the health management jobs individually to see which ones pay the highest and have the best outlook when selecting a career.