Quality improvement manager vs patient care manager

The differences between quality improvement 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 quality improvement manager and a patient care manager. Additionally, a quality improvement manager has an average salary of $78,698, which is higher than the $65,369 average annual salary of a patient care manager.

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

Quality improvement manager vs patient care manager overview

	Quality Improvement Manager	Patient Care Manager
Yearly salary	$78,698	$65,369
Hourly rate	$37.84	$31.43
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	78,509	123,652
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a quality improvement manager do?

A quality improvement manager has a variety of duties and responsibilities. These include conducting research and creating quality improvement programs, developing standard operating procedures and facility policies, and performing audits to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, you will be responsible for establishing work plan metrics, analyzing performance metrics, and monitoring various department processes such as care complaints in the healthcare setting. You are also expected to review the latest industry data, clinical quality studies, and best practice interventions.

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.

Quality improvement manager vs patient care manager salary

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

	Quality Improvement Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average salary	$78,698	$65,369
Salary range	Between $55,000 And $111,000	Between $36,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	Oakland, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	California
Best paying company	Portland General Electric	Accenture
Best paying industry	Insurance	Health Care

Differences between quality improvement manager and patient care manager education

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

	Quality Improvement Manager	Patient Care Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 57%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Quality improvement manager vs patient care manager demographics

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

	Quality Improvement Manager	Patient Care Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1%	Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 8.0% White, 61.5% 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 quality improvement manager and patient care manager duties and responsibilities

Quality improvement manager example responsibilities.

Manage CAPA, document control, internal audit, complaint handling, and training programs.
Manage 12 FDA and EMA inspections ensuring efficient management of observations, corrective action commitment and completion.
Manage HEDIS medical record review project and validation activities complete by auditors.
Lead and direct the organization's accreditation survey preparation for rehabilitation facilities organizations.
Serve as health plan subject matter expert for HEDIS specifications and NCQA standards and guidelines in preparation for health plan accreditation.
Coordinate annual HEDIS reporting including oversight of vendor data collection, analysis and auditing.

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.

Quality improvement manager vs patient care manager skills

Common quality improvement manager skills

Quality Improvement, 7%
Performance Improvement, 6%
Patients, 5%
Oversight, 5%
Process Improvement, 5%
Patient Care, 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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Quality Improvement Manager
Quality Improvement Manager vs Patient Care Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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