Health Science Guide: Health Services Management

Health care services, like any other business, need effective managers. Medical and health service managers, also known as health care executives or health care administrators, organize, supervise, and coordinate health care services. These managers are either specialists, supervising a clinical department, or generalists, overseeing an entire facility.

A health service manager is responsible for the strategic, financial and day-to-day running of hospital, general practitioner (GP) or community health services.

Health services managers are responsible for the day-to-day running of a hospital, primary health organisation (PHO), clinic or community health service.

The Australasian College of Health Service Management (‘The College’) is the peak professional body for health managers in Australasia and brings together health leaders to learn, network and share ideas. The mission of the college is to recognise, develop and support effective health leadership and management to deliver quality services and improve health and wellbeing by:

- providing the best professional development and networking opportunities for health managers
- advocating for and promoting the health management profession
- recognising the achievements of health service managers
- promoting innovation and excellence.

HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES MANAGERS plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the professional and administrative aspects of health and welfare programs and services.

Health services management development. (2013). HLA News, (Jun 2013), 16.

Liang, Z., Howard, P. F., Leggat, S. G., & Murphy, G. (2012). A framework to improve evidence-informed decision-making in health service management. Australian Health Review, 36(3), 284-289. doi:10.1071/AH11051

Isouard, G., & Martins, J. (2014). Health service managers in australia: Progression and evolution. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 9(2), 35-52.

Ritchie, D. J., & Yen, M. L. (2013). Health services management development: What formal knowledge should support the skills and experience required? Australian Health Review, 37(2), 189-193. doi:10.1071/AH11116