How to become A Medical Manager

From people management to performance and quality management to resource and budget management, Medical Managers do it all to ensure healthcare facilities make good on their promise to give every patient the best possible attention and care.

• Health Service Manager
• Medical and Health Service Manager
• Healthcare Manager
• Clinical Manager
• Healthcare Executive
• Healthcare Administrator

What do Medical Managers do?

A Medical Manager would typically need to:

• Develop, direct, coordinate, and oversee the efficient administration of top-of-the-line medical and healthcare services
• Use their organisational and leadership skills, healthcare knowledge and business acumen to ensure a safe, smooth, and profitable operation 
• Ensure the daily operations of the healthcare facility or a specific unit or service area within run smoothly
• Collect and analyse data as the foundation for planning and managing useful projects and systems
• Formulate and implement relevant organisational/departmental policies and directives that are compliant with standard laws and regulations
• Recruit, train, supervise, evaluate, and mentor clinical, clerical and administrative staff; create practical work schedules for all staff members
• Maintain open lines of communication with senior medical and non-medical staff
• Work with external agencies, such as social services, voluntary groups, and private corporations
• Monitor the finances of the facility, including patient fess and billing, so everything happens smoothly and promptly
• Set realistic departmental budgets, that allow for some slack in case of contingencies
• Negotiate and maintain mutually beneficial contracts and service delivery agreements with vendors
• Use sub-contractors to maintain the premises and take proper care of catering, cleaning, transportation, and security
• Organise and manage medical and non-medical equipment and supplies to avoid shortages, while sticking to budget constraints
• Organise clinical governance and audits; liaise with insurance companies for updates and patient verification
• Maintain accurate records of services offered; plan and implement effective strategic changes to improve service delivery
• Produce regular progress reports based on data extrapolated for quality assurance and monitoring purposes
• Represent relevant departments and teams at investor meetings or on governing board committees

Medical Managers work out of offices in diverse healthcare settings; they spend their time between a computer in their office and meetings. Participation in out-of-town events, conferences, and meetings may necessitate travel.

Regular interaction with physicians, surgeons, nurses, medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, patients, and insurance agents is typical.

Full-time Medical Managers may expect 40-hour work weeks, possibly working overtime and weekends in facilities that are open 24/7, such as hospitals and nursing homes. 

Your duties may require you to be on-call during evenings or weekends. There are opportunities to work part-time or job share.

Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the work pressure.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Medical Managers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, attending job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Medical Managers are generally employed by:

• Hospitals & Clinics
• Government Agencies
• Healthcare Facilities
• Health Maintenance Organisations
• Private Healthcare Entities
• The Armed Forces
• Nursing Homes
• Group Medical Practices
• Residential Care Facilities
• Insurance Carriers

Healthcare associations, such as the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.

Affiliated Medical Managers may attend conventions, seminars and dinners frequented by peers, mentors and other industry leaders. The events help them keep up with the latest breakthroughs and developments in the field, including plum jobs.

Professional associations provide their members with continuing education, networking opportunities and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Stress and frustration inherent in decisions that must include the best interests of the patients and the facility
• A demanding and fast-paced work environment that involves skilful handling of multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
• High-octane situations that call for a cool head and quick decisions
• Physical and mental exhaustion from running around to keep things running well

Graduate management training schemes and apprenticeships funded by government or private sector education providers can help you realise your aim of becoming a successful Medical Manager.

You will benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. One may hear countless stories and obtain valuable hands-on experience from more experienced professionals who can turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Nurses, doctors and therapists with significant experience can qualify for the role, as would candidates with management experience in other sectors. Any experience as an administrative assistant, assistant department head, medical records and health information technician, or financial clerk will also help.

Short-term paid/voluntary work at hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities offers a taste of the career, gives valuable insight into the healthcare sector,, helps build useful contacts, and improves one’s prospects of getting a permanent job. 

The experiences may also help determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts in healthcare management to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Aspiring Medical Managers usually complete a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, health administration, health information management, nursing, community health, business administration, public policy, public health, or social services.

Accountancy, human resource management, information technology, maths, biology, psychology, purchasing and supply chain management, sociology, public administration, or social studies are other fields that may get you a foothold in the industry. 

A master’s or doctoral degree in the fields mentioned above may appeal to some candidates, while others make do with an associate degree. 

Some programmes may allow the students to specialise in a specific type of healthcare facility (hospital, mental health facility, or a group medical practice) or a particular aspect of healthcare management.

An ideal education programme will be a judicious mix of business-related courses and courses detailing medical terminology, health information systems, hospital organisation and management, human resources administration, strategic planning, marketing, law and ethics, and health economics.

Individuals with prior experience in administrative or junior management roles can apply for the position of Medical Manager after acquiring the necessary qualifications in management, facilities management, human resources, or finance.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.

In high school, take college preparatory courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, business management, accounting, marketing, and psychology. English and speech classes will help you develop your communication and research skills.

Certification demonstrate a Medical Manager’s competency in a skill set, typically through work experience, training and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Certification in professional management, medical management, medical and health service management, or health information administration from globally accredited organisations can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of advancement.

Applicants to the post of Medical Manager in a nursing home or assisted-living facility must pass location-specific exams and obtain accredited certifications in nursing home administration and assisted living administration, respectively.

Although not mandatory for most positions, some employers may mandate a registered nurse or social worker licence.  

Medical Managers may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Medical Managers who can aspire to move into top executive positions within the facility where they work or transfer to larger facilities. 

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Around ten years of successfully handling larger and more complex projects, it is possible to become the Director or Chief Excecutive of the facility or be invited by the competition to lead their facility. 

Medical Managers with an entrepreneurial bent of mind can become Consultants, and ones with a passion for teaching can become Professors and train the next generation. In contrast, those with an inquiring mind can become Researchers.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation and the desire to learn a broad range of skills. 

Flexibility and geographical mobility can accelerate career advancement. Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable and transferable skills.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, on-ground experience in a healthcare facility, excellent communication and managerial skills, and sound business acumen have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for public well-being and career progression in the healthcare sector. It embraces several new learning objectives, educational methodologies and novel technological developments, especially in education, management and IT. CPD also helps Medical Managers renew desirable certifications and licences regularly.

Most employers provide extensive on-the-job training that includes shadowing current Medical Managers and performing duties under their supervision until the recruit can complete tasks independently.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion, workshops and professional publications educate, influence, support and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Medical Managers.

Alongside honing one’s communication, interpersonal, analytical, decision-making, organisational, and leadership skills, it is equally important to stay abreast of advances in healthcare technology and data analytics. 

In addition, Medical Managers may have to learn coding and classification software and electronic health record systems (EHR) if their employers adopt these technologies.

The Impact of Telemedicine

Patients are finding it more accessible to receive adequate healthcare via telephone calls and apps that provide virtual consultations with qualified doctors and nurses.

Medical Managers who appreciate the trend and adapt to the changes by familiarising themselves with the requisite technologies have a good shot at managing telemedical services and operations.

Patients Come First

With patient experience and satisfaction gaining long-due recognition, and Medical Managers understand the need to meet patient expectations during their stay at the facility.

The Medical Manager has a critical role in ensuring that every patient feels they have been well-cared for from the time they call to make an appointment until they get discharged from the facility.

Future Outlook

With an eight per cent salary increase in the last five years and a twenty-eight per cent employment growth projection over the next ten years, medical management fulfils all expectations of a promising career. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Medical Managers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They fully own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, full-time Medical Managers have company-sponsored health benefits, insurance and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best.

Anxiety and depression cause the global economy to lose nearly one trillion USD per year in productivity.

Medical Managers are resourceful multi-faceted professionals intent on striking the right balance between optimal patient care and gainful business development.

Focus on the patient experience. Take care of your employees. Improve scheduling. Invest in training. Strengthen your privacy and security systems.