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Support Services Manager |
Career OverviewSupport services are those areas of the hospital or healthcare facility that assist the patient, family members or medical staff to obtain the best possible care. Support services may include home health care, specialized information on conditions such as cancer or other illnesses, hospice referrals, social workers, counsellors, groups and education, rehabilitation and other areas of specialization.
A support services manager may be directly responsible for overseeing the coordination of all the services or may be responsible for one area of support service. Regardless of the department or service offered the support services manager will be required to:
- Manage staffing requirements
- Hire, evaluate and promote staff
- Keep records
- Manage budgets
- Train new and existing staff
- Handle problems or concerns with patients or patient care
- Ensure the philosophy of the hospital or healthcare facility is developed and maintained
The support services manager works as part of a management team in most hospitals and healthcare facilities. They are usually considered mid-management personnel and require some experience working in the various departments or areas of the hospital that they are providing support services for.
As a manager a support services manager should have excellent communication skills and should be able to work with both patients and staff in a professional manner. Computer skills and an ability to design, implement and develop support programs within a variety of departments or areas is an asset. Creative thinking and excellent problem solving skills are extremely helpful in the career of a support services manager.
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Career RequirementsMost support services managers have a Bachelors level education or may also have a Masters in business or healthcare administration. Often these individuals work in support services to gain experience in a hospital or healthcare facility and then move into other management positions.
Some support services managers work into the positions with on-the-job training and in-service management training provided by the hospital or healthcare facility. This is an excellent way to learn management skills and since many hospitals promote from within it is often an effective way to enter management.
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Job OutlookWith increasing numbers of hospitals and healthcare facilities opening across the United States the demand for support services managers with experience will continue to grow about average. The United States Department of Labor indicates that this trend will continue at least until the year 2014.
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Career TrackSupport services managers may move into other management positions within the hospital or healthcare facility. They may also go back to school and complete Masters programs in business or healthcare administration and work as consultants or contractors for various departments.
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CompensationA support services manager working in a single support service area can anticipate earning between $28,000 and $37,000 per year. Those support services managers that oversee more than one department may have salaries that exceed $45,000.
Years of experience, education and size of departments that are the responsibilities of the support services manager will all impact on the total yearly salary.
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