Tiger Woods Foundation

Job Description

If you have strong organizational skills, like to be in charge, enjoy making decisions and are passionate about the healthcare system, then this may be the career for you! Health services managers plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of healthcare. Depending on the size of the facility, they may handle business affairs; work closely with physicians; and oversee personnel, billing and collections, budgeting, equipment outlays and patient flow. Health services managers also direct activities in clinical areas -- including nursing, surgery, therapy, medical records or health information. They play an important role in providing quality healthcare.

Top 10

ACCESS: a person's ability to obtain affordable medical care on a timely basis.

HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA): a federal law that outlines the requirements that employer-sponsored group insurance plans, insurance companies and managed care organizations must satisfy in order to provide health insurance coverage in the individual and group healthcare markets.

MANAGED CARE: the integration of both the financing and delivery of healthcare within a system that seeks to manage the accessibility, cost and quality of that care.

MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE: the committee that evaluates proposed policies and action plans related to clinical practice management including changes in provider contracts, compensation and authorization procedures; reviews data regarding new medical technology; and examines proposed medical policies.

PATIENT PERCEPTION: a type of outcome measured by whether the patient feels completely well after treatment or feels improved compared to how he or she felt prior to receiving treatment.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT (QM): involves an internal review process that audits the quality of care delivered. QM implements corrective actions to remedy any deficiencies identified in the quality of direct patient care, administrative services or support services.

CASE MANAGEMENT: a process of identifying plan members with special healthcare needs, developing a healthcare strategy that meets those needs, and coordinating and monitoring care.

CLAIM: an itemized statement of healthcare services and their costs provided by a hospital, physician's office or other provider facility. Claims are submitted to the insurer or managed care plan by either the plan member or the provider for payment of the costs incurred.

HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: providers of health or medical care, or researchers who provide health care. Normally healthcare providers are clinics, hospitals, doctors, dentists, psychologists and similar professionals.

HEALTH INSURANCE: financial protection against the healthcare costs of the insured person. May be obtained in a group or individual policy.

How to Get There

• Take charge!
• Practice prioritizing your time and responsibilities.
• Get organized! Keep your room, school and extra-curricular activities organized.
• Keep yourself well. A career in healthcare management starts with maintaining optimal conditions for healthy growth. Maintain your own health by taking responsibility for your lifestyle. Eat healthy and be active!
• Take business management courses.

Activity

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS: For this activity you will be given a list of scenarios that you may face in a given day when working as a manager in health care. First, prioritize the order in which you are going to deal with the problems. Then, come up with a solution for each situation. For some additional fun, act out the scenarios with your friends or family -- it will give you some practice in interfacing with people.

SCENARIOS:

• A doctor called in sick and his schedule is full of patients needing to see him
• A patient is complaining about the care she received
• A patient's file was lost
• A patient is refusing to pay their co-pay
• The waiting room is overflowing with patients because the doctors are running behind

As a manager in health care, you will need to maintain a professional environment while ensuring quality patient care and office organization -- keep this in mind when coming up with your solutions.

PATIENT FEEDBACK: Create a survey that asks patients to evaluate the care they received while visiting your medical facility. Be sure to include questions relating to:

• Friendliness of front-desk staff
• Comfort of waiting room
• Wait time
• Office environment
• Appointment scheduling
• Professionalism of doctor/nurse
• Time spent with doctor
• Accuracy of bill statements

Next time you receive care in a medical facility, rate your experience by filling out your own survey. Identify the improvements you would make if you were running the place.