Featured image for post: What Does a Healthcare Manager Do?

What Does a Healthcare Manager Do?

Have you ever wondered who’s behind the smooth operation of a hospital, clinic, or nursing home? Well, that’s where healthcare managers come in! They are the masterminds behind the scenes, responsible for the day-to-day management of these medical facilities. Despite this critical role, many people do not know what they do behind the scenes.

From coordinating staff schedules to managing budgets, these skilled administrators ensure that everything runs like clockwork. Barton College has prepared a sneak peek of healthcare management job descriptions so that you can be well informed.

Overview of Healthcare Manager Roles

Healthcare administrators in North Carolina are like ordinary corporate managers. The only difference is that they manage healthcare facilities rather than businesses. Typical healthcare manager job descriptions suggest administrators manage an entire organization. Alternatively, they may manage any department, from finance to nursing to medical records.

Healthcare Manager Duties and Responsibilities

Healthcare managers have a single job — to ensure that the facilities they manage function optimally. In addition to general administrative duties, they have many other responsibilities to ensure the smooth operation of the facilities. Among the most important tasks are:

  • Human Resource Management. Healthcare managers ensure that their facilities have enough staff to run daily operations. In addition to staffing, they organize training, manage workloads, and set performance expectations. Sometimes they also conduct performance appraisals.
  • Compliance Management. Healthcare facilities are subject to strict regulations. These regulations range from qualifications to training to privacy. Healthcare facility leaders establish policies to ensure that their facilities comply with regulations. Leaders may also train staff to enforce compliance.
  • Budgeting. Financial planning is part of many healthcare management job descriptions. Managers develop budgets and make strategic decisions about resource allocation. They ensure that departments have adequate resources to provide quality services.
  • Policy and program development. Health managers develop key policies that govern service delivery. In addition, the manager provides the resources needed to implement the strategies.
  • Data Management. Data management is another task often mentioned in job descriptions for healthcare managers. Managers ensure that their facilities maintain high-security standards for data privacy. They develop policies to protect sensitive patient data. They also ensure that their facility meets established privacy requirements.

Where Do Healthcare Managers Work?

As a healthcare manager, you could manage anything from a bustling hospital to a cozy private practice or an innovative outpatient facility. That’s not all – there are also opportunities to work in nursing homes and cutting-edge medical laboratories.

Sometimes, healthcare managers work outside the clinical setting. They work in facilities such as:

  • Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies
  • Research centers
  • Medical supply companies
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Health insurance firms

What Can I Expect to Earn as a Healthcare Manager?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that healthcare managers earned an average annual salary of $101,340 in 2021.

Salaries vary depending on location, education, and job descriptions for healthcare managers. For example, entry-level managers earn about $60,780 per year. Their higher-level counterparts can earn up to $205,620 per year. Seniors make more money because they have more experience, and their jobs are more complex.

The level of education also determines the salary you take home. For example, healthcare managers with a master’s degree earn more than those with a bachelor’s degree.

How Do I Become a Healthcare Manager?

To become a healthcare manager in North Carolina, you need a bachelor’s degree in health management, the minimum requirement for entry-level management jobs. You can work as an assistant, program, or department manager.

You can also become a manager with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Barton College nurses have what it takes to manage a healthcare facility. They understand the needs and challenges of healthcare providers and patients. In addition, nurses have excellent management skills due to their strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

For higher-level leadership positions, you will need a master’s degree in management. Employers prefer employees with a master’s degree because they have an advanced understanding of the principles of healthcare administration, which means they can take on sensitive tasks.

With a master’s degree in healthcare management, you can work at the highest level. For example, you can work as an executive or operations manager. You can also work as a chief financial officer.

Ready to Start Your Nursing Career? Contact Barton College Today!

Whether you want to work as a nurse or a healthcare manager, our nursing program is best for you. It provides a solid foundation in clinical practice. The program also teaches management skills such as critical thinking.

It will qualify you not only as a nurse but also as a manager. You can lead staff, set policies, and keep healthcare facilities running smoothly. Our career team will familiarize you with healthcare management job descriptions.

You can also learn more about our admissions process to help you prepare for your bachelor’s degree.

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