Managers in Health Care

HOW TO GET THERE

Typical pathway

A common path is to finish secondary school, with business, English, health, math and sciences helping as preparation. Many people then complete a college or university program in health administration, business, or a related health field, though employers may prefer different education depending on the setting. Early work experience in hospitals, clinics or other health services, especially in supervisory or coordinator roles, can help build leadership, budgeting, and people-management skills. Some managers move into this work after experience in a specific health area such as nursing, laboratory medicine or surgery, and requirements can vary by employer, province, and area of specialization.

THE WORK

What you may do

Legacy duties

• Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the delivery of health care services within a department or establishment
• Consult with boards of directors and senior managers to maintain and establish standards for the provision of health care services
• Develop evaluation systems to monitor the quality of health care given to patients
• Monitor the use of diagnostic services, in-patient beds and facilities to ensure effective use of resources
• Develop and implement plans for new programs, special projects, new material and equipment acquisitions and future staffing levels in their department or establishment
• Plan and control departmental or establishment budget
• Represent the department or establishment at meetings with government officials, the public, the media and other organizations
• Supervise health care supervisors and professionals
• Recruit health care staff of the department or establishment.
• Managers in health care specialize in administering the provision of specific health care services such as dietetics, clinical medicine, laboratory medicine, nursing, physiotherapy or surgery.

SKILLS TO BUILD

Skills used in this Career