Medical and health service managers (also called health care executives or health care administrators) are responsible for the endowment and commissioning of local health care through the management of the hospital, a general practitioner, or community health services. They plan, direct, coordinate, and administer the delivery of health care products. They can also be experts in charge of a certain clinical department or generalists who can manage a whole facility or system.
When you look for a job within the health care management sector, potential employers will want to know what your perception of the job is. They will ask questions regarding your tasks and obligations in this field because:
- They want to know how much you know about the job;
- They want to hire individuals who fully understand what their job will entail; and,
- They want to make sure that they select applicants who are capable of doing the job.
Health care managers have a wide range of managerial and fiscal operation roles. Hence, to help you answer the question, “What are the major tasks in health care management?” here are some guidelines that you can follow:
1. Prepare in advance for this question so you won’t be startled when it’s asked. List all of the tasks of a health care management professional that you’re aware of. If you’re having a hard time thinking of them, this list might give you some ideas:
- finance, clinical, staff, project and procurement, information, facilities, and operational management
- accounting, planning budgets, authorizing expenses, establishing rates for services, and coordinating financial reporting
- direct, supervise, and evaluate work of medical, nursing, technical, clerical, service, and other personnel
- plan, implement, and administer programs and services in a health care or medical facility
- maintain communication between governing boards, medical staff, and department heads
- direct staff recruitment, hiring, and training
2. To provide a brief yet satisfactory explanation, you can provide examples of your previous experience. Give an illustration of how you work as health care manager. This will not just answer the question, “What are the major tasks in health care management?” but can also answer the question, “How well can you manage your tasks as a health care professional?”
3. In line with the previous tip, provide the interviewer with an idea of how you work in the field. Explain your general approach to work responsibilities. Relate your skills and abilities to the tasks and obligations that the job requires.
Generally, a health care manager should understand business and management principles: strategic planning, resource, allocation, leadership, and staff coordination. He or she needs to master financial planning and understand the laws and regulations in the health care industry. It’s all part of the job that you’ll be doing if you succeed in your interview as a health care manager.
