A clinic manager oversees the business and human resources side of a clinic, including hiring and evaluating employees, preparing financial reports, and ensuring the practice runs smoothly. They need organizational, communication, and social skills, as well as proficiency with computers. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or management may be required. Advancement to an administrator position is possible with additional education and experience.
A clinic manager handles the business and human resources side of a clinic, be it a doctor’s office, dental office or veterinary clinic. A successful practice manager must have organizational, communication and social skills to work in the position. As a manager, the person in this position oversees the work of the rest of the office staff and ensures that the practice runs smoothly and efficiently. The position may also require the manager to hire outside vendors such as a cleaning service to keep the practice and offices clean.
Practice managers are qualified leaders who direct the activities of office workers such as schedulers, physicians, and receptionists. A practice manager must hire new employees and evaluate the performance of existing employees. This entails ensuring that each team member is properly trained for the role he or she occupies in the office. Team management requires someone with the ability to communicate effectively with employees.
The clinic manager also prepares income and expense reports for the physician’s office, pays clinic bills, and purchases supplies and equipment as needed. A clinic manager’s financial duties may include budgeting and planning for the medical practice. The person in this role may also perform marketing roles for the practice.
Medical practice managers must have the ability to move from one task to another throughout the day. Ensuring that a doctor’s office runs smoothly can be a challenge, and the management team must be able to handle crises and staff issues when they occur. A successful practice manager can work on multiple projects during the course of the day, ensuring that the rest of the office staff has what they need to complete their tasks.
In a small medical practice, managers may only have a high school education and experience working in a physician’s office. Larger practices and administrator positions often require a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or management to hold the position. Practice managers must be proficient with computers and office software programs such as spreadsheets and word processing. Medical office management certificate programs are also available for those entering this field.
The position offers many challenges. Managers who want an even greater challenge can advance to an administrator position with additional education and experience. A Master’s in Health Services Administration can open the door to positions with larger medical practices, nursing care companies, mental health facilities and clinics.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
