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Responsibilities of a Medical Practice Manager

Written by: Alex Brown
Published on: Dec 2, 2021
Category:

Medical Practice Manager

Medical practice management is a key role in a medical office, clinic, or hospital. Practice managers may be responsible for anything from annual performance plans to patient interactions.

A medical practice manager must exhibit skills in leadership, organization, decision-making, and more to maintain and grow an organization.

Successful practice managers also possess excellent customer service, negotiation, and marketing skills as well as a strong command for administrative health systems.

Let’s look at some key responsibilities for this important role in healthcare.

Organizational

The overarching responsibility is to manage the entire organization, requiring skills in strategy development, collaboration, and regulatory compliance, among others.

Responsibilities often include:

  • Implementing and maintaining workplace policies and procedures
  • Monitoring key performance indicators for the practice
  • Setting service fees
  • Ensuring industry standards, legal obligations, and government regulations are followed
  • Goal setting and review
  • Supervision of daily practice operations such as billing, debt collections, patient flow, business-related activities, and security/safety protocols
  • Managing lease agreements, building maintenance, and other property obligations
  • Business strategy development
  • Promoting continuous quality improvement for the office

Staff

The practice manager also plays a key role in human resources functions and oversees the entire support staff.

Responsibilities typically include:

  • Hiring administrative and medical staff
  • Assisting with onboarding new hires
  • Running training programs for staff
  • Developing or reviewing the office handbook, job descriptions, and other communications
  • Holding routine performance reviews
  • Managing schedules and requests
  • Support staff salaries and benefits reviews
  • Responding to staff issues and providing assistance with resolution
  • Coordinating and leading staff meetings
  • Motivating staff and building office morale
  • Promoting a cooperative work environment
  • Showing a desire to assist when needed to help the practice function as a unit

Records

A medical practice manager will work with the accountant to prepare budgets and financial statements as well as monitor or handle patient records for the office.

Responsibilities will likely include:

  • Reviewing financial statements, budgets, inventory records, and other documentation with practice owners and doctors
  • Oversight of the electronic health record-keeping
  • Ensuring accuracy and proper storage of financial statements, patient records, business documents, and vendor invoices
  • Supervising use of EHR, financial, marketing, and other software to ensure that records, data, and information are consistent and correct
  • Monitoring and reporting on payable and receivable accounts

Medical Manager

Inventory/Equipment

Inventory management may also fall within the practice manager’s role, including supplies, office equipment, medical technologies, furnishings, medications, and other items.

Responsibilities involve the following:

  • Maintaining an inventory control system
  • Facilitating purchases and lease agreements
  • Managing software licenses and app subscriptions
  • Negotiating best pricing for inventory items

Patient Relations

A medical practice manager may greet and engage with patients or have limited patient interactions, depending on the size of the practice.

Among the top responsibilities are:

  • Promoting a patient-centered point of care facility that meets their needs and responds to their issues
  • Facilitating resolutions for problems that doctors or other staff members cannot resolve
  • Addressing and resolving patient financial challenges, including collection of delinquent accounts and NSF checks, and authorizing special financial agreements when appropriate
  • Handling patient questions, complaints, or concerns effectively

Marketing

Marketing functions may also be part of the practice manager’s role. This requires a blend of creativity, computer skills, and analysis.

Responsibilities may include:

  • Advertising creation and management
  • Public relations campaigns
  • Patient retention initiatives
  • Email management

When hiring, most medical practices will require extensive experience in a managerial position at a clinical or medical setting along with an undergraduate degree in healthcare management or nursing.