Introduction
In the contemporary health care environment, management entails the use of tools such as guidelines and reports as well as techniques for performance evaluation. Healthcare management involves to a greater extent the process of decision-making that is carried out by the health care service manager. The concept of healthcare management has therefore seen to the increased application of management functions in the context of institutions and organizations that provide health care services. This is in addition to responding to the changing needs of healthcare institutions so as to impact positively on the effectiveness besides efficiency of health care delivery (Lagace, 2009). The objective of this study is to define the role and use of management functions applied by contemporary health care management as well as the function of healthcare managers.
Findings
Health Care Manager
The healthcare manager relies on the support of the informal and informal elements of the institution. These include colleagues and top level management.The role encompasses various management functions that affect the social and technical aspects of the institution with the aim of meeting particular targets. The manager is viewed as an individual that is mandated with ensuring performance among a group of employees (Lombardi, 2007). From the general point of view, the healthcare manager is responsible for administration and training besides negotiation and planning. Moreover, the manager handles patient requirements in form of complaints while at the same time balancing it with their quality of life. Furthermore, the person in this position is expected to deal with the factors affecting their role as a result of the external and internal environment. This is due to the fact the environment brings about various expectations that the management and staff are expected to meet.
Performance Management Role
One of the major roles and management functions for the manager in this context involves the maintenance of high levels of performance. In recent times, health care organizations have shifted focus to consider the client as not only a patient but also a customer (Lombardi D. N., 2001). This implies that management is expected to play a more pronounced role so as to satisfy the customer. This management function stipulates that the heath care manager needs to ensure that the goals and objectives of their unit are attained. In addition, the manager is expected to formulate goals that are specific and feasible. Effective management also emphasizes on the need to set objectives that are achievable within a set duration. The high levels of performance are attained through practice of the functions stated by contemporary management approaches. These include the roles of leadership and directing besides organizing and controlling. The managerial role of facilitating high performance is thus fundamental to the health care institution as it creates proper governance and appropriate planning for organizational funds. The health care manager is also able to ensuring the delivery of quality services coupled with customer satisfaction. Management functions are also crucial in creating appropriate context for quality performance in areas such as surgery and prescription of drugs.
Conclusion
The study established that the healthcare manager aids in the application of management functions in the organization. It is apparent that the health care manager is responsible for various areas that include aspects such as leadership and organization. The study has found that the role of sustaining performance is one of the major functions of the health care manager. This has been attributed to the fact that performance has been noted to impact on different areas of the health institution as in the case of quality and delivery of health services.
References
Lagace, M. (2009). Management’s Role in Reforming Health Care. Web.
Lombardi, D. &. (2007). Health care management: Tools and Techniques for managing in a health care environment. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.
Lombardi, D. N. (2001). Handbook for the new health care manager: practical strategies for the real World. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons.