Health Systems Management

Medical and health systems managers plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. Their responsibilities may include improving efficiency in the delivery of healthcare services, managing finances, overseeing records, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, preparing reports, and supervising staff. Medical and health service mangers must be adaptable to changes in healthcare laws, regulations, and technology. A medical and health systems manager may be a generalist or specialist. Specialty areas include patient care services, human resources, information systems, government relations, finance, and marketing and public affairs. Work settings include hospitals, research institutions, non-profit agencies, mental health organizations, public health departments and more!

Sample Occupations

  • Patient Care Manager
  • Assisted Living Manager
  • Practice Administrator
  • Healthcare Management Analyst
  • Population Health Specialist
  • Medical Services Grant Manager
  • Behavioral Health Case Manager
  • Healthcare Data Analyst
  • HR Generalist
  • Clinic Manager
  • Public Health Analyst
  • Quality Manager
  • Implementation Analyst
  • Manager Trial Management
  • Healthcare IT Manager
  • Content Marketing Specialist
  • Healthcare Consultant
  • Healthcare Association Manager
  • Project Manager
  • Compliance Specialist

Types of Employers

  • Hospitals and hospital systems
  • Community health centers
  • Home healthcare agencies
  • Medical group practices
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Advocacy groups and associations
  • Consulting firms
  • Health insurance companies
  • Ambulatory care facilities
  • Healthcare associations
  • Local/State/Federal health agencies
  • Hospices

Preparing for your career in

Develop your people skills. Your success as a healthcare executive will depend on your ability to get along with diverse groups of people: employees, physicians, vendors, governing boards, and the public. Learn how to motivate, negotiate, and manage.

Develop strong quantitative skills. Healthcare executives must understand financial strategies and accounting principles, and they must be able to interpret data.

Stay current on healthcare trends. Be aware of shifting opportunities resulting from changing demographic and reimbursement trends to developments in healthcare policy.

Read about healthcare.. You can find interesting articles in local newspapers, national magazines such as Newsweek and Time, and trade publications such as Healthcare Executive, Frontiers of Health Services Management, Journal of Healthcare Management, and Modern Healthcare.

Learn about healthcare providers.. Nearby hospitals, HMOs, and mental health facilities may offer free publications, health fairs, or community health education programs. If possible, participate in a volunteer program.

How do I know if its right for me?

ASSESS: Take a career assessment, such as PathwayU, to see how your interests, values, and personality fit with majors and careers.

RESEARCH: Research the careers on this WCIDWAMI and thousands of other careers using O*Net Online, The Occupational Outlook Handbook or FirstHand.

EXPLORE: Learn more about a career field of interest by job shadowing, attending a career panel, or participating in a Career Trek. Further your exploration while gaining valuable skills by completing an internship, co-op, volunteer, or research experience.