Health services manager vs patient care manager

The differences between health services 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 services manager and a patient care manager. Additionally, a health services manager has an average salary of $84,568, which is higher than the $65,369 average annual salary of a patient care manager.

The top three skills for a health services manager include patients, behavioral health and mental health. The most important skills for a patient care manager are home health, patients, and quality care.

Health services manager vs patient care manager overview

	Health Services Manager	Patient Care Manager
Yearly salary	$84,568	$65,369
Hourly rate	$40.66	$31.43
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	162,609	123,652
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a health services manager do?

A health services manager is responsible for monitoring the medical services and policies of a healthcare institution, ensuring that the medical team provides the highest quality care services for the patients. Health services managers supervise daily operations, resolving complaints, facilitating health programs, and training new staff. They handle departmental budgets and allocate adequate resources to support medical procedures. A health services manager also inspects the quality of medical tools and equipment and schedule regular maintenance to guarantee efficiency and avoid potential hazards and delays.

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 services manager vs patient care manager salary

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

	Health Services Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average salary	$84,568	$65,369
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $127,000	Between $36,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Oakland, CA
Highest paying state	Delaware	California
Best paying company	Genentech	Accenture
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between health services manager and patient care manager education

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

	Health Services Manager	Patient Care Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 54%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Health services manager vs patient care manager demographics

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

	Health Services Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%	Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 8.2% White, 61.1% 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 services manager and patient care manager duties and responsibilities

Health services manager example responsibilities.

Initiate sentinel system allowing company to proactively manage reimbursement reductions impose by state Medicaid programs.
Possess the ability to work in a fast-pace environment with compassion and respect for all patients and family members.
Assist in the design and reconstruction of the culinary department.
File member's medical data in proper medical jacket, per HIPAA regulations.
Audit adjudication process so that compliance are met within ERISA and HIPAA guidelines.
Assist other facilities in preparation for ACA accreditation and develop departmental audit tools to ensure compliance in all areas.

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 services manager vs patient care manager skills

Common health services manager skills

Patients, 11%
Behavioral Health, 9%
Mental Health, 8%
Health Services, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Social Work, 5%

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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Health Services Manager
Health Services Manager vs Patient Care Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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