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Health program specialist vs case manager

The differences between health program specialists and case managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a health program specialist, becoming a case manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a health program specialist has an average salary of $48,114, which is higher than the $43,118 average annual salary of a case manager.

The top three skills for a health program specialist include health education, data collection and patients. The most important skills for a case manager are social work, patients, and community resources.

Health program specialist vs case manager overview

Health Program SpecialistCase Manager
Yearly salary$48,114$43,118
Hourly rate$23.13$20.73
Growth rate6%9%
Number of jobs114,82584,959
Job satisfaction-4.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4545
Years of experience64

What does a health program specialist do?

A health program specialist is in charge of planning and developing health programs in communities or facilities. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify client needs, gathering and analyzing data, spearheading different activities that promote healthy lifestyles, assessing existing programs to determine areas needing improvement, and coordinating with health care experts. Furthermore, as a health program specialist, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while adhering to the vision and mission of the organization or community.

What does a case manager do?

A case manager is responsible for giving advice, handling plans for the client's recovery, and connecting with other human service professionals to ask for further options and recommendations for the client's concerns. Case managers should have excellent communication and listening skills to evaluate the client's needs, ensuring that they will have the utmost care and safety through efficient advocacy. A case manager should be able to provide a reliable support system for the client and monitor progress to achieve wellness and guarantee satisfaction.

Health program specialist vs case manager salary

Health program specialists and case managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Program SpecialistCase Manager
Average salary$48,114$43,118
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $69,000Between $30,000 And $61,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew Hampshire
Best paying companyAppleWellpath
Best paying industryGovernmentInsurance

Differences between health program specialist and case manager education

There are a few differences between a health program specialist and a case manager in terms of educational background:

Health Program SpecialistCase Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Health program specialist vs case manager demographics

Here are the differences between health program specialists' and case managers' demographics:

Health Program SpecialistCase Manager
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 30.6% Female, 69.4%Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage7%15%

Differences between health program specialist and case manager duties and responsibilities

Health program specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain medical and legal case files in compliance with HIPAA.
  • Conduct screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure and osteoporosis.
  • Coordinate appointments with court and third-party medical facilities and accompany patients to legal appointments, rehabilitation and therapy groups.
  • Serve as lead staff and successfully provide direct inpatient care in psychiatric setting in support of patient rehabilitation.
  • Create exercise prescriptions for rehabilitation.
  • Program communication and development working with service providers, healthcare association and organizations to establish a state-wide tobacco treatment safety network.
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Case manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all programs operations in accordance with HRA and industry regulations, agency policies and HIPAA guidelines.
  • Manage the care of patients with tuberculosis (TB) during their hospitalization and their discharge follow-up care.
  • Provide clients support with basic ADL's (shopping, payee services, budgets, managing and attending appointments).
  • Practice cognitive behavioral, DBT, motivational enhancement and structural family therapy.
  • Practice excellent customer service and build meaningful, professional relationships with families and patients.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation and relate community services.
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Health program specialist vs case manager skills

Common health program specialist skills
  • Health Education, 12%
  • Data Collection, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Technical Assistance, 8%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common case manager skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Community Resources, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%

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