The term “health services manager” encompasses individuals in many different positions who plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. Health services managers include both generalists-the administrators managing or helping to manage an entire facility-and health specialists-the managers in charge of specific clinical departments or services that are found only in the health industry. Larger facilities typically have several assistant administrators to aid the top administrator and to handle day-to-day decisions. They may direct activities in clinical areas such as nursing, surgery, therapy, food service, and medical records; or the activities in nonhealth areas such as finance, housekeeping, human resources, and information management. In smaller facilities, top administrators may handle more of the details of day-to-day operations. For example, many nursing home administrators directly manage personnel, finance, operations, and admissions.

Health services managers must be familiar with management principles and practices. Some learn from work experience. However, formal education is usually necessary for advancement. For most CEO positions, a graduate degree in health services administration, nursing administration, or business administration is required. For some generalist positions, employers seek applicants with clinical experience (as nurses or therapists, for example) as well as academic preparation in business or health services administration. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in health administration are offered by colleges, universities, and schools of public health, medicine, allied health, public administration, and business administration. There are also some certificate or diploma programs, generally lasting less than 1 year, in health services administration and in medical office management. A master’s degree-in hospital administration, health service administration, long term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration-is regarded as the standard credential for most generalist positions in this field. However, a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions and a few top positions in smaller operations, and for some middle management jobs in larger ones. Bachelor’s degrees may not be needed in smaller nursing homes, physicians’ offices, and other facilities. Appropriate experience or certificates and diplomas are sometimes acceptable. For clinical department heads, a degree in the appropriate field and work experience are usually sufficient, but courses in health services administration are helpful.

• 4 year Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate Degree

Employment of health services managers is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005 as health services continue to expand and diversify. Hospitals will continue to employ the most managers, although the number of jobs will not be growing as fast as in other areas. Employment in home health agencies and nursing and long term care facilities will grow the fastest, due to an increased number of elderly who will need care. Demand in medical group practices will grow, too. As medical group practices and HMO’s become larger and more complex, more job opportunities for department heads should emerge. Health services managers in hospitals will face very keen competition for upper level management jobs, a reflection of the pyramidal management structure characteristic of most large organizations. In nursing homes and other long term care facilities, job opportunities for individuals with strong business and management skills will continue to be good.

Health services managers have training or experience in both health and management. Other occupations that require knowledge of both fields are public health directors, social welfare administrators, directors of voluntary health agencies and health professional associations, and underwriters in health insurance companies and HMO’s.

$190,500

• Avila University
• Central Michigan University In Kansas City
• Devry University
• Keller Graduate School Of Management
• Lindenwood University
• Maryville University
• Ottawa University - Kansas City
• Southeast Missouri State University
• Southwest Missouri State University
• St. Louis University School Of Public Health
• Truman State University
• University Of Kansas - Edwards Campus
• University Of Missouri - Columbia Department Of Health Service Management & Informatics
• Webster University

• American Association Of Homes And Services For The Aging
• American College Of Health Care Administrators
• American College Of Healthcare Executives
• American Public Health Association
• Association Of Mental Health Administrators
• Association Of Schools Of Allied Health Professions
• Association Of Schools Of Public Health
• Association Of University Programs In Health Administration
• Center For Health Administration Studies, University Of Chicago
• Kansas Hospital Recruiters Association
• National Association Of Health Services Executives
• National Environmental Health Association
• National Nurses In Business Association
• National Nursing Staff Development Organization
• Society For Public Health Education