Most people who ask what I do have never heard of managing medical practices. Many people say “I didn’t know there was a job like that.” Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) definition of medical group practice and medical practice management is helpful:
Medical group practice is defined as three or more physicians engaged in the practice of medicine as a legal entity sharing business management, facilities, records and personnel. This includes single- and multispecialty physician offices, ambulatory surgery and diagnostic imaging centers, hospital-based practices and academic practices. (Medical Practice Managers) … are part of a large and growing field that requires broad knowledge, skills and experience for long-term success. And the decisions they make directly affect nearly every aspect of a practices operations, from financial performance to patient care.
The next question many people ask is “How do you learn to do that?” People who do what I do come from lots of different professional backgrounds.
It has been a fairly recent development that there are undergraduate and graduate programs for this field. Many physicians who are business-minded have pursued degrees that allow them to manage their own practices while practicing medicine, or enter the healthcare management field and leave active clinical practice. According to a recent Times article, there are 49 schools that currently offer a dual MD/MBA degree.
Here a few ways other than formal healthcare management training that medical managers enter the field.
Nursing/Clinical: I have known some excellent medical practice managers who have four-year nursing degrees, but I don’t know a lot of them. It seems that most nurses want to be nursing, not managing, and that they became nurses to care for patients in a hands-on way. I have observed that some managers with nursing backgrounds are instant fixers, and have trouble taking the contemplative route to problem-solving.
Management Experience: There is no question that private practices are coming late to the business party and that experienced managers bring a lot to the field. It can be hard, however, to jump into managing a practice with no former healthcare experience because so much is so different. The owners of the business (the docs) are also the ones producing the revenue. As my husband says, the job is very much like being the Commissioner of Baseball.
MBAs: Having a MBA brings a lot of tools and resources to the table, but is not the be-all and end-all, especially when it comes to people-management. The best managers in any field truly like and value people, have time for people, are collaborative with people, and care about people. Can this be learned? I don’t know. Probably not genuinely.
Technology: Managers who understand and embrace technology will have the advantage over every other manager. Healthcare and technology are becoming more and more wedded. Every priority technology function that healthcare managers have to outsource is an aspect of the practice that is somewhat out of their control. Think practice management systems, EMR, phones, PACS, email, knowledge management, lab interface, hospital interface, patient communication, etc.
Up through the ranks: Managers who have come up through the ranks have a big plus in their favor and a big minus. The plus is that they understand healthcare, the nitty-gritty functions of the practice, have experience relating to administrative and clinical staff, and know how to network. The minus is that they are usually undervalued due to the lack of formal education, and may also undervalue themselves for the same reason.
In the end, it’s not where a person comes from that makes the biggest difference, it’s who they are and what they’ve made of their career. Anyone can enter the field of healthcare management, but I do suggest these three prerequisites:
- Compassion for patients (compassion for all people)
- A desire to continuously learn; if you stand still you’ll get moldy
- A sense of humor.
For information on organizations that award credentials click here.
Here’s an interesting history of the field of medical practice management.
Photo credit: Mary Pat Whaley
Hello Mary,
I have a BS in Recreation Therapy, however I have no plans of using the degree. I have been a store manager in a local retail store for 9 years and I am looking for a change. I have done some research on the different jobs that I could possibly pursue with a masters in healthcare administration and came across practice management. Being that I have years of management experience although in a different field, what advice could you give me to pursue a job in practice management. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in Advance
Hi Lynnise,
You can take your undergraduate degree, your business experience and by adding a Master’s degree, all you really need is some experience in a healthcare setting. I suggest that you see how you might combine work experience with your education so you’ll be ready to slide into your first job – probably in a hospital setting.
Best wishes,
Mary Pat
Hello Mary,
I love your website! I am currently at a cross road and I unsure on how to proceed. I have over 12 years experience in medical billing and collections, I have assisted healthcare CFO with finding new ways with collecting on new and old money. My job is to trouble shoot, resolve and collect. On several occasions my glory has been stolen from me by management with no regards to my hard work. The benefits rank from bonus programs all the way up to promotions. Could you please tell me if there is a 1-2 year management program that I could pursue for myself. Thank you
get rewarded for my hard work.t a problem and bring in the money. I often have my ideas to the solution of the problem
Hi Lee,
Your problem is very common in the workplace – a boss takes the credit for the work of his/her direct reports.
Based on the work you are currently doing, I am thinking a 2-year degree in accounting might be a good choice. If you like working in finance (and it sounds as if you are good at it), an accounting degree would probably be the next step.
Best wishes,
Mary Pat
Hi Mary,
I need some advice on becoming a medical practice manager. Let me give you some of my background, I have worked in the veterinary field for 10 years as a veterinary technician. I have a bachelors in biology, and I am currently obtainig a masters in healthcare administration. I would like to be a certified medical manager but my downfall is I can’t find a job in the human healthcare field due to my years of veterinary experience on my résumé. There are alot of medical positions that wont hire you without human health experience. How will I get experience it they dont give me a chance? Is there any advice you can give me to get the medical experience I need to be certified.
Hi Shannon,
If there is any way you can get an administrative internship (regardless of whether your Master’s program requires it or not) – this could turns things around for you.
I suggest you offer your services as an unpaid intern to a practice to complete a specific project, for instance, installing an EMR. Make sure it is a project with an achievable, time-sensitive goal and that you will be able to gain references for your work from a physician and from an administrator.
When you present your resume, high up on the resume I would highlight the skills that you learned as a veterinary technician, without mentioning your experience was in the veterinary environment. Here’s an example (not necessarily an example you would use for a managerial position):
Customer Service/Compassion – skilled at comforting anxious patients and caregivers
You can honestly list your veterinary experience later in the resume, but you’ve established your healthcare experience.
Best wishes,
Mary Pat