Medical and Health Services Managers

Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, 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. Medical and health services managers must adapt to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology.

Duties

Medical and health services managers typically do the following:

• Develop goals and objectives related to efficiency and quality of healthcare services
• Ensure that the facility in which they work complies with laws and regulations
• Prepare and monitor budgets and manage finances, including patient fees and billing
• Recruit, train, and supervise staff members
• Create work schedules
• Represent the facility or department at investor meetings or on governing boards
• Keep and organize records of facility services, such as the number of inpatient beds used

Medical and health services managers set and carry out policies, goals, and procedures for their departments or facilities. Their duties include hiring, scheduling, and evaluating staff; monitoring compliance with state and federal guidelines; and developing reports and budgets. Responsibilities may vary by employer. For example, managers of large facilities may focus on broad oversight, while tasks for those in small departments might include ordering medical supplies and materials.

Medical and health services managers work with physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, medical records specialists, and other healthcare personnel. They also may interact with patients or insurance agents.

Medical and health services managers’ titles depend on their facility or area of expertise. 

The following are examples of types of medical and health services managers:

Nursing home administrators manage all aspects of a facility, including admissions and building maintenance, as well as care of its residents.

Clinical managers oversee a department, such as intensive care or physical therapy, and have responsibilities based on that specialty.

Health information managers ensure that databases of patient records are complete, accurate, and accessible only to authorized personnel.

Medical and health services managers held about 616,200 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of medical and health services managers were as follows:

Medical and health services managers may work on a team with other healthcare providers, such as licensed practical nurses and medical assistants.

Injuries and Illnesses

Medical and health services managers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as wearing shoes with slip-resistant soles and using proper lifting technique.

Work Schedules

Most medical and health services managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Evening or weekend work may be required in healthcare settings that operate around the clock, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Medical and health services managers may need to be on call in case of emergencies.

Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation; however, education requirements may vary. Prospective managers also typically need work experience in an administrative or clinical role in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

The median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $117,960 in May 2024.

Employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 23 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 62,100 openings for medical and health services managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.