In a simpler age, physicians and patients could do business without requiring a practice manager in health care. Services were delivered; a bill was calculated and forwarded; and payment remitted or arranged. With the advent of group health insurance and monumental strides in medical science, treatment options have multiplied exponentially as well as expenses. Doctors and dentists can no longer lose valuable time in the direct supervision of the business end of their respective practices. Their staffs grow, and require someone to coordinate scheduling, billing and accounting. A practice manager is the administrator the allows doctors to focus on medicine.
Duties and Responsibilities
Depending on the size and scope of the practice, the practice manager’s domain can be vast. Among the many areas of supervision is human resources. Recruitment, dismissal, continuing education and workmen’s compensation all fall under the manager’s umbrella. In addition, he or she serves to maintain the office infrastructure: dealing with landlords and leases, making sure office equipment is serviced regularly, providing break facilities for staff, and updating communications technology are but a few of the normal tasks the manager performs. The practice manager must also oversee the financial records, especially those pertaining to business and malpractice insurance, as well as equipment acquisitions. By necessity, billings and claims must be closely monitored and, in consultation with attorneys, compliance with state regulations must be scrupulous.
Qualifications and Eligibility
Accordingly, an eligible candidate for a practice manager in health care opening should demonstrate knowledge and experience in a number of areas. First of all, a thorough comprehension of an array of insurance plans is essential. Beyond that, a potential practice manager needs to understand the physicians’ philosophy of what makes for good, quality health care in terms of responsiveness, scheduling and wait times. Managing a staff and administrative accounting experience are excellent resume bullets. Crucial in this era is expertise in health care information systems and technology. Related to this is a thorough grounding in data security. A marketing background never hurts, either. The American Academy of Professional Coders offers certification to represent competency in each of these areas.
Future of the Profession
As insurance has favored group practices over solo practitioners, changes in health care laws may bode well for a corporate model of heath care. The belief that ownership may be at once affecting a doctor’s treatment decisions and taking time away from patients is driving health care companies to recruit physicians on a salary-only basis (albeit a generous salary), according to Forbes. In so doing, they endow the practice manager with greater sovereignty, and more responsibility. While previous attempts have achieved mixed results, companies today are relying on improved technology to eradicate waste and duplication while streamlining office procedures.
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Prospects
Regardless of the structure of practices in the future, it is hard to avoid the reality that strong management is indispensible for an effective and profitable medical group. Education, experience and a proven track record will become even more valuable as health care delivery evolves. A practice manager in health care stands to grow in stature and earnings as doctors transition from owners to employees.
