What does a Health Services Manager do?
Health service managers plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They may manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. They stay abreast of the latest technology and need the readiness to adapt to healthcare laws and regulations. Health service managers improve efficiency and quality. They ensure their facility is up-to-date and compliant with laws and regulations and recruit, train, and supervise staff.
Health service managers handle facility finances, including patient fees and billing, and create employee work schedules. They prepare and monitor budgets and spending to ensure departments operate within their funding limits, and they represent the facility at meetings or on governing boards. Health service managers keep organized records of facility services including numbers of inpatient beds used during a time frame and communicate with medical staff and department members. Health services managers need a bachelor's degree in health administration, health management, nursing, or business administration.
- Maintain a monthly budget for the health services department.
- Assure home health, hospice and ancillary care providers communicate their visits and provide necessary documentation of their visit.
- Provide timely feedback and performance evaluation reviews with staff.
- Participate in creating resident care plans and ensuring they are followed.
- Assist with the training of aides in tasks required for a safe and compliant medication delivery system.
- Conduct regular coordination of care plan conferences with each resident and responsible family members.
- Maintain current task list for caregivers and updates timely as ADL changes occur.
- Become familiar with the service plan program and all of the reports it can create.
- Demonstrated ability to appropriately delegate responsibility with necessary authority without relinquishing his/her overall responsibility and accountability for the delegated task.
- Review policies and procedures periodically and make changes as necessary.
- Respond to suggestions promptly and in writing if necessary.
- Prepare and analyze reports on health center operations as needed.
- Continually seek to improve the work environment, processes, and staff relations.
- Participate in local, state and national meetings relevant to program areas.
- Assess residents for change in level of care.
- Represent the organization at meetings, community events, and conferences, as appropriate.
- Provide intervention to respond to emergencies and concerns.
- Monitor and evaluate programs for efficiency, cost effectiveness and compliance.
- Promote a positive relationship with outside providers and other agencies in the community.
- Manage staffing levels and establish overall budget for area of responsibility.
- Act in a way that indicates understanding and accurate interpretation of others' concerns, feelings, strengths and limitations.
- Function as activity manager for assigned program areas and strategic plan measures.
- Assist in preparing job descriptions and policy manuals for nursing department.
- Bachelor's Degree in business or related experience.
- Experience in a consulting position.
- Demonstrated strong judgment and critical thinking skills.
- Experience in budget planning.
- Sound time management and attention to details.
- A leader and problem solver.
- Collaborative spirit with team and clients.
- Fluency in HIPAA policies and procedures as well as clinical practices.
- Dexterity, flexibility, and professionalism at all times.
- Demonstrated time management skills.
Health Services Manager Career Path
Learn how to become a Health Services Manager, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Health Services Manager Insights
UnitedHealthCare“It was really sad because I wanted to stay with UHC but my manager created an unbearable work environment.”
Enlivant“Work and home life balance”
Otterbein SeniorLife“Great people to work with”
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield“Not great work life balance”
Earth Fare“Progressive pleasant place to work”
Saskatchewan Health Authority“Poor work life balance.”
Highlands at Wyomissing“The facility is nice I guess.”
Trilogy Health Services“The pay is good.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of a Health Services Manager
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