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Practice Manager Duties and Responsibilities

The type of organization a practice manager works for will determine the exact duties they carry out. Based on job listings we analyzed, a practice manager’s duties typically involve:

Develop Departmental Goals Practice managers plan objectives and goals for the department and work closely with members of the team to ensure they are implemented throughout the year. This includes improving efficiency and quality in the services delivered.

Create Work Schedules Practice managers oversee schedules for all staff to make sure that all shifts are covered each day.

Manage Finances Preparing budgets and making sure they are adhered to is one of the key roles of a practice manager. They ensure that the department keeps within its spending limits and oversee any finances of the facility, such as billing and patient fees.

Recruit Staff Practice managers recruit, train, and supervise members of the team, making sure that all necessary training is carried out. They must be familiar with the daily duties of each role so they can find suitable candidates.

Maintain Legal Compliance Practice managers are responsible for ensuring that the facility they work in is compliant with all laws and regulations, and that health and safety measures are maintained to high standards.

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Practice Manager Skills and Qualifications

Practice managers should have great interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to stay up to date with the latest programs and software in the healthcare sector. Typically, employers require a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and some previous experience, as well as the following abilities:

  • Communication skills – working closely with colleagues, healthcare professionals, and patients means practice managers need excellent communication skills
  • Leadership skills – practice managers need strong leadership skills in order to motivate and guide a team each day
  • Attention to detail – because practice managers work with medical data, it’s important that details and potential errors aren’t overlooked, as this could cause issues for patients
  • Technical skills – with healthcare technology evolving all the time, it’s important that practice managers stay up to date with the latest advances in programs and analytics. For example, they may need to use coding and classification software or electronic health record (HER) systems
  • Teamwork – practice managers oversee a team, so it’s important that they’re able to remain professional and courteous to all staff and assist them whenever they can
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Practice Manager Education and Training

The minimum requirement to become a practice manager is a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management or administration, although employers increasingly prefer applicants to have a master’s degree in these subjects. Employers also prefer applicants for this role to have several years’ experience in an office job or a similar role in a medical setting. While it’s not a requirement, some practice managers choose to gain certification in subjects like medical management from the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, or health information management certification from the American Health Information Management Association.

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Practice Manager Salary and Outlook

The median annual salary for practice managers is nearly $58,000, according to PayScale. Practice managers in the 10th percentile earn around $41,000 annually, while the highest paid earn close to $85,000 a year. Some companies offer packages that can reach up to $10,000 from bonus structures based on individual or group performances, and up to $10,000 in profit-sharing opportunities. Around half of employers offer dental plans, and over 70 percent provide medical insurance as part of their benefit packages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment in this sector will grow by 20 percent through 2026.

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Helpful Resources

We’ve collected some of the best resources to help you learn more about a career as a practice manager:

Health Care Networking Group – this LinkedIn group is focused on all members of the healthcare sector and serves as a great place to speak to others in the industry, find out about job opportunities, and share knowledge. For those new to the profession or wishing to break into the sector, it’s a great way to learn more and find new contacts

Physicians Practice – a useful and in-depth digital magazine, Physicians Practice covers everything from establishing new metrics to maximizing staff productivity. Practice managers are sure to find helpful information here, whether they’re new to the profession or experienced

Financial Management of Health Care Organizations: An Introduction to Fundamental Tools, Concepts and Applications – now in its fourth edition, this book provides a great introduction to the most-used tools and techniques in healthcare financial management. The book covers a wide range of topics, including financial statements, lead financing, budgeting, and different forms of reimbursement

Medical Office Management and Technology – this book helps students of medical office management courses navigate various topics such as information technology, medical administration, and allied health programs. It’s a useful and comprehensive guide to all areas of the job and makes for a trusted resource