Healthcare executives are the unsung heroes of the wider field, frequently working behind the scenes to ensure that important decisions are made correctly for the facility or institution. While responsible for overseeing the development of appropriate policies and budgets, they must also be focused on bettering patient experiences and enhancing safety. Without their leadership organizational performance and long term viability would be at risk.
These professionals are responsible for entirely functions of the industry from those delivering patient care; i.e. physicians and nurses, but they are certainly just as crucial. Unlike practitioners who manage patients directly, healthcare executives like Keith Hovan have in-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework, overseeing the system that delivers services itself, working in partnership with clinicians.
Understanding the Importance of These Executives
Healthcare executives often oversee a healthcare system delivering services for a large geographical area. These professionals are responsible for ensuring the continual delivery of safe and effective patient care.
Not only do executives need expertise in healthcare best practices, but they require knowledge in traditional business processes to:
- Ensure the departments, services, or organizations they oversee deliver effective healthcare.
- Lead the departments, services, or organizations they oversee, ensuring they’re always maintain efficient operations.
Entities that cannot accomplish the above will not survive in today’s fast-paced, highly competitive climate. Thus, highly competent healthcare executives are the backbones of nation’s healthcare delivery system.
The Roles and Responsibilities
Healthcare executives have mission-critical responsibilities for more than just financial outcomes, making it a particularly demanding role.
On the business side, healthcare executives require knowledge, experience, and expertise in:
- Strategic planning
- Human resources
- Project management
- Policy development and implementation
- Finance
- Operations
- Supervision
- Decision-making
- Government relations
- Payer relations
On the healthcare delivery front, they must have proficiency in healthcare systems, service delivery, and related topics, such as:
- Physician/provider relations
- Quality assurance and safety
- Ethics
- Risk management
- Other practices necessary for managing a safe and effective healthcare environment.
Naturally, specific roles and responsibilities can change depending on the business type (i.e., hospitals, home health agencies, government entities, insurance companies, outpatient clinics, medical practices, etc.). However, all tend to use the above-mentioned skills, experience, and knowledge to:
- Manage the complexities of day to day operations
- Manage all aspects of financial performance
- Snsure facility compliance with regulatory and legal requirements
- Recruit and retain the best staff members.
- Communicate with providers and support staff
- Maintain credit worthiness
- Ensure effective governance of the organization
- Continuously improve organizational efficiency and quality
Demand for the Leadership Roles Set to Grow
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of healthcare leaders is expected to rise considerably throughout the next decade.
Leadership roles within the industry have the potential for career advancement with the projected growth of the top four roles between 2020 and 2030 being:
- Medical and health services managers are expected to experience a growth of 28%.
- Administrative services and facility managers are projected to see 7% growth.
- Human resource managers and medical records/health information specialists are also anticipated to grow by 7%.
The Backbones of the Nation’s Medical Organizations
Within the intricate web of our nation’s healthcare landscape, healthcare executives emerge as the unsung heroes, weaving together the threads of efficiency, compassion, and strategic vision. Their tireless dedication ensures that the gears of healthcare delivery system always turn smoothly, ultimately translating to better patient care and outcomes. As we celebrate the pivotal role of healthcare executives, let us remember that they are not merely the backbone, but a driving force behind the nation’s medical care, shaping a healthier future for us all.
