About This Career

Plans, directs, or coordinates medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Support Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Directs, supervises and evaluates work activities of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, maintenance, and other personnel.
• Develops and maintains computerized record management systems to store and process data, such as personnel activities and information, and to produce reports.
• Plans, implements, and administers programs and services in a health care or medical facility, including personnel administration, training, and coordination of medical, nursing and physical plant staff.
• Conducts and administers fiscal operations, including accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting.
• Maintains awareness of advances in medicine, computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment, data processing technology, government regulations, health insurance changes, and financing options.
• Establishes work schedules and assignments for staff, according to workload, space, and equipment availability.
• Monitors the use of diagnostic services, inpatient beds, facilities, and staff to ensure effective use of resources and assesses the need for additional staff, equipment, and services.
• Directs or conducts recruitment, hiring, and training of personnel.
• Manages change in integrated health care delivery systems, such as work restructuring, technological innovations, and shifts in the focus of care.
• Maintains communication between governing boards, medical staff, and department heads by attending board meetings and coordinating interdepartmental functioning.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel
• Overtime work