Clinical program managers oversee day-to-day management activities in healthcare facilities, developing policies and procedures, educating employees, evaluating team members, and managing budgets. They may work in pharmaceutical companies, medical research facilities, hospitals, or doctors’ offices, and require professional training or experience in a specific clinical field. Continuing education is necessary to stay up to date with advances in the field, and advanced degrees are preferred.
Clinical program managers often work in healthcare facilities. They regularly oversee day-to-day management activities to ensure that the office or clinic runs smoothly. Specific tasks may include developing and implementing policies and procedures, educating employees about programs and changes in the workplace, and evaluating the work of team members. Their duties may also include developing research activities and program budgets.
The program manager has become an increasingly vital part of the healthcare community. Jobs in this field may be available at pharmaceutical companies, medical research facilities, and testing laboratories. Jobs in this field can also be found in traditional settings such as hospitals and doctors’ offices.
Clinical program managers often have professional training or experience in a specific clinical field. Tasks can vary considerably depending on the job location. The nature of work can also vary, with some managers working traditional office hours and others frequently traveling to satellite offices.
Medical companies, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, often have offices in different countries. Therefore, clinical program managers in these settings need to understand the mores of other cultures and have experience with cross-functional leadership. This type of work may involve managing project schedules and budgets, overseeing the activities of research and development team members, and collecting clinical trial data.
In medical research and development facilities, clinical program managers may be responsible for recording and tracking clinical studies and trials. Additional duties may include supervising team members, developing protocol, and coordinating activities with other clinical trial team members. A clinical program manager in this sense is similar to a project manager.
Clinical program managers in a hospital or long-term care facility may have patient and staff related tasks. Duties may include coordinating services for children and adults with multiple providers; oversee the recruitment, training and management of employees and contractors; and managing clinical services to achieve defined outcomes and outcomes. In these settings, financial and administrative tasks are also common for the position.
The nature of managing clinical programs requires people to keep their skills up to date and stay informed of advances in their fields. Clinical managers routinely complete continuing education classes and receive additional training throughout their careers. This is especially true for people working in research and development facilities. People in hospitals and doctors’ offices need to stay abreast of ongoing changes in local and national medical laws.
Education requirements tend to favor advanced degrees. The type of education needed depends on the position; some employers look for people with a background in health services administration, while others prefer those with a health sciences or public health degree. Clinical managers occasionally start in entry-level positions and work their way up to roles with increasing responsibilities. Some doctors’ offices and smaller facilities hire people with professional experience rather than formal education.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
