Health care manager vs patient care manager

The differences between health care managers and patient care managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a health care manager and a patient care manager. Additionally, a patient care manager has an average salary of $65,369, which is higher than the $60,931 average annual salary of a health care manager.

The top three skills for a health care manager include social work, behavioral health and substance abuse. The most important skills for a patient care manager are home health, patients, and quality care.

Health care manager vs patient care manager overview

	Health Care Manager	Patient Care Manager
Yearly salary	$60,931	$65,369
Hourly rate	$29.29	$31.43
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	153,821	123,652
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a health care manager do?

A health care manager is in charge of overseeing the workflow and the workforce in a medical facility. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and organizing services, delegating tasks, managing schedules and budgets, and devising strategies for optimal operations. They must also coordinate with different health care workers within the facility, participate in hiring and training staff, set goals and guidelines, and maintain hospital records. Furthermore, a health care manager must implement the hospital's policies and regulations, even create new ones as needed.

What does a patient care manager do?

Patient care managers are executives who are in charge of supervising a clinical team. The managers take responsibility for directing patient care within an organization. Also called health care managers, they protect every patient's safety and health in a clinical setting. They interact with the healthcare team members to maintain open communication. It is also part of their duties to supervise the daily operations in the clinical care units. Managing clinical budgets and maintaining quality health services are also their responsibilities.

Health care manager vs patient care manager salary

Health care managers and patient care managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Health Care Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average salary	$60,931	$65,369
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $93,000	Between $36,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City	Linden, NJ	Oakland, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	California
Best paying company	Accenture	Accenture
Best paying industry	Utilities	Health Care

Differences between health care manager and patient care manager education

There are a few differences between a health care manager and a patient care manager in terms of educational background:

	Health Care Manager	Patient Care Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Health care manager vs patient care manager demographics

Here are the differences between health care managers' and patient care managers' demographics:

	Health Care Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 30.2% Female, 69.8%	Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between health care manager and patient care manager duties and responsibilities

Health care manager example responsibilities.

Manage network participation, care with specialty networks, DME providers and transfers to appropriate levels of care.
Manage patient care expenditures including but not limit to labor, pharmacy, DME, medical supplies and mileage.
Provide oversight of the case management and utilization management staff for the Medicaid population
Supervise and conduct employee seminars and training in employee health issues, infection control and CPR.
Support sales team in designing population health solutions present in proposals and client facing PowerPoint presentations.
Assist members with benefits, PCP referrals and inquires.

Patient care manager example responsibilities.

Manage complicated cases involving serious injuries, medical evacuations, cruise ship disembarkation, and repatriation of remains with compassion.
Direct oversight of all case management and education relate to chronic disease and primary care management.
Utilize resources such as financial and pharmacy assistance for uninsure patients to receive professional medical care upon discharge.
Prevent unnecessary hospital admissions using keen assessment skills and redirecting to PCP's office when appropriate.
Ensure compliance both with HIPAA and CMS, to include all audits and enrollments via Medicare.
Plant and maintain flower beds such as mulching, fertilizing, watering, mowing, and pruning.

Health care manager vs patient care manager skills

Common health care manager skills

Social Work, 28%
Behavioral Health, 10%
Substance Abuse, 8%
Community Resources, 8%
Patients, 5%
Utilization Management, 4%

Common patient care manager skills

Home Health, 15%
Patients, 12%
Quality Care, 8%
Social Work, 7%
Community Resources, 4%
Substance Abuse, 4%

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Executive Management Industry
Health Care Manager
Health Care Manager vs Patient Care Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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